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宸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chénimperial palaceg, 10 strokes, radical 宀, Very Hard
chénimperial apartmentsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 宀, Very Hard
chén(chen2) T2
  1. 1imperial palace
  2. 2imperial apartments
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
chén(chen2)

The character 宸 (chén) refers to the imperial palace or the residence of a sovereign in ancient China. It conveys a sense of grandeur and exclusivity, often used in historical or literary contexts to evoke the royal lifestyle.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the imperial palace was not just a residence but the center of political power and cultural development. The character 宸 evokes a deep respect for the historical significance of these royal spaces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand palace (宸) where the emperor (the 'ch' sound in chén) lives. The roof (宸) of the palace is adorned with intricate designs, symbolizing its royal importance. Visualize the grandeur of the imperial life that takes place within these walls.

Meanings of 宸

chén(chen2)
1imperial palace
2imperial apartments
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 宸

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 宸

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 宸

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a grand palace (宸) where the emperor (the 'ch' sound in chén) lives. The roof (宸) of the palace is adorned with intricate designs, symbolizing its royal importance. Visualize the grandeur of the imperial life that takes place within these walls.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal or literary contexts, so it's best to avoid it in casual conversation. Common collocations include terms related to royalty and historical texts. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be confused with other similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 宸 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other characters relating to royalty, such as 王 (wáng, king) and 宫 (gōng, palace). Students should focus on understanding the historical significance of such terms in Chinese literature.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the imperial palace was not just a residence but the center of political power and cultural development. The character 宸 evokes a deep respect for the historical significance of these royal spaces.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宸 (chén) with 宫 (gōng), thinking both mean the same, but 宸 specifically refers to the emperor's residence. Another common mistake is mispronouncing 宸; remember it’s pronounced 'chén', not 'chun'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宸

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Etymology of 宸

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

roof

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 宸?

Decomposition of 宸

IDS Structure⿱宀辰
Full Character
=
gai4
top
chen2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 宸?

Write 宸

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 宸

宸 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

?澍____廴狈?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

Example Sentences for 宸 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
?澍宸廴狈?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

? ? shù chén yǐn? bèi ? dàn0 bǐ màn 0 dàn ān suān hé.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

Cultural Notes for 宸

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the imperial palace was not just a residence but the center of political power and cultural development. The character 宸 evokes a deep respect for the historical significance of these royal spaces.

Word Family of 宸

Words Containing This Character1
chénimperial apartments
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 宸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 宸

While 宸 refers specifically to the imperial residence, 宫 (gōng) is a more general term for palace or hall.