Usage note
参观用于描述访问某个地方或参加某种活动。
cān guān yòng yú miáo huì fǎng wèn gè dì fāng huò cān jiā zhǒng xíng dòng de qǔ zūn.
参观 is used to describe visiting a place or participating in an activity.
Context note
参观常用于博物馆、工厂或学校等场所，也可以指参加展览或会议。
cān guān cháng yòng yú bówùguǎn, gǎngyàng huò xuéxiào děng fáng chǎng, yě kě yǐ zhǐ cān jiā xiǎngshì huò huìyì.
参观 is commonly used for museums, factories or schools, and can also refer to attending exhibitions or meetings.
5 examples
我们去参观了科技馆。
wǒ men qù cān guān le kē jì guǎn。
We went to visit the science museum.
学校组织学生参观工厂。
xué xiào zǔ zhī xué shēng cān guān gōng chǎng。
The school organized students to visit the factory.
妈妈带我去参观动物园。
mā ma dài wǒ qù cān guān dòng wù yuán。
Mom took me to visit the zoo.
公司邀请客户参观新产品展示。
gōng sī yāo qǐng kè hù cān guān xīn chǎn pǐn zhǎn shì。
The company invited customers to visit the new product exhibition.
我们参加了国际会议的参观活动。
wǒ men cān jiā le guó jì huì yì de cān guān huó dòng。
We participated in the visiting activities of the international conference.
5 mini stories
昨天，我和爸爸妈妈去参观了科技馆。那里有很多有趣的展览。
zuó tiān， wǒ hé bà ba mā ma qù cān guān le kē jì guǎn。 nà lǐ yǒu hěn duō yǒu qù de zhǎn lǎn。
Yesterday, I went to visit the science museum with my parents. There were many interesting exhibitions there.
我们学校组织了一次工厂参观活动。同学们都很兴奋。
wǒ men xué xiào zǔ zhī le yí cì gōng chǎng cān guān huó dòng。 tóng xué men dōu hěn xīng fèn。
Our school organized a factory visit activity. The students were all very excited.
妈妈带我去动物园参观了大熊猫。我看到了很多可爱的大熊猫照片。
mā ma dài wǒ qù dòng wù yuán cān guān le dà xióng māo。 wǒ kàn dào le hěn duō kě ài de dà xióng māo zhào piàn。
Mom took me to the zoo to see the pandas. I saw many cute photos of pandas.
公司邀请我们去参观新产品展示。我很期待能看到新的产品。
gōng sī yāo qǐng wǒ men qù cān guān xīn chǎn pǐn zhǎn shì。 wǒ hěn qī dài néng kàn dào xīn de chǎn pǐn。
The company invited us to visit the new product exhibition. I was very excited to see the new products.
国际会议期间，我们参加了参观活动。我看到了很多来自世界各地的代表。
guó jì huì yì qī jiān， wǒ men cān jiā le cān guān huó dòng。 wǒ kàn dào le hěn duō lái zì shì jiè gè dì de dài biǎo。
During the international conference, we participated in the visiting activities. I saw many representatives from all over the world.
Mini dialogue
参观博物馆
A
明天我们去参观博物馆。
Míngtiān wǒmen qù cānguān bówùguǎn.
Tomorrow we will visit the museum.
B
太好了，我很喜欢参观博物馆。
Tài hǎo le, wǒ hěn xǐhuān cānguān bówùguǎn.
Great, I really like visiting museums.
参观学校
A
欢迎你来参观我们的学校。
Huānyíng nǐ lái cānguān wǒmen de xuéxiào.
Welcome to visit our school.
B
谢谢，我想参观一下图书馆。
Xièxiè, wǒ xiǎng cānguān yīxià túshūguǎn.
Thank you, I'd like to visit the library.
Related words and contrasts
related
看
kàn
to look; to see
参观 is a formal visit to see a place, 看 is general seeing
similar
访问
fǎng wèn
to visit (a person or place formally)
参观 is for places, 访问 can be for people or places
contrast
游玩
yóu wán
to play and have fun; to go sightseeing
参观 is more about learning, 游玩 is more about having fun