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March 24, 2026
宾(賓)bīn(bin1)
The character 宾 (bīn) primarily refers to a guest or visitor, often used in contexts related to hospitality. It can also refer to the object in grammatical terms, emphasizing the role of something being received or acted upon. This character is commonly seen in phrases related to welcoming guests or discussing social gatherings.
Strokes10Radical宀Frequency#5028DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hospitality is highly valued, and the concept of a guest (宾) is treated with great respect. The phrase '宾至如归' (bīn zhì rú guī) means 'guests feel at home,' highlighting the importance of making visitors comfortable.
Memory Tip
Imagine a guest (宾) arriving at your home, represented by a house (宀) with a person (口) inside. The person is waiting to greet the guest warmly, which helps you remember that 宾 signifies someone who visits or is received.
Meanings of 宾
bīn(bin1)
1visitor
2guest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 宾
宾Simplified
賓Traditional
10Strokes
宀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#5028Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2
Podcast: 宾
Podcast: 宾
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AI Study Notes for 宾
Quick Contrast
客 (kè) - use 宾 (bīn) when emphasizing the role of a guest in a formal or hospitable context, whereas 客 (kè) is more general and can refer to any visitor.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 宾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as in hospitality or when referring to guests in a respectful manner. Common collocations include 宾馆 (bīn guǎn, hotel) and 宾客 (bīn kè, guests).
HSK Study Tips
While 宾 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to hospitality and social interactions. Students should focus on recognizing collocations and usage in sentences involving guests or visitors.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宾 with 客, mistakenly using 宾 in casual contexts. Correct usage would involve using 客 for informal settings and reserving 宾 for formal invitations or hospitality scenarios.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宾
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Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 兵 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賓.
1The giveawayA solider 兵 quartered under one's roof 宀
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 宾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 宾?
Decomposition of 宾
IDS Structure⿱宀兵
宾Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
兵bing1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 宾?
How to say visitor in Chinese
“visitor” in Chinese is宾bīn
The character 宾 (bīn) primarily refers to a guest or visitor, often used in contexts related to hospitality. It can also refer to the object in grammatical terms, emphasizing the role of something being received or acted upon. This character is commonly seen in phrases related to welcoming guests or discussing social gatherings.
When to use 宾
Be careful not to confuse 宾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as in hospitality or when referring to guests in a respectful manner. Common collocations include 宾馆 (bīn guǎn, hotel) and 宾客 (bīn kè, guests).
宾 or something close to it
客 (kè) - use 宾 (bīn) when emphasizing the role of a guest in a formal or hospitable context, whereas 客 (kè) is more general and can refer to any visitor.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 宾 with 客, mistakenly using 宾 in casual contexts. Correct usage would involve using 客 for informal settings and reserving 宾 for formal invitations or hospitality scenarios.
Write 宾
宾
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Practice writing 宾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 宾
宾 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
