building; hall; public building
Used as a suffix to name a large building or hall, often for a specific purpose (e.g., 図書館, 博物館). As a standalone noun, it refers to a large or public building.
There is a fine library in this town.
A new public hall was built near the station.
Written with the same kanji, 館 read as かん means a hall or public building (like 図書館), while 館 read as やかた is an archaic word for a mansion or lord.
Used when counting 館 (large buildings like halls or mansions) as physical structures, similar to how 棟 or 軒 are naturally used for buildings in general.
Standard kanji form for this suffix/noun.
The kanji 館 is composed of 食 (eat) and 官 (official), originally meaning a place where officials were fed, later extended to mean a large building or hall.
public hall; community center
martial arts stadium; martial arts hall · Nippon Budokan; Budokan
main building · this building (library, museum, theatre, hall)
opening for the day; being open · inauguration; grand opening
building number suffix
director; head; superintendent; curator; chief librarian
consulate
visit a facility; come to a venue
closing for the day · closing down permanently
closure (of a library, museum, etc.)
entry (into a building); entering (a library, museum, etc.)
annex; annexe; supplementary building
new building; annex
this establishment; our facility
entire building; all floors
consulate-general
reception hall; guest house · State Guest House
brothel
official residence
annex; branch building
manager; proprietor