宾客 (bīn kè) — guests; visitors (formal)

Definition

A formal written word for 'guests' at events like weddings, banquets, or hotels. In everyday speech 客人 is more common; 宾客 sounds more dignified and is typical in service or ceremonial contexts.

noun

guestsvisitors (formal)

Measure word · 位

Examples

宾客。
Jiǔ diàn wèi měi yí wèi bīn kè zhǔn bèi le jīng zhì de fáng jiān.
The hotel prepared exquisite rooms for every guest.
，宾客。
Hūn lǐ shàng, bīn kè men fēn fēn xiàng xīn rén sòng shàng zhù fú.
At the wedding, the guests one after another offered blessings to the newlyweds.
宾客。
Yàn huì tīng lǐ zuò mǎn le lái zì gè dì de bīn kè.
The banquet hall was filled with guests from all over.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

宾bīnguest

客kèguest

Combines 宾 and 客, both meaning guest, to refer to guests or visitors.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 賓; 宾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèi

Sound part声符shēngfú

𡧍

𡧍𡧍賓bīn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 賓 is built from 𡧍 and 貝: 𡧍 gives the sound, and 貝 relates to the meaning. The simplified 宾 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 宾 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀各客

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè客kè

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →

Appears in