About
The character 宫, whose traditional form retains the component 呂, originally depicted a generic building or dwelling in early Chinese, with its foundational structure combining a roof radical (宀) over 呂, which itself represented connected rooms or chambers. Over time, its meaning narrowed significantly to denote specifically the imposing residential complexes of the emperor and the aristocracy, becoming synonymous with the imperial palace. This semantic specialization extended by analogy to other grand or sacred enclosures, such as temple complexes and certain Taoist monasteries. In contemporary usage, while still evoking its imperial past, the character also broadly applies to large public buildings for culture or entertainment, reflecting a modern conceptual expansion from exclusive authority to spaces of public assembly.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个宫殿真雄伟。
皇宫里住着皇帝。
我们参观了故宫博物院。
宫保鸡丁是一道川菜。
这座宫殿的历史很悠久。
在故宫，你可以看到许多文物。
皇宫的建筑风格体现了古代文化。
通过参观故宫，我了解了中国历史。