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来宾 (lái bīn) — guest; visitor (especially a distinguished or official one)

Definition

来宾 is a more formal word for 'guest,' used for official or distinguished visitors. Compare 客人 (everyday 'guest' or 'customer') and 嘉宾 (honored guest on a show or formal occasion).

noun
guestvisitor (especially a distinguished or official one)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 来宾！
    Huān yíng gè wèi lái bīn!
    Welcome, distinguished guests!
  • 。
    Qǐng lái bīn men àn shùn xù rù chǎng.
    Please have the guests enter in order.
  • 来宾。
    Jīn tiān de lái bīn dōu shì lái zì gè jiè de dài biǎo.
    Today's guests are all representatives from various sectors.

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.

来láicome
宾bīnguest

Guests who come are visitors or distinguished guests.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Social Roles & Status

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