← Characters

gōng

On phones & maps:

What does mean?

Traveler reading for VibeHanzi · seen at 2 published landmarks

What it means

palace

In this place

In 故宮, 宮 names the whole walled compound — halls, courtyards, private quarters — not a single building.

Remember this

The roof radical 宀 echoes the glazed eaves baking in the sun above you — but 宮 is not one roof. It’s a city of chambers behind one wall. On a Beijing map, that character alone implies imperial scale.

Where you’ll see it

Same character, other boards

Quick answers

What does 宮 (gōng) mean for travelers?
palace
Where will I see 宮 in China?
On VibeHanzi it is taught at Forbidden City, Lama Temple. Each spot page shows the plaque context; Match locks the reading in under a minute.
How do I remember 宮 on the street?
The roof radical 宀 echoes the glazed eaves baking in the sun above you — but 宮 is not one roof. It’s a city of chambers behind one wall. On a Beijing map, that character alone implies imperial scale.