HanziGuru.賓 · bīn
賓
bīn[bin1]Tone 1

guest

HSK 5
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宾
Guru Deep Dive

English · guest

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Left-right
Strokes:10
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (宀 roof and 匕 spoon) forms a sheltering framework over the right side (贝 shell/money), maintaining equal visual weight.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 賓 was simplified to 宾 by replacing the complex phonetic/semantic right component with 贝 (shell/money).
1. Meaning

guest, visitor

object (in grammar)submit to, yieldentertain guests
noun / verbNeutral#social relations#grammar#hospitality
Sample Usage
  • 欢迎光临，请进！
    huānyíng guānglín, qǐng jìn!
    Welcome, please come in!
  • 宾客满座
    bīnkè mǎnzuò
    The guests fill all the seats.
2. Sound
/[pɪn˴]/Tone: 55
賓
bīnbin1
++
¯(55)
=bīn
Initial Consonant
b
Type: Unaspirated Bilabial
Sounds like: b sound as in bin
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No burst of air. A tissue in front of lips should stay still.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Lips pressed together lightly then released without an outrush of breath.
Final Rhyme
in
Vowel Group: -i vowel group
Sounds like: -in rhymes with pin
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'een'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Maintains a steady, high pitch matching a flat musical drone.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse with the retroflex initial or aspirated 'p'. It starts with a clean, soft unaspirated 'b' sound like in English 'bin'.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 1 is a high level floating tone. Imagine holding a single high musical note flat across the horizon without any rise or dip.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (宀 roof and 匕 spoon) forms a sheltering framework over the right side (贝 shell/money), maintaining equal visual weight.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 賓 was simplified to 宾 by replacing the complex phonetic/semantic right component with 贝 (shell/money).

4. Components

Radical 贝 · Shell radical (money, treasure, valuable goods)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 贝 (indicates wealth or valuable treatment given to guests)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 宾 (original sound: bin)

A roof (宀) sheltering a person (匕), treating them with valuable shell money (贝) like a honored guest.

  • 宀 roof / shelter
  • 匕 spoon / person
  • 贝 shell / valuables
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted a building under which people gathered, later combining a roof and precious goods to signify the respectful reception of visitors.

Semantic Evolution: From the original sense of 'respectfully received guest' to modern extensions including grammar objects (賓語) and hospitality.

  • In ancient rituals, guests were treated with utmost courtesy and valuable gifts.
  • The grammar term 宾语 (object) derives from the concept of the receiver of the action, analogous to a guest receiving a host's attention.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ヒン
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
빈
Sound Shift Bridge: Shared East Asian literary root sound 'bin'.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Under the roof (宀), a person (匕) is welcomed like royalty, showered with precious shell money (贝) because they are our honored GUEST.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
滨
bīnwaterfront, shoreAdd water radical (氵) to mean the water's edge (guest of the water).
缤
bīnflourishing, colorfulAdd silk radical (纟) for colorful swirling threads.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
兵(bīng)
兵 has two horizontal strokes and means soldier, whereas 宾 has a roof and shell meaning guest.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
今天家裡來了很多外地來的[___]。
Clue: bīn kè
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone or mixing up the left components with 兵 (bīng).

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does 宾 mean when seen in isolation or in compounds like 宾客?
Production: How do you write the character for 'guest' (bīn) using a roof, person, and shell?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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