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阙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阙quēpalace; watchtowernr, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quēsurname Queunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quēImperial city watchtower (old)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quēmistakeunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quēfaultunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quēdeficiencyunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèpalace; watchtowernr, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèsurname Queunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèImperial city watchtower (old)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèmistakeunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèfaultunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
阙quèdeficiencyunknown, 13 strokes, radical 门, rank #46155, Very Hard
quē(Que1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1palace; watchtower
  2. 2Imperial city watchtower (old)
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March 24, 2026

阙(闕)quē(Que1)

The character 阙 (quē) primarily refers to a type of structure, such as a palace or watchtower, particularly within the context of ancient Chinese imperial cities. It can also denote a deficiency or fault, reflecting a broader range of meanings that include both physical structures and abstract concepts of mistakes or shortcomings.

Strokes13Radical门Frequency#46155DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, 阙 was significant in the layout of cities, often representing power and authority as watchtowers protected the imperial city. Such structures were integral to the defense and ceremonial aspects of royal life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand palace with tall watchtowers (the structure of 阙) overseeing the empire. The character has a radical that signifies a gate (阝), which can remind you of the entrances to these majestic structures, while the sound 'quē' can be associated with the idea of 'cue,' as in 'cue the royal watchtowers.'

Meanings of 阙

quē(Que1)
primary
1palace; watchtower
2Imperial city watchtower (old)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阙

阙Simplified
闕Traditional
13Strokes
门Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阙

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Podcast: 阙

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AI Study Notes for 阙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a grand palace with tall watchtowers (the structure of 阙) overseeing the empire. The character has a radical that signifies a gate (阝), which can remind you of the entrances to these majestic structures, while the sound 'quē' can be associated with the idea of 'cue,' as in 'cue the royal watchtowers.'

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 阙; it is often used in formal or historical discussions rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include terms related to ancient architecture or governance. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that pertain to different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 阙 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can deepen your knowledge of ancient Chinese history and culture. Connect this word with other characters related to architecture and governance to enhance your vocabulary in these areas.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, 阙 was significant in the layout of cities, often representing power and authority as watchtowers protected the imperial city. Such structures were integral to the defense and ceremonial aspects of royal life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阙 with similar characters like 确 (què), which means 'to confirm.' For example, saying '我有阙的观点' (Wǒ yǒu quē de guāndiǎn) instead of '我有确的观点' (Wǒ yǒu què de guāndiǎn) can lead to misunderstanding.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阙

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Etymology of 阙

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

gate

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 阙?

Decomposition of 阙

IDS Structure⿵门欮
阙Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
欮jue2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阙?

Write 阙

阙

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

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Cultural Notes for 阙

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, 阙 was significant in the layout of cities, often representing power and authority as watchtowers protected the imperial city. Such structures were integral to the defense and ceremonial aspects of royal life.

Word Family of 阙

Words Containing This Character4
阙quēfault闕
宫阙palace宮闕
金阙the imperial palace金闕
阙特勤Kul Tigin or Kultegin (685-c. 731), general of the Second Turkic Kaganate闕特勤
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 阙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阙

It primarily refers to a palace or watchtower, especially within the context of ancient Chinese cities.