图书馆

• Pinyin: tú shū guǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 图 = picture/diagram; 书 = book; 馆 = 饣(food radical) + 官 (official) — a public building

Meaning

Library. A place where books are kept for reading and borrowing.

A common place for students and readers. Chinese universities and cities all have 图书馆. The word is composed of three characters that together mean 'a building for illustrated books.' Students often use it as a study space.

Examples

1. 我常常去图书馆看书。 I often go to the library to read.
2. 图书馆里有很多书。 There are many books in the library.
3. 学校的图书馆很大。 The school library is very big.

Usage Guide

Context: school, location

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 图书馆几点关门？(What time does the library close?)
• 我在图书馆学习。(I study at the library.)

Don't Say

• 我去了一个图书馆借书。(Unnatural for a specific library — say 我去图书馆借了书; drop 一个 for a library you regularly visit)

Origin & History

A compound of 图书 (books/literature, literally 'illustrated documents') and 馆 (hall/building), meaning 'a hall of books.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal