大厅

• Pinyin: dà tīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 (big, main) + 厅 (hall, room)

Meaning

Hall; lobby; main room.

Refers to a large room for gatherings or the lobby area of a building. Common in hotels, airports, theaters, museums, and public buildings. Can also refer to the main room of a traditional Chinese house.

Examples

1. 请在酒店大厅等我，我马上下来。 Please wait for me in the hotel lobby — I'll be right down.
2. 音乐会在大厅举行。 The concert is being held in the main hall.
3. 机场大厅里人很多。 There are a lot of people in the airport terminal.

Usage Guide

Context: hotels, public buildings, venues

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我们在大厅见面。(Let's meet in the lobby.)
• 大厅的装修很漂亮。(The hall's decoration is beautiful.)

Don't Say

• 家里的客厅一般不叫'大厅'——家用叫'客厅'，大厅通常指公共建筑的大空间 (A living room at home isn't called 大厅 — use 客厅 for home; 大厅 is for large public spaces)

Origin & History

Compound of 大 (big, main) + 厅 (hall, room), meaning a large hall or main room.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal