皇宫

• Pinyin: huáng gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 皇 = 白 + 王 (white + king, the supreme ruler radiating light); 宫 = 宀 + 吕 (roof + two chambers, a grand enclosed residence)

Meaning

Imperial palace; royal palace. The official residence and seat of power of an emperor or monarch.

Refers to grand royal residences such as the Forbidden City in Beijing. Used in historical, cultural, and tourist contexts. May also appear in metaphorical usage to describe an extremely grand or opulent dwelling.

Examples

1. 故宫作为明清两代的皇宫，是世界上保存最完好的古代宫殿建筑群之一。 As the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is one of the best-preserved ancient palace complexes in the world.
2. 每逢节假日，皇宫博物馆门前人头攒动，游客络绎不绝。 On holidays, the area in front of the palace museum is packed with people, with a steady stream of visitors.
3. 这座宏伟的皇宫历经数百年风雨，依然巍然矗立，见证了王朝的兴衰更迭。 This magnificent imperial palace has weathered centuries of storms and still stands tall, bearing witness to the rise and fall of dynasties.

Usage Guide

Context: history, tourism, culture, architecture

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 北京故宫曾是明清两代帝王居住与处理朝政的皇宫，如今已成为吸引全球游客的世界文化遗产。(Beijing's Forbidden City was the imperial palace where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived and conducted state affairs; it has now become a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracting visitors from around the world.)
• 这部历史剧的取景地遍布多处知名皇宫遗址，以宏伟的建筑场景再现了古代帝王的日常生活。(The filming locations for this historical drama span several famous imperial palace sites, recreating the daily life of ancient emperors through magnificent architectural settings.)

Don't Say

• 皇宫 to casually describe any luxurious modern building — use 豪宅 or 豪华住所 for modern opulent residences; 皇宫 specifically implies a royal or imperial palace of historical significance

Origin & History

皇 (emperor/imperial) + 宫 (palace/royal residence) — the imperial dwelling

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal