bīnguǎn: 宾馆 - Hotel, Guesthouse

• Keywords: binguan, 宾馆, Chinese for hotel, guesthouse in Chinese, what is a binguan, difference between binguan and jiudian, types of hotels in China, Chinese accommodation, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural context of 宾馆 (bīnguǎn), the common Chinese word for “hotel” or “guesthouse”. This page breaks down the characters 宾 (bīn) and 馆 (guǎn), explains its practical use in modern China, and clarifies the crucial difference between 宾馆 (bīnguǎn), 酒店 (jiǔdiàn), and 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) for anyone traveling or learning about Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bīn guǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A building offering accommodation to travelers; a hotel or guesthouse.
• In a Nutshell: 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) is your all-purpose word for a hotel in Chinese. While it can refer to almost any place you pay to sleep in, it often carries the feel of a standard, functional, and perhaps slightly older hotel. It's a reliable, neutral term that every traveler in China should know.

• 宾 (bīn): This character means “guest” or “visitor”. The top part (宀) represents a roof, and the parts below originally depicted a person (人) bringing a gift of cowrie shells (贝), which were used as ancient currency. It implies a respected visitor being welcomed into a home or establishment.
• 馆 (guǎn): This character means “building,” “establishment,” or “hall.” It's composed of the food radical (饣, a simplified version of 食) and 官 (guān), meaning “official.” Historically, it referred to a place where officials were provided with food and lodging. Today, it's used in words for many public buildings, like 图书馆 (túshūguǎn - library) and 博物馆 (bówùguǎn - museum).

Together, 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) literally means a “building for guests,” a perfect and straightforward name for a hotel.

In English, “hotel,” “inn,” and “motel” have different connotations. A similar, but more culturally specific, distinction exists in Chinese. 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) occupies a unique space. Historically, especially before China's economic opening in the 1980s and 90s, the 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) was the standard form of lodging. Many were state-run and catered to officials, cadres, or foreign dignitaries. The famous Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, for example, is a 国宾馆 (guó bīnguǎn), or “State Guesthouse.” Because of this history, 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) can sometimes feel more formal, institutional, or less commercially slick than its modern counterpart, 酒店 (jiǔdiàn). Think of it this way: if “hotel” in the West makes you think of a Hilton or a Marriott, a 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) might be closer to a solid, reliable, perhaps government-owned city hotel or a large, independent guesthouse. It’s less about luxury and branding, and more about providing the core service of accommodation. While many modern and comfortable hotels are called 宾馆, the term retains a slightly more traditional and functional flavor compared to the often glamorous 酒店 (jiǔdiàn).

In everyday conversation, 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) is a perfectly common and understood word for “hotel.” You can use it to ask for directions, book a room, or describe where you are staying.

• General-Purpose Use: If you're not sure what kind of hotel it is, or you're just looking for any place to stay, 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) is a safe and neutral choice.
• For Budget to Mid-Range Stays: While not exclusively for cheaper places, the term is very common for 2-star or 3-star establishments and independent hotels.
• In Official Names: Many hotels, especially older ones or those with government affiliations, will have 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) in their official name. For example, “北京友谊宾馆” (Běijīng Yǒuyì Bīnguǎn - Beijing Friendship Hotel).

The key is to know that while it's a general term, a place calling itself a 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) is actively marketing itself as more modern, luxurious, and full-service.

• Example 1:
  • 我们在网上预订了一个宾馆。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài wǎngshàng yùdìng le yí ge bīnguǎn.
  • English: We booked a hotel online.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. 宾馆 is used here as a general term for lodging.
• Example 2:
  • 请问，这附近有宾馆吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè fùjìn yǒu bīnguǎn ma?
  • English: Excuse me, is there a hotel nearby?
  • Analysis: This is a classic phrase for any traveler. Using 宾馆 is clear and will get you the help you need.
• Example 3:
  • 这家宾馆虽然不大，但是很干净。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bīnguǎn suīrán bú dà, dànshì hěn gānjìng.
  • English: Although this hotel isn't big, it's very clean.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the quality of the 宾馆, showing how it can be used to talk about specific establishments. The measure word for buildings like hotels is “家 (jiā)”.
• Example 4:
  • 市中心的宾馆都比较贵。
  • Pinyin: Shì zhōngxīn de bīnguǎn dōu bǐjiào guì.
  • English: The hotels in the city center are all relatively expensive.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how to use 宾馆 in a general sense to refer to all hotels within a certain area.
• Example 5:
  • 他现在住在火车站旁边的一家小宾馆里。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiànzài zhù zài huǒchēzhàn pángbiān de yì jiā xiǎo bīnguǎn lǐ.
  • English: He is now staying in a small guesthouse next to the train station.
  • Analysis: The adjective “小 (xiǎo)” meaning “small” modifies 宾馆, emphasizing its smaller scale, leaning more towards “guesthouse.”
• Example 6:
  • 我们明天中午十二点必须从宾馆退房。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen míngtiān zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn bìxū cóng bīnguǎn tuìfáng.
  • English: We must check out from the hotel at 12:00 noon tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for travel logistics. “退房 (tuìfáng)” means “to check out of a room.”
• Example 7:
  • 这家宾馆的服务员态度很好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bīnguǎn de fúwùyuán tàidù hěn hǎo.
  • English: The staff at this hotel have a very good attitude.
  • Analysis: This shows how to talk about the service quality within the context of a 宾馆.
• Example 8:
  • 这不是豪华酒店，只是一个普通的宾馆。
  • Pinyin: Zhè búshì háohuá jiǔdiàn, zhǐshì yí ge pǔtōng de bīnguǎn.
  • English: This isn't a luxury hotel, it's just a regular guesthouse.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 宾馆 with “豪华酒店 (háohuá jiǔdiàn - luxury hotel),” highlighting its common association with being more standard or “普通 (pǔtōng)”.
• Example 9:
  • 钓鱼台国宾馆是专门接待外宾的地方。
  • Pinyin: Diàoyútái Guó Bīnguǎn shì zhuānmén jiēdài wàibīn de dìfang.
  • English: The Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is a place specifically for receiving foreign dignitaries.
  • Analysis: This shows the high-end, official use of the term. “国 (guó)” means “state” or “national,” elevating its status significantly.
• Example 10:
  • 很多大学里面都有自己的宾馆，方便来访的学者住。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō dàxué lǐmiàn dōu yǒu zìjǐ de bīnguǎn, fāngbiàn láifǎng de xuézhě zhù.
  • English: Many universities have their own guesthouses inside, making it convenient for visiting scholars to stay.
  • Analysis: This highlights a common scenario where an institution (like a university) runs its own lodging, which is almost always called a 宾馆 or 招待所 (zhāodàisuǒ).

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 宾馆 (bīnguǎn), 酒店 (jiǔdiàn), and 旅馆 (lǚguǎn).

• 宾馆 (bīnguǎn): The general-purpose word. Think “hotel” or “guesthouse.” It's your default, neutral term. It can be big or small, fancy or simple, but often implies a standard, functional establishment.
• 酒店 (jiǔdiàn): This word also means “hotel,” but it strongly implies a more modern, often larger and more luxurious place with amenities like restaurants, bars, and conference rooms. International chains like Hilton (希尔顿酒店) and Marriott (万豪酒店) are always called 酒店.
  • False Friend Alert: 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) literally means “wine shop,” and can also refer to a large, fancy restaurant by itself, without any rooms. Context is key! If people say “我们去酒店吃饭” (Let's go to the jiǔdiàn to eat), they probably mean a restaurant.
• 旅馆 (lǚguǎn): This refers to a smaller, more basic, and cheaper form of lodging. It's the closest equivalent to an “inn,” “motel,” or a simple guesthouse. You would expect fewer amenities and lower prices at a 旅馆.

Common Mistake: Using 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) when referring to a small, family-run guesthouse. It would be like calling a small-town motel “The Grand Hyatt.” The more appropriate term would be 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) or 宾馆 (bīnguǎn).

• 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) - The main alternative to 宾馆, usually implying a more modern, multi-service, or luxurious hotel.
• 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) - A smaller, more basic, and usually cheaper type of lodging, like an inn or motel.
• 饭店 (fàndiàn) - Can mean “hotel” (often for older, grand hotels like the Beijing Hotel) or simply “restaurant.” It has a similar ambiguity to 酒店.
• 招待所 (zhāodàisuǒ) - A guesthouse, typically very basic and often run by a government work unit, school, or company for its own staff or visitors.
• 住宿 (zhùsù) - (Noun/Verb) Accommodation, lodging; to stay overnight.
• 预订 (yùdìng) - (Verb) To book, to reserve (a room, a ticket, etc.).
• 前台 (qiántái) - (Noun) The front desk or reception area of a hotel.
• 房间 (fángjiān) - (Noun) Room.
• 客人 (kèrén) - (Noun) Guest, customer. The “宾 (bīn)” in 宾馆 specifically refers to this type of person.
• 单人间 (dānrénjiān) - (Noun) Single room.
• 双人间 (shuāngrénjiān) - (Noun) Double room / twin room.