会客 (huì kè) — to receive a visitor, to meet with a guest (formal)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to receive or meet with a guest, used in official or business contexts (e.g. 会客室).

verb
to receive a visitorto meet with a guest (formal)

Examples

  • 会客。
    Jīng lǐ zhèng zài bàn gōng shì huì kè.
    The manager is receiving a visitor in the office.
  • 。
    Tā jīn tiān xià wǔ huì le yí cì kè.
    He met with a guest once this afternoon.
  • 。
    Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn yǒu zhuān mén de huì kè shì.
    This hotel has a dedicated meeting room for guests.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

会huìmeet
客kèguest

会 means meet and 客 means guest, so to meet or receive a guest.

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 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

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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