送客 (sòng kè) — to see a visitor out (a courtesy act of accompa…

Definition

A courteous host act: walking a guest to the door or exit when they leave. Not just 'saying goodbye' (告别) — you physically accompany them out.

verb

to see a visitor out (a courtesy act of accompanying a guest to the door or exit)

，送客。
Kè rén yào zǒu, wǒ qù sòng kè yí xià.
The guest is leaving, I'll go see them out for a moment.
，。
Tā gāng sòng zǒu le yì bō kè rén, yòu lái le yì bō.
He just saw off a group of guests, and another group arrived.
，。
Jīn tiān jiā lǐ lái le bù shǎo kè rén, wǒ sòng le sān cì kè.
A lot of guests came to our home today; I saw them out three times.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

送 send and 客 guest name seeing a guest out.

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

辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

灷

灷zhuàn送sòng

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

送 combines 辶, the walking radical, with 灷, which supplies the sound; the walking part fits meanings like see off or deliver.

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

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.