殿
diàn
What does 殿 mean?
Traveler reading for VibeHanzi · seen at 5 published landmarks
What it means
great hall
Spot it here
On the dark lacquered plaques over the axial halls — most famously 太和殿, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the stone approach opens wide enough for a procession.
Remember this
Find the last character on the big dark board: 殿. That ending marks a ceremony hall on the emperor’s line — under it you’re on the empire’s stage, not in a side chamber smelling of storage dust.
Where you’ll see it
Same character, other boards
Lama Temple · Beijing
hall
Open spot →Wuhou Shrine · Chengdu
hall
Open spot →City God Temple · Shanghai
main hall
Open spot →Jing'an Temple · Shanghai
hall
Open spot →
Quick answers
- What does 殿 (diàn) mean for travelers?
- great hall
- Where will I see 殿 in China?
- On VibeHanzi it is taught at Forbidden City, Lama Temple, Wuhou Shrine, City God Temple and 1 more. Each spot page shows the plaque context; Match locks the reading in under a minute.
- How do I remember 殿 on the street?
- Find the last character on the big dark board: 殿. That ending marks a ceremony hall on the emperor’s line — under it you’re on the empire’s stage, not in a side chamber smelling of storage dust.