Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== guójiā bówùguǎn: 国家博物馆 - National Museum ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 国家博物馆, guojiabowuguan, National Museum of China, Chinese museum, Beijing museum, Tiananmen Square museum, Guojia Bowuguan, Chinese history, Chinese culture. * **Summary:** The term **国家博物馆 (guójiā bówùguǎn)** refers specifically to the National Museum of China, located on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. As one of the largest museums in the world, it is a key cultural institution dedicated to showcasing China's extensive history, from ancient artifacts to the modern era. For any learner of Chinese, understanding this term is essential for discussing travel, culture, and the official narrative of China's past. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** guójiā bówùguǎn * **Part of Speech:** Noun (Proper Noun) * **HSK Level:** Component characters are HSK 3 (国家) and HSK 4 (博物馆). * **Concise Definition:** The National Museum of China. * **In a Nutshell:** This isn't just a generic term for a "national museum"; it's the official name of the massive, state-run institution on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It's the place where China officially presents its story to the world, covering 5,000 years of history and art, as well as the history of the Communist Party of China. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **国 (guó):** Country, nation. This character is an enclosure (囗) around the character for jade (玉). It pictographically represents a nation's treasures and authority protected within its borders. * **家 (jiā):** Family, home. The character shows a roof (宀) over a pig (豕), a valuable domestic animal in ancient China, symbolizing a household. * **博 (bó):** Abundant, extensive, learned. This character implies a great breadth and depth of knowledge or collection. * **物 (wù):** Thing, object, matter. Refers to the physical items or artifacts. * **馆 (guǎn):** A building or hall, often for public or cultural purposes (e.g., library, gym, restaurant). When combined, `国家 (guójiā)` literally means "country-family" and is the standard word for "country" or "nation-state." `博物馆 (bówùguǎn)` translates to "museum," literally an "extensive-things-hall." Together, **国家博物馆 (guójiā bówùguǎn)** means "National Museum." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The National Museum of China is more than just a collection of artifacts; it's a powerful symbol of national identity and state narrative. Its strategic location on Tiananmen Square, directly facing the Great Hall of the People, underscores its political and cultural importance. The museum was formed by merging two separate institutions: the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History, and its exhibitions reflect this dual mission. A useful comparison for a Western learner is the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Both are vast national institutions that preserve cultural heritage. However, the National Museum of China is a single, centralized entity with a much more explicit goal of promoting a unified, state-sanctioned historical narrative. Its exhibits are carefully curated to tell the story of a continuous and glorious civilization leading up to the modern nation under the leadership of the Communist Party. While the Smithsonian museums also reflect American values, they are more decentralized and often present a wider, sometimes more critical, range of perspectives. Visiting the **国家博物馆** is to see the story China tells about itself. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== In everyday conversation, **国家博物馆** is used as a proper noun referring to the specific museum in Beijing. It is a must-see landmark for both domestic and international tourists. * **Travel Planning:** People use the term when discussing their itinerary for a trip to Beijing, often in the same sentence as the Forbidden City or the Great Wall. e.g., "我们明天去国家博物馆" (We're going to the National Museum tomorrow). * **Cultural Discussion:** It's mentioned when talking about Chinese history, art, or specific dynasties, as it houses some of the most important artifacts in the country. * **Formality:** The term itself is neutral and formal. In casual conversation, people might shorten it to "国博 (Guó Bó)" among friends who know the context. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我想预约参观**国家博物馆**的门票。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng yùyuē cānguān **guójiā bówùguǎn** de ménpiào. * English: I'd like to reserve tickets to visit the National Museum of China. * Analysis: This is a very practical sentence for any tourist. `预约 (yùyuē)` means "to make a reservation," which is often required for major attractions in China. * **Example 2:** * **国家博物馆**就在天安门广场的东边。 * Pinyin: **Guójiā bówùguǎn** jiù zài Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng de dōngbiān. * English: The National Museum of China is right on the east side of Tiananmen Square. * Analysis: This sentence helps to locate the museum, connecting it to another famous landmark. `就在 (jiù zài)` emphasizes the immediate location. * **Example 3:** * 老师下周要带我们全班去**国家博物馆**看展览。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī xià zhōu yào dài wǒmen quán bān qù **guójiā bówùguǎn** kàn zhǎnlǎn. * English: Next week, the teacher is taking our whole class to the National Museum of China to see an exhibition. * Analysis: This demonstrates a common context: a school field trip. `看展览 (kàn zhǎnlǎn)` means "to see an exhibition." * **Example 4:** * **国家博物馆**太大了，一天根本逛不完！ * Pinyin: **Guójiā bówùguǎn** tài dà le, yī tiān gēnběn guàng bù wán! * English: The National Museum of China is too big; you can't possibly see it all in one day! * Analysis: This expresses a common sentiment about the museum's vastness. `根本 (gēnběn)` is used here to mean "at all" or "simply," strengthening the negative. * **Example 5:** * 你在**国家博物馆**里看到了什么有意思的文物？ * Pinyin: Nǐ zài **guójiā bówùguǎn** lǐ kàn dào le shénme yǒuyìsi de wénwù? * English: What interesting cultural relics did you see inside the National Museum of China? * Analysis: A great conversation starter after someone has visited. `文物 (wénwù)` is the specific word for cultural artifacts or relics. * **Example 6:** * 这件青铜器是**国家博物馆**的镇馆之宝。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn qīngtóngqì shì **guójiā bówùguǎn** de zhèn guǎn zhī bǎo. * English: This bronze vessel is the most prized treasure of the National Museum of China. * Analysis: `镇馆之宝 (zhèn guǎn zhī bǎo)` is a set phrase meaning "the treasure that defines the museum," its most famous and important piece. * **Example 7:** * 很多外国领导人来访时，都会去参观**国家博物馆**。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō wàiguó lǐngdǎorén láifǎng shí, dōu huì qù cānguān **guójiā bówùguǎn**. * English: When many foreign leaders visit, they all go to tour the National Museum of China. * Analysis: This highlights the museum's official status as a site for diplomatic and state functions. * **Example 8:** * **国家博物馆**的建筑本身就非常雄伟。 * Pinyin: **Guójiā bówùguǎn** de jiànzhù běnshēn jiù fēicháng xióngwěi. * English: The architecture of the National Museum of China itself is very magnificent. * Analysis: This sentence focuses on the physical building. `雄伟 (xióngwěi)` is a great adjective for describing imposing and grand structures. * **Example 9:** * 如果你对中国近代史感兴趣，一定要去**国家博物馆**的“复兴之路”展厅。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ duì Zhōngguó jìndàishǐ gǎn xìngqù, yīdìng yào qù **guójiā bówùguǎn** de “Fùxīng Zhī Lù” zhǎntīng. * English: If you're interested in modern Chinese history, you must go to the "Road to Rejuvenation" exhibition hall at the National Museum of China. * Analysis: This provides a specific recommendation, naming one of the museum's most famous and politically significant permanent exhibitions. * **Example 10:** * 我觉得**国家博物馆**和故宫博物院各有特色，都值得一看。 * Pinyin: Wǒ juédé **guójiā bówùguǎn** hé Gùgōng Bówùyuàn gè yǒu tèsè, dōu zhídé yī kàn. * English: I think the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum each have their own special characteristics; both are worth seeing. * Analysis: This sentence compares the museum with another major institution, the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), a common point of discussion for tourists. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Using it as a generic term.** * A common mistake is to use `国家博物馆` to refer to any large, national-level museum in China. This is incorrect. It is a proper noun for the specific institution in Beijing. The general word for "museum" is just `[[博物馆]] (bówùguǎn)`. * **Incorrect:** 上海的那个国家博物馆很大。(That national museum in Shanghai is very big.) * **Correct:** 上海博物馆很大。(The Shanghai Museum is very big.) * **Mistake 2: Confusing it with the Palace Museum.** * Learners often confuse the `国家博物馆 (Guójiā Bówùguǎn)` with the `故宫博物院 (Gùgōng Bówùyuàn)`. They are two different places. The National Museum is on Tiananmen Square and covers all of Chinese history. The Palace Museum is inside the Forbidden City and focuses on the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. * **Nuance: Understanding its "Official" Role.** * Unlike many Western museums that may feature critical or diverse interpretations of history, the exhibits in the National Museum of China, particularly those covering the period after 1840, present the official, state-approved narrative of national struggle and rejuvenation. It's important to understand this context when visiting. It is history presented with a clear purpose and message. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[博物馆]] (bówùguǎn) - The general term for "museum." `国家博物馆` is a specific type of `博物馆`. * [[故宫博物院]] (Gùgōng Bówùyuàn) - The Palace Museum, located in the Forbidden City. A different, but equally important, Beijing museum. * [[天安门广场]] (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng) - Tiananmen Square. The famous public square where the National Museum is located. * [[文物]] (wénwù) - Cultural relic, artifact. These are the precious objects on display in the museum. * [[历史]] (lìshǐ) - History. The primary subject of the museum's collection. * [[展览]] (zhǎnlǎn) - Exhibition, display. A temporary or permanent collection of items in a museum. * [[美术馆]] (měishùguǎn) - Art gallery or art museum. A more specialized type of `馆 (guǎn)`. * [[首都博物馆]] (Shǒudū Bówùguǎn) - The Capital Museum. Another major museum in Beijing, focusing more on the city's local history and culture.