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宾至如归 (bīn zhì rú guī) — to feel at home (as a guest); homelike hospitality

Definition

A chengyu meaning a guest feels as comfortable as if they were home — used to praise hospitality, hotels, restaurants, or hosts. It's formal and written, not used in casual conversation.

idiom
to feel at home (as a guest)homelike hospitality

Examples

  • 務宾至如归。
    Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn de fú wù ràng kè rén gǎn dào bīn zhì rú guī.
    The service at this hotel makes guests feel at home.
  • ，宾至如归。
    Péng you de jiā hěn shū fu, měi cì qù dōu yǒu bīn zhì rú guī de gǎn jué.
    My friend's home is very comfortable; every time I go I feel at home.
  • 宾至如归。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng yǐ bīn zhì rú guī wèi jīng yíng lǐ niàn.
    This restaurant operates with the concept of making guests feel at home.

Origin

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 →

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

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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