Why is it called the 'Forbidden' City?

Because access to the complex was forbidden to ordinary people for over 500 years during the imperial era.

Can you visit the Forbidden City?

Yes, since 1925 it has been open to the public as the Palace Museum.

Is 'forbidden city' always capitalized?

When referring specifically to the palace in Beijing, it is always capitalized ('Forbidden City'). The lowercase form is used for generic metaphors.

What is the Chinese name for the Forbidden City?

It is called 'Gugong' (故宫), which translates to 'Former Palace'.

Is “forbidden city” formal?

Forbidden city is usually formal, historical, academic, touristic in register.

How do you pronounce “forbidden city”?

Forbidden city: in British English it is pronounced /fəˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɚˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt̬.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

forbidden city: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/fəˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt.i/US/fɚˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt̬.i/

Formal, Historical, Academic, Touristic

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “forbidden city” mean?

The former imperial palace in Beijing, China, now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The former imperial palace in Beijing, China, now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Any place that is strictly off-limits or inaccessible to the general public. Often used metaphorically for exclusive or secretive locations.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant spelling or usage differences. Both refer to the same historical site.

Connotations

Strong historical and cultural connotations in both varieties, associated with imperial China, secrecy, and grandeur.

Frequency

Similar frequency; common in historical, cultural, and travel contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “forbidden city” in a Sentence

[The] Forbidden City + [verb: is, was, stands, contains][Preposition: in, of, near] + the Forbidden City

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

visit the Forbidden Citythe Forbidden City in Beijingthe gates of the Forbidden Cityimperial Forbidden City

medium

tour the Forbidden Cityhistory of the Forbidden Citysurrounding the Forbidden Citypalace complex

weak

ancient Forbidden Citymassive Forbidden Cityforbidden city wallsexplore the city

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Metaphorically used to describe a highly restricted area or department (e.g., 'The R&D lab is the company's forbidden city.').

Academic

Common in history, Asian studies, architecture, and art history texts discussing Ming and Qing dynasties.

Everyday

Primarily in travel discussions or as a metaphor for an off-limits place.

Technical

Used in archaeology, heritage conservation, and tourism management.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “forbidden city”

Strong

Gugong (Chinese name)Former Imperial Residence

Neutral

Imperial PalacePalace Museum

Weak

walled palacehistorical complexold city

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “forbidden city”

public squareopen cityaccessible area

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “forbidden city”

Using lowercase when referring specifically to the Beijing site (should be capitalized).
Misspelling as 'Forbiden City'.
Using the definite article incorrectly (e.g., 'the Forbidden City' is correct).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Because access to the complex was forbidden to ordinary people for over 500 years during the imperial era.
: Yes, since 1925 it has been open to the public as the Palace Museum.
: When referring specifically to the palace in Beijing, it is always capitalized ('Forbidden City'). The lowercase form is used for generic metaphors.
: It is called 'Gugong' (故宫), which translates to 'Former Palace'.
: The former imperial palace in Beijing, China, now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
: Forbidden city is usually formal, historical, academic, touristic in register.
: Forbidden city: in British English it is pronounced /fəˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɚˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt̬.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“It's like the Forbidden City in there.”
“His office is the forbidden city of the company.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

FORBIDDEN: The emperor FORBID DEN-izens (common people) from entering his CITY.

Conceptual Metaphor

A SECRET IS A WALLED CITY; EXCLUSIVITY IS A FORTRESS.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The in Beijing was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to the Qing dynasty.

Multiple Choice

What is the 'Forbidden City' primarily known as today?