How to Write 宾 (bīn) — Meaning “Guest / Visitor”

Imagine a soldier (兵) walking under a roof (宀) as a guest in someone's home. The roof represents hospitality, and the soldier is the visitor. This picture helps you remember that 宾 means guest.

The top radical 宀 should be wide enough to cover the bottom part 兵. A common mistake is making the roof too narrow or writing the bottom 兵 too tall. Keep the strokes clear and balanced, with the 宀 extending slightly over the 兵.

宾 has 兵 under the roof, while 宓 has 必 (must) and 宕 has 石 (stone). The meanings are also different: 宾 means guest, 宓 means quiet, and 宕 means delay or unsettled. Visually, look at the bottom component to tell them apart.

宾 appears in common words like 宾馆 (hotel), 嘉宾 (honored guest), and 贵宾 (VIP). In Chinese culture, treating a guest well is very important, so 宾 often carries a respectful tone. It is used in formal and polite contexts when referring to visitors.

Common words containing 宾 include: 宾馆 (bīn guǎn) — Hotel / Guesthouse; 嘉宾 (jiā bīn) — Honored guest.; 贵宾 (guì bīn) — VIP; distinguished guest.