陪客 (péi kè) — to keep a guest company, to entertain a guest

Definition

陪客 is a separable verb meaning 'to entertain a guest' — 陪 carries the action ('keep company'), 客 is the object ('guest'). Used when the host's job is to chat with, guide, or look after a visitor or client.

verb
to keep a guest companyto entertain a guest

Examples

  • 陪客，。
    Jīn wǎn wǒ yào zài jiā péi kè, bù néng gēn nǐ chū qù le.
    I have to stay home and keep a guest company tonight, so I can't go out with you.
  • ，。
    Tā péi guò jǐ cì kè, měi cì dōu liáo dé hěn kāi xīn.
    He has entertained guests a few times, and each time they chatted happily.
  • 陪客，。
    Gōng sī pài wǒ qù jī chǎng péi kè, bǎ kè hù jiē dào jiǔ diàn.
    The company sent me to the airport to keep the client company and take them to the hotel.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

陪péiaccompany
客kèguest

陪 means to accompany, and 客 means guest, giving the idea of keeping guests company.

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
阜阜fùsoil mountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu陪péi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

陪 pairs 阜, a mound of piled-up soil, with 咅 as a sound part; the mound gives the sense of joining up or staying close, as in accompanying.

Open 陪 →

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
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 →

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