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閤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閤géchamber; shelf; side-doorzg, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤géside doorunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤gépavilionunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤gécabinetunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤géboudoirunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤héchamber; shelf; side-doorzg, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤héside doorunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤hépavilionunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤hécabinetunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
閤héboudoirunknown, 14 strokes, radical 門
gé(ge2)ge
primary
T2
  1. 1chamber; shelf; side-door
  2. 2side door
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March 24, 2026

閤gé(ge2)

The character 閤 (gé) primarily refers to a chamber or a shelf, often used in contexts related to architectural spaces or storage. It can also denote side doors or specific types of pavilions and cabinets, reflecting a nuanced understanding of enclosed spaces in Chinese architecture and culture.

Strokes14Radical門
Cultural note

The concept of chambers and pavilions is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, often seen in traditional architecture like gardens and palaces, where specific rooms serve unique purposes for relaxation or gathering.

Memory tip

Imagine a grand palace with a side-door (the meaning of 閤) that leads to a serene chamber filled with ornate shelves. The character's radical 門 (door) emphasizes its connection to entryways and rooms, while the pronunciation 'gé' can be remembered by picturing a 'gate' that opens into this special space.

Meanings of 閤

gé(ge2)
primary
1chamber; shelf; side-door
2side door
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 閤

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

Podcast: 閤

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Podcast: 閤

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AI study notes for 閤

Usage Notes

When using 閤, be mindful of its context as it often appears in formal or literary settings rather than in everyday speech. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like 阖 or 阁; ensure that you understand their distinct meanings. Collocations may include terms like '閤樓' (a type of pavilion).

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the standard HSK levels, 閤 connects with other characters related to architecture and space, such as 門 (door) and 閣 (pavilion). Focus on recognizing how these characters form related concepts in Chinese, as well as their pronunciations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 閤 with 閣, thinking they mean the same thing. For example, saying '我想去閣' (I want to go to the pavilion) instead of '我想去閤' can lead to miscommunication about the type of space being referred to.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閤

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Etymology of 閤

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

Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 合 represents the sound.

Memory hint

door

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

Origin

閤 = 門 + 合. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 閤

IDS Structure⿵門合
閤Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
合ge3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 閤?

How to say chamber; shelf; side-door in Chinese

“chamber; shelf; side-door” in Chinese is閤gé

The character 閤 (gé) primarily refers to a chamber or a shelf, often used in contexts related to architectural spaces or storage. It can also denote side doors or specific types of pavilions and cabinets, reflecting a nuanced understanding of enclosed spaces in Chinese architecture and culture.

When to use 閤

When using 閤, be mindful of its context as it often appears in formal or literary settings rather than in everyday speech. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like 阖 or 阁; ensure that you understand their distinct meanings. Collocations may include terms like '閤樓' (a type of pavilion).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 閤 with 閣, thinking they mean the same thing. For example, saying '我想去閣' (I want to go to the pavilion) instead of '我想去閤' can lead to miscommunication about the type of space being referred to.

Write 閤

閤

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

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Word Family of 閤

Words containing this character1
閤géside door

Frequently asked questions about 閤

While both characters can refer to similar concepts, 阖 typically means to close or shut, while 閤 focuses more on the idea of a chamber or side-door.

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