A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Forbidden City
Pronounce 'Forbidden City': for-BID-un SIT-ee. Learn the rhythm and stress.
forbidden city
fer-BID-un SIT-ee
/fərˈbɪd.ən ˈsɪt.i/ · for · bid · den · cit · y
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's the name of a famous palace complex in Beijing, often mentioned in documentaries, news reports about China, or when planning a trip.
Where the word comes from
The name 'Forbidden City' is a direct translation of the Chinese name Zijincheng (紫禁城). 'Zi' means purple, 'jin' means forbidden, and 'cheng' means city, referring to its imperial status and inaccessibility.
Common ways people get it wrong
- FOR-bid-en SIT-ee The stress is on the second syllable of 'forbidden', not the first. Remember 'for-BID-den'.
- for-BID-den SIGH-tee The second word is 'city', not 'sight-ee'. The 'i' sound is short, like in 'sit'.
Frequently asked
How do you say Forbidden City?
It's pronounced for-BID-un SIT-ee. The main stress is on the second syllable of 'forbidden' and the first syllable of 'city'.
What does Forbidden City mean?
It translates from Chinese as 'Purple Forbidden City'. It was forbidden for ordinary people to enter without permission due to its imperial status.
Is it a hard word to pronounce?
Not really, once you get the stress right. Just remember 'for-BID-un SIT-ee' and you'll sound natural.
