座上宾 (zuò shàng bīn) — distinguished guest; guest of honor

Definition

A formal idiom for the most honored guest at a gathering — someone singled out for special treatment and respect.

noun
distinguished guestguest of honor

Examples

  • 座上宾，。
    Tā shì jīn tiān de zuò shàng bīn, zuò zài zhǔ rén páng biān.
    He is today's guest of honor, sitting next to the host.
  • 座上宾。
    Gōng sī bǎ zhè wèi lǎo kè hù dàng zuò zuò shàng bīn duì dài.
    The company treats this long-term client as a distinguished guest.
  • ，座上宾。
    Zài yàn huì shàng, zuò shàng bīn bèi qǐng shàng tái fā yán.
    At the banquet, the guest of honor was invited to give a speech.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

座上on the seat
座zuòseat上shàngon
偏正Modifier + head
宾bīnguest

座 (seat), 上 (on), and 宾 (guest) combine to mean an honored guest seated in the place of honor.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎnghouse on cliff
Sound part声符shēngfú
坐
坐zuò座zuò
Same sound today

座 pairs 广, a house on a cliff, with 坐 to give the sound.

Open 座 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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 →

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