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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 宫 means.
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
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.
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.
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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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 宫 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
宫 = 宀 + 吕. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 宫
IDS Structure⿱宀吕
宫Full character
=
宀gai4
top
吕lü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 宫?
How to say surname Gong in Chinese
“surname Gong” in Chinese is宫gōng
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.
When to use 宫
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.
宫 or something close to it
宫 (gōng) vs 室 (shì) — use 宫 for grand structures like palaces, while 室 refers to ordinary rooms or chambers.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 宫
宫
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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.
