旅馆

• Pinyin: lǚ guǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 旅 = 方 (direction) + 从 (people following), meaning to travel; 馆 = 饣(food) + 官 (official), originally a place for hosting officials — an inn or hall

Meaning

Hotel; inn; guesthouse. A place that provides paid accommodation for travellers.

A general term for accommodation establishments. In practice, 旅馆 often refers to smaller, more basic hotels or inns, while 酒店 or 宾馆 are used for larger or fancier hotels. All three are understood by everyone. 旅馆 is perfectly natural in daily speech and is the most textbook word for hotel.

Examples

1. 我们在火车站附近找了一家旅馆。 We found a hotel near the train station.
2. 这家旅馆虽然小，但是很干净。 This hotel is small, but it's very clean.
3. 你订旅馆了吗？明天就出发了。 Have you booked the hotel? We leave tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, accommodation, tourism

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这家旅馆一晚上多少钱？(How much is this hotel per night?)
• 我们住的旅馆离景点很近。(The hotel we're staying at is very close to the tourist spots.)

Don't Say

• 我住在一个五星旅馆。(For luxury hotels, use 酒店 instead of 旅馆 — 旅馆 implies something more modest. Say 我住在一个五星酒店.)

Origin & History

旅 means travel or journey; 馆 means a hall or establishment (as in 图书馆 library, 餐馆 restaurant). Together: an establishment for travellers — a hotel.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal