閣 (gé) - Pavilion & tower

閣Tone 2

gé ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

閣 · gé

Pavilion;

tower;

cabinet (government);

chamber;

a lofty building or room;

used in names of traditional Chinese structures and government bodies.

Paviliontowercabinet (government)

Usage highlights

CabinetPavilionChamberBook collection pavilionEditorial officePrince's residence

Synonyms

  • 楼— tower, building (similar architectural structure)
  • 亭— pavilion (smaller structure)
  • 殿— palace hall (larger, more formal structure)

Antonyms

  • 棚— shed, shack (humble structure)
  • 穴— cave (natural vs. man-made structure)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cabinet meeting was held (内阁会议).
  • We visited the famous pavilion (阁楼).
  • The book is kept in the library (藏书阁).
  • She works in the editorial office (编辑部).

Collocations

  • Cabinet(内阁)
  • Pavilion(阁楼)
  • Chamber(阁室)
  • Book collection pavilion(藏书阁)
  • Editorial office(编辑部)
  • Prince's residence(王府阁)

Idioms

  • Plum Blossom in the Pavilion(阁梅)
  • Pavilion of Literary Prosperity(文昌阁)
  • Tower for Storing Classics(藏经阁)
  • Pavilion of Flying Apsaras(飞仙阁)
  • Pavilion Overlooking the Sea(望海阁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally refers to multi-story buildings in Chinese architecture, often used for storage, study, or viewing.
  • In imperial China, '阁' was used for important government institutions like the Grand Secretariat (内阁).
  • Common in names of historical landmarks and cultural sites throughout China.
  • Represents scholarly refinement and elevated status in traditional culture.

FAQ