宾馆

• Pinyin: bīn guǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 宾 = 宀 (roof) + 兵 (soldier, phonetic); 馆 = 饣(food) + 官 (official, phonetic)

Meaning

Hotel; guesthouse. A commercial establishment providing lodging for travelers.

Generally refers to mid-range hotels. 酒店 often implies higher-end hotels, while 旅馆 or 招待所 are more basic. 宾馆 is commonly used in China for standard hotels.

Examples

1. 我们预订了市中心的一家宾馆，交通很方便。 We booked a hotel in the city center; the transportation is very convenient.
2. 这家宾馆虽然不大，但服务非常周到。 Although this hotel is not big, the service is very attentive.
3. 宾馆前台告诉我们，退房时间是中午十二点。 The hotel front desk told us that checkout time is noon.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, accommodation, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你住哪个宾馆？(Which hotel are you staying at?)
• 这家宾馆的早餐不错。(This hotel's breakfast is good.)

Don't Say

• 用'宾馆'称呼五星级豪华酒店——更合适的说法是'酒店'或'大酒店' (Don't call a five-star luxury hotel 宾馆 — use 酒店 or 大酒店 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 宾 (guest) + 馆 (building/establishment), meaning a building for guests.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal