博物馆

• Pinyin: bó wù guǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 博 (extensive) + 物 (things, objects) + 馆 (hall, building)

Meaning

Museum. A building or institution that houses and displays collections of historical, cultural, scientific, or artistic significance.

Used for all types of museums: 历史博物馆 (history museum), 自然博物馆 (natural history museum), 艺术博物馆 (art museum), 科技博物馆 (science museum). Many museums in China offer free admission.

Examples

1. 故宫博物院是中国最著名的博物馆之一。 The Palace Museum is one of the most famous museums in China.
2. 周末我们带孩子去自然博物馆看恐龙化石。 On the weekend we took the kids to the natural history museum to see dinosaur fossils.
3. 这家博物馆收藏了大量珍贵的古代文物。 This museum houses a large collection of precious ancient artifacts.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, travel, education

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这个博物馆值得一去。(This museum is worth visiting.)
• 博物馆今天免费开放。(The museum has free admission today.)

Don't Say

• 把画廊叫'博物馆'——专门展示艺术品销售的地方应该叫'画廊' (Don't call a gallery 博物馆 — places that display art for sale should be called 画廊)

Origin & History

Compound of 博物 (extensive knowledge of things, natural history) + 馆 (building, hall).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal