noun HSK 5
Traditional 賓
guest · visitor · object (grammatical)
Meaning
宾 refers to a guest or visitor, someone who is received with hospitality. In modern Chinese, it appears most commonly in formal compounds related to hospitality and guests. In grammatical terminology, it also refers to the object of a sentence.
Usage
宾 is rarely used alone in spoken Mandarin; it typically appears in formal compounds like 宾馆 (hotel) or 来宾 (guest). In grammar contexts, 宾语 means 'object' (the grammatical element). The standalone character sounds literary or classical.
Examples
- 01欢迎各位来宾参加今天的活动。.Welcome all guests to participate in today's event.
- 02这个句子的宾语是什么？?What is the object of this sentence?
Measure words
- 位一位宾客
Common collocations
- 宾语object (grammar)
- 贵宾distinguished guest, VIP
- 宾至如归guests feel at home (idiom)
- 主宾host and guest
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 賓 shows a person under a roof with shells (ancient currency), suggesting welcoming a guest with offerings.