'Shǐguǎn' literally combines 'shǐ' (envoy, diplomatic representative) and 'guǎn' (building, hall, or institution), meaning a formal office or residence where a country’s diplomats work and represent their home government abroad. It is the standard term for 'embassy' — the official diplomatic mission of one sovereign state in another's capital city.

This word appears frequently in news reports, travel contexts, and official communications. Unlike 'dàshǐguǎn' (which specifically means 'embassy' but emphasizes the ambassador's presence), 'shǐguǎn' is the neutral, general term used across all diplomatic missions at the embassy level. It does not refer to consulates ('zǒnglǐngshìguǎn') or other lower-level offices. The term carries formal register and is rarely used in casual speech outside relevant contexts.