亭台楼阁

亭臺樓閣

tíngtái-lóugé

idiom

Meanings

1 pavilions, terraces, towers, and kiosks
2 ornate Chinese garden architecture
3 elegant traditional buildings

Characters

terrace; platform

multi-story building

kiosk; pavilion

Examples

HSK 7-9

苏州园林里到处是精致的亭台楼阁。

Sūzhōu yuánlín lǐ dàochù shì jīngzhì de tíngtái-lóugé.

Suzhou's classical gardens are filled with exquisite pavilions and terraces.

HSK 7-9

古画中描绘了山水之间的亭台楼阁。

Gǔ huà zhōng miáohuì le shānshuǐ zhījiān de tíngtái-lóugé.

The old painting depicts pavilions and towers nestled among mountains and rivers.

HSK 7-9

公园新建的亭台楼阁，颇有古风。

Gōngyuán xīnjiàn de tíngtái-lóugé, pō yǒu gǔfēng.

The newly built pavilions and towers in the park have a strong classical flavor.

Tips

culture

All four characters name distinct types of traditional Chinese garden buildings: 亭 (open pavilion), 台 (raised terrace), 楼 (multi-story building), 阁 (ornate kiosk). Together they evoke a classical Chinese garden.

Stroke Order

亭 tíng

台 tái

楼 lóu

阁 gé