宫殿

• Pinyin: gōng diàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 宫 = 宀 (roof) + 吕 (spine; two chambers) — multi-chambered residence; 殿 = 尸 + 共 + 殳 (a grand hall with a raised floor)

Meaning

Palace; a grand royal or imperial residence. A large, ornate building used as the official home of a monarch or high ruler.

Refers broadly to any grand palatial structure, from the Forbidden City to European royal palaces. Used literally in historical and tourism contexts, and metaphorically to describe any extraordinarily magnificent building. Often paired with 雄伟 (magnificent) or 气势磅礴 (awe-inspiring).

Examples

1. 故宫是世界上现存规模最大、保存最完整的木结构古代宫殿建筑群。 The Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved existing complex of ancient wooden palace buildings in the world.
2. 导游带领游客参观了这座十八世纪修建的欧洲宫殿，详细讲解了其历史背景。 The guide led tourists through this eighteenth-century European palace and explained its historical background in detail.
3. 那座宏伟的宫殿在夕阳的映照下金光闪闪，令所有参观者叹为观止。 That magnificent palace glowed in the setting sun, leaving every visitor in awe.

Usage Guide

Context: history, tourism, architecture, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 凡尔赛宫是法国王室昔日权力与奢华的象征。(The Palace of Versailles is a symbol of the former power and splendour of the French royal family.)
• 这座宫殿的建筑风格融合了东西方元素，极具艺术价值。(This palace blends Eastern and Western architectural styles and has great artistic value.)

Don't Say

• 将'宫殿'用于普通豪华住宅 — 宫殿 implies a royal or historically significant structure; for a very luxurious private home use 豪宅 or 别墅 instead

Origin & History

宫 (palace; grand residence) + 殿 (hall; a large official building). Together they form the compound meaning a palatial structure.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal