Definitions

bīn best man; to entertain

Etymology

Someone  who hosts guests  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character is a simplified form of the traditional , which combines the person radical with . The component (simplified from ) means 'guest' and provides the pronunciation. Historically, served as a verb for the act of receiving, guiding, and entertaining guests at formal ceremonies. It later evolved into a noun designating wedding attendants, such as groomsmen or bridesmaids, who play ceremonial roles.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern