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March 24, 2026
参观(參觀)cānguān(can1guan1)
The word 参观 (cān guān) means to look around or visit a place, typically for educational or tourism purposes. It is often used when referring to visiting museums, exhibitions, or significant landmarks where one can gain insight or learn something new.
Frequency#4147DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, 参观 is a common activity during school trips, where students visit historical sites or museums to enhance their education. Such visits are often encouraged by educators to provide practical learning experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a group of tourists, 'cān' (sounds like 'can') 'guān' (sounds like 'gone') to a museum. They can 'can' their curiosity and 'gone' to explore the new sights. The characters represent the idea of joining in (参) and observing (观) the beauty around.
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AI Study Notes for 参观
Quick Contrast
考察 (kǎochá) - use 参观 when the focus is on a casual or educational visit, while 考察 is more appropriate for formal investigations or assessments.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a group of tourists, 'cān' (sounds like 'can') 'guān' (sounds like 'gone') to a museum. They can 'can' their curiosity and 'gone' to explore the new sights. The characters represent the idea of joining in (参) and observing (观) the beauty around.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 参观 with other similar verbs like 访问 (fǎng wèn), which means 'to visit' in a more formal context. While 参观 is often used in an informal or semi-formal context, it is typically associated with places of interest. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 参观 connects with other terms related to travel and observation. Students should focus on using it in sentences about visiting places, which will help reinforce vocabulary related to travel and tourism.
Cultural Note
In China, 参观 is a common activity during school trips, where students visit historical sites or museums to enhance their education. Such visits are often encouraged by educators to provide practical learning experiences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 参观 to imply visiting friends or family, which is more appropriate with 访问 (fǎng wèn). For example, saying '我去参观我朋友' (Wǒ qù cān guān wǒ péngyǒu) should be corrected to '我去访问我朋友' (Wǒ qù fǎng wèn wǒ péngyǒu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 参观
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Grammar Patterns of 参观
参观 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You can visit the whole palace except for the private apartments.
Exercise 1 of 1
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I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.
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Cultural Notes for 参观
🏮Cultural insight
In China, 参观 is a common activity during school trips, where students visit historical sites or museums to enhance their education. Such visits are often encouraged by educators to provide practical learning experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions about 参观
You can say '我想参观这个博物馆' (Wǒ xiǎng cān guān zhège bówùguǎn), meaning 'I want to visit this museum.'
It's generally used in informal contexts but can be appropriate in semi-formal situations, like school trips or casual tours.
While it can technically apply to personal visits, it is more commonly used for public or educational visits.
