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March 24, 2026
馆(舘)guǎn(guan3)
The character 馆 (guǎn) refers to a building or establishment, often used to denote service-oriented places such as shops, restaurants, or public buildings. It can also specifically refer to embassies or consulates, and historically, it was used for schoolrooms. The context in which it is used can indicate the type of establishment, such as a restaurant (餐馆) or library (图书馆).
Strokes11Radical饣Frequency#6024DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of a 馆 often reflects social gatherings and communal experiences, such as dining in a restaurant or studying in a library. The type of establishment can convey social status and regional specialties, highlighting the importance of community in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Think of 馆 (guǎn) as a 'grand building' where people gather, similar to a 'garden' (sounds like 'guān') filled with various shops. The left part (氵) represents water, suggesting a place where people come together, while the right part (官) hints at officials or services offered inside.
Meanings of 馆
guǎn(guan3)
1building
2shop
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 馆
馆Simplified
舘Traditional
11Strokes
饣Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#6024Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 馆
Podcast: 馆
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AI Study Notes for 馆
Quick Contrast
餐馆 (cānguǎn) vs 饭馆 (fànguǎn): use 餐馆 when referring specifically to a restaurant that serves meals, while 饭馆 can refer to a more casual eatery.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 馆 with similar characters like 屋 (wū, house) or 店 (diàn, store), which have different nuances. It's generally used in formal contexts when referring to establishments, so be mindful of the tone used. Common collocations include 餐馆 (cānguǎn, restaurant) and 酒馆 (jiǔguǎn, pub).
HSK Study Tips
Although 馆 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners progressing beyond basic vocabulary. Understanding this character can enhance your ability to describe various establishments in everyday conversations. Focus on recognizing it in compound words related to service industries.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 馆 by saying it with a flat tone, failing to use the correct falling-rising tone (guǎn). Additionally, confusing it with similar characters can lead to incorrect usage; for example, saying '书屋' (shūwū) instead of '图书馆' (túshūguǎn) when referring to a library.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馆
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Simplified form of 館. Phonosemantic compound. 飠 represents the meaning and 官 represents the sound.
1The giveawayA public 官 building where food 饣 is served; 官 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 馆? 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 馆?
Decomposition of 馆
IDS Structure⿰饣官
馆Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
官Guan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 馆?
How to say building in Chinese
“building” in Chinese is馆guǎn
The character 馆 (guǎn) refers to a building or establishment, often used to denote service-oriented places such as shops, restaurants, or public buildings. It can also specifically refer to embassies or consulates, and historically, it was used for schoolrooms. The context in which it is used can indicate the type of establishment, such as a restaurant (餐馆) or library (图书馆).
When to use 馆
A common mistake is to confuse 馆 with similar characters like 屋 (wū, house) or 店 (diàn, store), which have different nuances. It's generally used in formal contexts when referring to establishments, so be mindful of the tone used. Common collocations include 餐馆 (cānguǎn, restaurant) and 酒馆 (jiǔguǎn, pub).
馆 or something close to it
餐馆 (cānguǎn) vs 饭馆 (fànguǎn): use 餐馆 when referring specifically to a restaurant that serves meals, while 饭馆 can refer to a more casual eatery.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 馆 by saying it with a flat tone, failing to use the correct falling-rising tone (guǎn). Additionally, confusing it with similar characters can lead to incorrect usage; for example, saying '书屋' (shūwū) instead of '图书馆' (túshūguǎn) when referring to a library.
Write 馆
馆
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Practice writing 馆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 馆
馆 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.
