宸
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: imperial apartments
💡 Imagine a roof (宀) over a timekeeper (辰) — the emperor's timeless palace.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
Like a detective tracing a character's history, we start with the radical 宀, a roof over a home. Beneath it, 辰 originally meant 'conch shell' used as a timekeeper. Combined, 宸 suggests the emperor's dwelling—where time itself seems to pause. In ancient China, it referred exclusively to imperial palaces or the sovereign's presence, as in 宸居 (imperial residence). Today, it still carries an aura of majesty and authority, used in names and formal contexts.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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