宮殿 / 宫殿
gōngdiàn
The English word 'palace' is translated into Chinese as 宮殿 / 宫殿 (gōngdiàn). If unsure, use 宮殿 / 宫殿. Wiktionary also lists 宮 / 宫 (gōng) and 宮闕 / 宫阙 (gōngquè).
Meaning: large, lavish residence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 宮殿 / 宫殿 | gōngdiàn | |
| 宮 / 宫 | gōng | |
| 宮闕 / 宫阙 | gōngquè | literary |
宮殿 / 宫殿 is used to refer to a large, lavish residence. In everyday conversations, people use 宫殿 to casually refer to a grand or luxurious place.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 宮殿 / 宫殿 is composed of gōng (palace/court) and diàn (hall/large building).
Which one should you use?
宮 / 宫 is a shorter form. 宮闕 / 宫阙 is a literary term used to describe the grandeur of a palace or its gates. For more specific contexts, 皇宫 refers specifically to a royal palace, while 王府 pertains to a palace specifically owned by a king or a royal family.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
宫殿 is a formal way to say palace. 宫阙 is a literary term used in classical poetry and historical texts. The more specific terms 皇宫 and 王府 are also formal.
How do you pronounce it?
gōngdiàn
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese, the word 宮 / 宫 is used in medical contexts to refer to the uterus. This is a linguistic carry-over from the idea of the uterus as a 'palace' protecting the fetus.
- In traditional Chinese music theory, 宮 is the name of the first and most important note of the five-tone scale. This note represents the emperor and serves as the tonal foundation for the other notes.
- The Forbidden City in Beijing is the world's largest palace complex and is referred to as 紫禁城, which means 'Purple Forbidden City'. The 'purple' refers to the North Star, the celestial center of the universe.
Examples in context
- 他们在北京参观了颐和园，这个皇宫非常壮观。They visited the Summer Palace in Beijing, and the palace was very magnificent.
- 我梦想着有一天能住进像宫殿一样的豪宅里。I dream of one day living in a mansion that feels like a palace.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “palace” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
