How to Write 宫 (gōng) — Meaning “Palace”

Imagine a big roof (宀) covering two connected rooms or halls (吕), like a royal palace. This visual of a roof over two spaces helps recall the meaning "palace."

Pay attention to the top radical 宀: write the dot first, then the horizontal line, then the left-falling stroke. The bottom part 吕 should be narrow and evenly spaced, not too wide under the roof.

宫 has two mouths (吕) under the roof, meaning palace. 宋 has a tree (木) under the roof, and 完 has 元 (origin/head) – both have different meanings and visual structures. Remember: palace = two rooms, song dynasty = tree, complete = president?

宫 appears in words like 故宫 (The Forbidden City), 迷宫 (maze), and 皇宫 (imperial palace). It is commonly used in historical and cultural contexts, especially when referring to ancient Chinese architecture or royal sites.

Common words containing 宫 include: 故宫 (gù gōng) — The Forbidden City; 迷宫 (mí gōng) — Maze; labyrinth; 皇宫 (huáng gōng) — imperial palace.