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庙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
庙
miào
temple
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #11674, Very Hard
庙
miào
ancestral shrine
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #11674, Very Hard
庙
miào
temple fair
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #11674, Very Hard
庙
miào
temple, shrine; imperial court
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #11674, Very Hard
miào(miao4)miao T4
1temple
2ancestral shrine
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March 24, 2026
庙(廟)miào(miao4)
The character 庙 (miào) refers to a temple or shrine, often associated with worship or reverence for deities, ancestors, or historical figures. It can denote both a physical structure and the concept of a sacred space where rituals are performed. Common usage contexts include religious practices, festivals, and discussions about cultural heritage.
Strokes8Radical广Frequency#11674DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, temples play a significant role during festivals and ancestral worship, reflecting deep-rooted beliefs in spirituality and respect for ancestors. Many families visit their ancestral庙 during Qingming Festival to honor their forebears.
Memory tip
Imagine a large, ancient temple (庙) with a majestic roof, where people gather to pay respects. The character resembles a house (the roof) on a foundation, symbolizing a sacred space. To remember the pronunciation 'miào', think of a 'meow' sound echoing in the quiet of the temple.
Meanings of 庙
miào(miao4)
1temple
2ancestral shrine
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 庙
庙Simplified
廟Traditional
8Strokes
广Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11674Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 庙
Podcast: 庙
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AI study notes for 庙
Quick Contrast
寺 (sì) — use 庙 (miào) for temples dedicated to folk religion or specific deities, while 寺 (sì) typically refers to Buddhist temples.
Usage Notes
When using 庙, be careful with its context; it is often used in formal or culturally significant discussions rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '祖庙' (ancestor's temple) and '寺庙' (monastery). Avoid confusing it with '庙会' (temple fair), which refers to events held at these locations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 庙 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary related to culture and religion. Students should focus on understanding its compound forms and usage in cultural contexts, as well as related terms like '寺' (sì, temple).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 庙 with 室 (shì, room) due to their similar structure. For example, saying '我去室' (wǒ qù shì) instead of '我去庙' (wǒ qù miào) can mislead the listener about the intended location.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 庙
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The character 庙 (miào) refers to a temple or shrine, often associated with worship or reverence for deities, ancestors, or historical figures. It can denote both a physical structure and the concept of a sacred space where rituals are performed. Common usage contexts include religious practices, festivals, and discussions about cultural heritage.
When to use 庙
When using 庙, be careful with its context; it is often used in formal or culturally significant discussions rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '祖庙' (ancestor's temple) and '寺庙' (monastery). Avoid confusing it with '庙会' (temple fair), which refers to events held at these locations.
庙 or something close to it
寺 (sì) — use 庙 (miào) for temples dedicated to folk religion or specific deities, while 寺 (sì) typically refers to Buddhist temples.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 庙 with 室 (shì, room) due to their similar structure. For example, saying '我去室' (wǒ qù shì) instead of '我去庙' (wǒ qù miào) can mislead the listener about the intended location.
Write 庙
庙
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Grammar patterns of 庙
庙 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 4 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们呈扇形散开，在寺____周围仔细搜寻。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.
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Cultural Notes for 庙
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While Western cultures have churches and places of worship, the concept of 庙 often encompasses a blend of spirituality and cultural tradition, reflecting a broader range of deities and ancestor veneration.
Word Family of 庙
Words containing this character16
庙miàotemple廟
寺庙sìmiàotemple寺廟
神庙shénmiàotemple (nonspecific)神廟
庙会miàohuìtemple fair廟會
庙宇miàoyǔtemple廟宇
宗庙zōngmiàotemple宗廟
孔庙kǒngmiàoConfucian temple孔廟
庙堂miàotángtemple廟堂
庙号miàohàotemple name of a deceased Chinese emperor廟號
圣庙shèngmiàoshrine to a sage (esp. Confucius)聖廟
祠庙címiàoancestral hall祠廟
庙祝miàozhùacolyte in charge of incense in a temple廟祝
大水冲了龙王庙dàshuǐchōnglelóngwángmiàofig. to fail to recognize a familiar person大水沖了龍王廟
岱庙dàimiàoDai Temple, a temple in Shandong for the god of Mount Tai岱廟
庙主miàozhǔhead priest of a temple廟主
关庙乡guānmiàoxiāngKuanmiao township in Tainan county 台南縣|台南县[Táinánxiàn], Taiwan關廟鄉
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 庙
What does 寺庙 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 庙
庙 (miào) refers to a temple or shrine, often for ancestor worship or local deities, while 教堂 (jiàotáng) specifically means church, which is primarily associated with Christianity.
Yes, 庙 can refer to any temple, but it is most commonly associated with those dedicated to Chinese folk deities or ancestors, rather than Buddhist or Christian places of worship.
It is pronounced as 'miào', with a falling tone, similar to saying 'meow' but with a slight drop in pitch.
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