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宫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宫gōngsurname GongHSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
宫gōngpalaceHSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
宫gōngtempleHSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
宫gōngcastration (as corporal punishment)HSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
宫gōngfirst note in pentatonic scaleHSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
宫gōngpalace; surnameHSK 6, nr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, rank #3222, Hard
gōng(gong1) T1
  1. 1palace
  2. 2temple
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
宫(宮)gōng(gong1)

The character 宫 (gōng) primarily means 'palace' or 'temple,' referring to grand structures associated with royalty or religious practices. It can also denote a surname and has specific meanings in music and historical contexts, such as being the first note in the pentatonic scale. In certain historical texts, it can also refer to corporal punishment methods like castration.

Strokes9Radical宀Frequency#3222DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宫 is deeply intertwined with the idea of power and authority, as palaces were central to imperial rule and governance. Many famous palaces, such as the Forbidden City, are significant cultural symbols.

Memory Tip

Think of 宫 (gōng) as a grand palace where emperors reside. The roof component (宀) looks like a protective cover, symbolizing the safety and importance of the palace, while the inner part (工) can remind you of the labor involved in constructing such magnificent buildings.

Meanings of 宫

gōng(gong1)
1palace
2temple
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 宫

宫Simplified
宮Traditional
9Strokes
宀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3222Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 宫

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Podcast: 宫

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AI Study Notes for 宫

Quick Contrast

宫 (gōng) vs 室 (shì) — use 宫 for grand structures like palaces, while 室 refers to ordinary rooms or chambers.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 宫 (gōng) as a grand palace where emperors reside. The roof component (宀) looks like a protective cover, symbolizing the safety and importance of the palace, while the inner part (工) can remind you of the labor involved in constructing such magnificent buildings.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 宫 with other characters like 宫殿 (gōngdiàn, 'palace') or mixing it with similar-sounding terms. It is more often used in formal contexts relating to historical or cultural subjects. Pay attention to tone; mispronouncing it may lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 宫 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other words related to places of significance (e.g., 城市 chéngshì, 'city') and cultural terms. Focus on recognizing it in context, especially when discussing historical narratives or music.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宫 is deeply intertwined with the idea of power and authority, as palaces were central to imperial rule and governance. Many famous palaces, such as the Forbidden City, are significant cultural symbols.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宫 with 供 (gōng), which means 'to supply,' leading to incorrect translations. For example, saying '供殿' instead of '宫殿' for 'palace' is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宫

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Etymology of 宫

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

Simplified form of 宮. Pictograph of a building with two floors.

Memory Hint

roof

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 宫?

Decomposition of 宫

IDS Structure⿱宀吕
宫Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
吕lü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 宫?

Write 宫

宫

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

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Grammar Patterns of 宫

宫 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们发现了一处迷____似的地道。

They found a labyrinth of tunnels under the ground.

Example Sentences for 宫 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们发现了一处迷宫似的地道。

tā mén fā xiàn le yī chǔ mí gōng sì de dì dào。

They found a labyrinth of tunnels under the ground.
2
这座宫殿完全是各种建筑风格的大杂烩。

zhè zuò gōng diàn wán quán shì gè zhǒng jiàn zhù fēng gé de dà zá huì。

The palace is a complete hotch-potch of architectural styles.
3
艾森豪威尔离开白宫，退隐到他在葛底斯堡的农场。

ài sēn háo wēi ěr lí kāi bái gōng， ， tuì yǐn dào tā zài gé dǐ sī bǎo de nóng。

Eisenhower left the White House and retired to his farm in Gettysburg.
4
一大群人聚集在克里姆林宫墙外的广场上。

yī dà qún rén jù jí zài kè lǐ mǔ lín gōng qiáng wài de guǎng cháng shàng。

A huge crowd gathered in a square outside the Kremlin walls.
5
那是沃里克路，就在伯爵宫地铁站对面。

nà shì wò lǐ kè lù， ， jiù zài bó jué gōng dì tiě zhàn duì。

That's Warwick Road, just opposite Earls Court tube station.
6
我们待在汤姆那里。那并不是巴克宫，但足够舒适了。

wǒ mén dài zài tāng mǔ nà lǐ。 。 nà bìng bù shì bā kè， gōng ， dàn zú gòu shū。

We stayed at Tom's place. It isn't exactly Buck House, but it's comfortable enough.
7
那婴儿是施行剖宫产手术出生的。

nà yīng ér shì shī háng pōu gōng chǎn shǒu shù chū shēng de。

The baby was born by Caesarean section.
8
白宫的一位高级官员说即将达成协议。

bái gōng de yī wèi gāo jí guān yuán shuō jí jiāng dá chéng xié yì。

A senior White House official said the agreement is close.
9
大家一定都很熟悉玫瑰中的老牌名品“水晶宫殿”。

dà jiā yī dìng dū hěn shú xī méi guī zhōng de lǎo pái míng pǐn“ “ shuǐ jīng gōng”。

Everyone must be familiar with the old favourite among roses, Crystal Palace.
10
大卫·麦克尼尔正和白宫记者团一同前行。

dà wèi· · mài kè ní ěr zhèng hé bái gōng jì zhě tuán yī tóng qián。

David McNeil is travelling with the White House press corps.

Cultural Notes for 宫

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宫 is deeply intertwined with the idea of power and authority, as palaces were central to imperial rule and governance. Many famous palaces, such as the Forbidden City, are significant cultural symbols.

Word Family of 宫

Compounds1
熍
Words Containing This Character20
宫gōngpalace宮
白宫White House白宮
子宫uterus子宮
宫殿gōngdiànpalace宮殿
迷宫maze迷宮
皇宫huánggōngimperial palace皇宮
宫廷gōngtíngcourt (of king or emperor)宮廷
南宫Nangong county level city in Xingtai 邢台[Xíng​tái], Hebei南宮
故宫the Forbidden City故宮
后宫harem後宮
宫女palace maid宮女
宫颈cervix宮頸
王宫imperial palace王宮
天宫Temple in Heaven (e.g. of the Jade Emperor)天宮
克里姆林宫the Kremlin克里姆林宮
卢浮宫Le Louvre, Paris Museum盧浮宮
文化宫cultural palace文化宮
宫崎Miyazaki (Japanese surname and place name)宮崎
行宫temporary imperial residence行宮
故宫博物院National Palace Museum, Taipei故宮博物院
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 宫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 宫

In music, 宫 refers to the first note in the pentatonic scale, which is crucial in traditional Chinese music.