How to Write 庙 (miào) — Meaning “Temple”

Picture the radical 广 as a temple roof covering the component 由, which looks like a small altar or path inside. Imagine saying "My oh my, the temple roof covers the path!" to link the shape and sound.

When writing 庙, first write the radical 广 with a dot, horizontal line, and a leftward downward sweep that extends under the 由. Then write 由 inside, making sure the vertical stroke of 由 aligns with the center of the roof. A common mistake is to make the 广 too small or the 由 too wide.

The character 庙 uses the component 由 below the radical 广, while 庄 uses 土 (earth) below the same radical. 庙 means "temple", a religious building, whereas 庄 means "village" or "farmstead". Visually, 由 has a vertical line through a box, while 土 is a plus-like shape.

庙 is commonly used in words like 寺庙 (sì miào) for "temple" and 庙会 (miào huì) for "temple fair", a festive event with food and performances. You might also see it in 庙门 (miào mén) meaning "temple gate". Although not in HSK, it appears frequently in conversations about religion, festivals, and cultural sites.

Common words containing 庙 include: 寺庙 (sì miào) — Temple.; 庙会 (miào huì) — Temple fair; 庙门 (miào mén) — Temple gate.