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閣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閣gécabinet, chamber, pavilionzg, 14 strokes, radical 門
gé(ge2)ge T2
  1. 1cabinet, chamber, pavilion
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March 24, 2026

閣gé(ge2)

The character 閣 (gé) refers to a cabinet, chamber, or pavilion. It is commonly used in contexts involving government or official offices, signifying a place where important decisions are made or where people gather for discussions. The nuance often implies a level of formality and significance in the setting.

Strokes14Radical門
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese architecture, pavilions (閣) are often found in gardens and signify tranquility and beauty, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese culture. They serve as spaces for contemplation and social interaction.

Memory tip

Imagine a grand pavilion where a 'ge'nius gathers to discuss important matters. The character 閣 has a roof (阝) symbolizing shelter, suggesting a place of gathering and protection, combined with the inner structure representing stability and importance.

Meanings of 閣

gé(ge2)
1cabinet, chamber, pavilion
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 閣

閣Simplified
14Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閣

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Podcast: 閣

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AI study notes for 閣

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in formal contexts, such as government references or official discussions. Common collocations include '內閣' (nèi gé - cabinet) and '閣樓' (gé lóu - attic). Be cautious with tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone) in Mandarin.

HSK Study Tips

Although 閣 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other HSK words associated with government and organization, such as '政府' (zhèngfǔ - government). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in formal texts and learning related vocabulary to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 閣 with similar-sounding characters, such as 格 (gé - standard) due to the similar pronunciation. It's important to remember that 閣 specifically refers to a physical structure or space, while 格 pertains to standards or formats.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閣

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Etymology of 閣

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 门 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閣.

Memory hint

door

Semantic (meaning)門
+
Phonetic (sound)各
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

閣 = 門 + 各. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 閣

IDS Structure⿵門各
閣Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
各ge4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 閣?

How to say cabinet, chamber, pavilion in Chinese

“cabinet, chamber, pavilion” in Chinese is閣gé

The character 閣 (gé) refers to a cabinet, chamber, or pavilion. It is commonly used in contexts involving government or official offices, signifying a place where important decisions are made or where people gather for discussions. The nuance often implies a level of formality and significance in the setting.

When to use 閣

This character is typically used in formal contexts, such as government references or official discussions. Common collocations include '內閣' (nèi gé - cabinet) and '閣樓' (gé lóu - attic). Be cautious with tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (2nd tone) in Mandarin.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 閣 with similar-sounding characters, such as 格 (gé - standard) due to the similar pronunciation. It's important to remember that 閣 specifically refers to a physical structure or space, while 格 pertains to standards or formats.

Write 閣

閣

Practice writing 閣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 閣

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both cultures have spaces for gathering and decision-making, Western 'cabinets' often refer more to individuals or groups of advisors, whereas 閣 carries a more physical representation as a building or pavilion.

Word Family of 閣

Words containing this character20
阁下géxiàsire閣下
内阁nèigé(government) cabinet內閣
阁géboudoir閣
阁楼gélóugarret閣樓
组阁zǔgéto form a cabinet組閣
束之高阁shùzhīgāogétied up in a bundle on a high shelf束之高閣
空中楼阁kōngzhōnglóugécastles in Spain空中樓閣
楼阁lóugébuilding樓閣
亭台楼阁tíngtáilóugépavilions and kiosks (in Chinese gardens)亭臺樓閣
滕王阁téngwánggéTengwang Tower in Nanchang, Jiangxi滕王閣
剑阁jiàngéJiange county in Guangyuan 廣元|广元[Guǎng​yuán], Sichuan劍閣
暖阁nuǎngéwarm room暖閣
阁僚géliáocabinet member閣僚
出阁chūgé(of a girl) to marry (literary)出閣
闺阁guīgélady's chamber閨閣
雅阁yǎgéAccord (Honda brand Japanese car model)雅閣
金阁寺jīngésìKinkakuji or Golden pavilion in northwest Kyōto 京都, Japan金閣寺
影子内阁yǐngzinèigéshadow cabinet影子內閣
高阁gāogétall building高閣
剑阁县jiàngéxiànJiange county in Guangyuan 廣元|广元[Guǎng​yuán], Sichuan劍閣縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 閣

What does 阁下 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 閣

The character 閣 is pronounced as 'gé' with a rising tone.

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