堂 (táng) - Hall — a large room or building for & main room of a house

堂Tone 2

táng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

堂 · táng

Hall — a large room or building for public gatherings;

main room of a house;

court of law;

also used to denote a generation in family relationships.

Hall — a large room or building formain room of a housecourt of law

Usage highlights

Main hallLiving roomClassroomWedding hallCourtroomPaternal cousin

Synonyms

  • 厅— hall, living room
  • 殿— palace hall, temple hall
  • 宫— palace, temple

Antonyms

  • 室— room, chamber (smaller space)
  • 私— private (antonym to public nature of hall)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wedding ceremony was held in the main hall (礼堂).
  • We gathered in the living room (堂屋) of the ancestral home.
  • He is one generation senior to me (堂兄 — paternal cousin).
  • The case was heard in the court (堂审).

Collocations

  • Main hall(大堂)
  • Living room(堂屋)
  • Classroom(课堂)
  • Wedding hall(礼堂)
  • Courtroom(法庭)
  • Paternal cousin(堂兄弟)

Idioms

  • Grand and dignified(堂堂正正)
  • In full view of the public(大庭广众)
  • A hall full of gold and jade(金玉满堂)
  • Ascend the hall and enter the chamber(登堂入室)
  • Honor the ancestors and continue the family line(光宗耀祖)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally refers to the central hall in Chinese courtyard homes where family rituals and gatherings occur.
  • Used in kinship terms to denote paternal relatives (堂亲) versus maternal relatives (表亲).
  • Symbolizes dignity, formality, and family heritage in Chinese architecture and social structure.

FAQ