How to Write 栱 (gǒng) — Meaning “Bracket or corbel in traditional architecture”

Picture a wooden block (木) that is shared (共) between two pillars to support the roof. The word "gǒng" sounds like "gong," and you can imagine hitting a wooden gong that is shaped like a bracket. This connects the sound to the visual of a wooden architectural piece.

Write the wood radical 木 on the left with a narrow width, making the vertical stroke straight. The right side 共 has two horizontal lines: the top one is shorter, the bottom one longer, and the two vertical strokes inside must be evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the right side too wide, which throws off the balance.

栱 has 共 on the right and means a bracket in architecture. 杪 (miǎo) has 少 (few/small) on the right and refers to a treetop or small branch tip. 杭 (háng) has 亢 on the right and is a type of wood or a place name (like Hangzhou). Visually, focus on the different right-side components to tell them apart.

栱 appears mostly in historical or architectural contexts, especially in the word 斗栱 (dòu gǒng), which describes the interlocking wooden brackets in ancient Chinese buildings. You might see it in museum descriptions, travel guides, or discussions of traditional craftsmanship. It is rarely used in everyday conversation but is important for cultural heritage vocabulary.

Common words containing 栱 include: 斗栱 (dòu gǒng) — Dougong (interlocking wooden brackets in Chinese architecture); 栱子 (gǒng zi) — Bracket; Corbel; 柱栱 (zhù gǒng) — bracket (architectural).