HSK 6, ng, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
pavilion (usu. two-storied)
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
cabinet (politics)
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
boudoir
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
woman's chamber
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
rack
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
阁
gé
shelf
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14740, Hard
gé(ge2) T2
1cabinet, chamber, pavilion
2pavilion (usu. two-storied)
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March 24, 2026
阁(閣)gé(ge2)
The character 阁 (gé) refers to a type of structure, often a pavilion or a two-storied building. It can also denote a cabinet in a political context, indicating a group of advisors or officials. In everyday usage, it may refer to a shelf or a specific room in a house, particularly for women.
Strokes9Radical门Frequency#14740DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese architecture, pavilions (阁) are prominent features in gardens, symbolizing leisure and contemplation. They often serve as places for gatherings and cultural events.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand pavilion (阁) that has two stories, with the upper one being a beautiful boudoir decorated for a woman. The character itself looks like a roof (阝) over a room, symbolizing a space or chamber.
Meanings of 阁
gé(ge2)
1cabinet, chamber, pavilion
2pavilion (usu. two-storied)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 阁
阁Simplified
閣Traditional
9Strokes
门Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1
Podcast: 阁
Podcast: 阁
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AI Study Notes for 阁
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using 阁, as it can imply different meanings based on the situation. It's more formal in political contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '阁楼' (gélóu - attic) and '内阁' (nèigé - cabinet).
HSK Study Tips
Although 阁 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with other words related to architecture and rooms, like '楼' (lóu - building) and '房' (fáng - room). Students should focus on recognizing its use in specific contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 阁 with similar characters like 楼 (lóu), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在阁' instead of '我住在楼' (I live in a building) is incorrect; use '楼' for buildings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 阁
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Phonosemantic compound. 门 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閣.
1The meaning half门 carries the sense.
2The sound half各 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydoor
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 阁? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 阁?
Decomposition of 阁
IDS Structure⿵门各
阁Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
各ge4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 阁?
How to say cabinet, chamber, pavilion in Chinese
“cabinet, chamber, pavilion” in Chinese is阁gé
The character 阁 (gé) refers to a type of structure, often a pavilion or a two-storied building. It can also denote a cabinet in a political context, indicating a group of advisors or officials. In everyday usage, it may refer to a shelf or a specific room in a house, particularly for women.
When to use 阁
Be mindful of the context when using 阁, as it can imply different meanings based on the situation. It's more formal in political contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '阁楼' (gélóu - attic) and '内阁' (nèigé - cabinet).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 阁 with similar characters like 楼 (lóu), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在阁' instead of '我住在楼' (I live in a building) is incorrect; use '楼' for buildings.
Write 阁
阁
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Practice writing 阁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 阁
阁 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 7 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
你要是打算改造____楼，这些地址会派上用场。
If you're converting your loft, these addresses will be useful.
