Definitions

bīn (noun) guest; visitor
bīn (noun) object (in grammar)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

About

The character "宾", meaning guest, originated from the traditional form "賓", which structurally combines the roof radical "宀" representing a house with components that imply movement and value, specifically "止" for foot and "貝" for shell currency, suggesting the arrival of a visitor possibly bearing gifts. This graphical representation was simplified by replacing the lower complex part with "兵", a component that primarily provides phonetic approximation without contributing to the meaning. Over time, the character's semantic core has consistently centered on the concept of a guest or visitor, and it is utilized in various compounds related to hospitality, such as "宾馆" for hotel, indicating its sustained lexical function despite structural modifications.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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 Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这家馆很干净。

Zhè jiā bīnguǎn hěn gānjìng.

This hotel is very clean.

客们都到齐了。

Bīnkèmen dōu dào qí le.

All the guests have arrived.

语在语法中很重要。

Bīnyǔ zài yǔfǎ zhōng hěn zhòngyào.

The object is very important in grammar.

他是公司的贵

Tā shì gōngsī de guìbīn.

He is the company's honored guest.

参观了博物馆。

Wàibīn cānguān le bówùguǎn.

The foreign guests visited the museum.

馆为客提供了优质服务。

Bīnguǎn wèi bīnkè tígōng le yōuzhì fúwù.

The hotel provided high-quality service for the guests.

在英语中,语通常位于动词之后。

Zài Yīngyǔ zhōng, bīnyǔ tōngcháng wèiyú dòngcí zhī hòu.

In English, the object usually comes after the verb.

主办方细致地安排了主的接待事宜。

Zhǔbànfāng xìzhì de ānpái le bīnzhǔ de jiēdài shìyí.

The organizers meticulously arranged the reception matters for hosts and guests.