宴会

• Pinyin: yàn huì
• Hanzi breakdown: 宴 = 宀 (roof) + 妟 (peaceful), meaning feast; 会 = 人 (person) + 云, meaning gathering

Meaning

Banquet; formal dinner party. A large ceremonial meal, often for celebrations or official occasions.

Used for formal gatherings with food and drink. Types include: 国宴 (state banquet), 婚宴 (wedding banquet), 生日宴会 (birthday party). Related: 宴请 (to host a banquet for), 设宴 (to hold a banquet). More formal than 聚餐 (group meal).

Examples

1. 公司年底会举办一场盛大的宴会。 The company holds a grand banquet at the end of the year.
2. 这场婚宴来了将近五百位宾客。 Nearly five hundred guests attended this wedding banquet.
3. 国家领导人在人民大会堂设宴款待外宾。 National leaders hosted a banquet for foreign guests at the Great Hall of the People.

Usage Guide

Context: celebrations, business, diplomacy

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 感谢您邀请我参加宴会。(Thank you for inviting me to the banquet.)
• 宴会定在八点开始。(The banquet is scheduled to start at eight.)

Don't Say

• 家里开个宴会 — 家庭聚餐一般说'聚餐''聚会'，宴会强调正式场合

Origin & History

Compound of 宴 (banquet, feast) + 会 (gathering, meeting). 宴 contains 宀 (roof) suggesting eating under a roof as a formal occasion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal