dàtīng: 大厅 - Lobby, Hall, Foyer

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• Summary: The Chinese word 大厅 (dàtīng) refers to the large, open entrance area of a public building, such as a lobby, hall, or foyer. Combining the characters for “big” (大) and “hall” (厅), it's a fundamental and practical term for navigating spaces like hotels, banks, airports, and office buildings in China. Understanding 大厅 is essential for everyday situations, from arranging a meeting place to finding your way around a new building.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dàtīng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A large hall, lobby, or main reception area of a building.
• In a Nutshell: Think of the first big, open room you walk into in a hotel, a bank, or a movie theater. That's a `大厅`. It's a literal and descriptive word: `大 (dà)` means “big,” and `厅 (tīng)` means “hall.” It's the central, public hub of a building that connects the entrance to other areas like elevators, reception desks, or specific rooms.

• 大 (dà): This is one of the simplest and most common characters. It means “big,” “large,” or “great.” The character itself is a pictogram of a person stretching their arms and legs out to look as big as possible.
• 厅 (tīng): This character means “hall” or “a room for a specific purpose” (like receiving guests). It's composed of the radical `厂 (chǎng)`, which represents a cliff or shelter, and the phonetic component `丁 (dīng)`. Together, they evoke the image of a large, sheltered room.

When combined, 大厅 (dàtīng) literally translates to “big hall,” a perfect and straightforward description of its meaning.

While `大厅` is a practical term, the *experience* of a Chinese `大厅` can be culturally distinct. In many Western contexts, a lobby might be a quiet, transitional space. In China, the `大厅` of a bank, hospital, or government office is often a vibrant, bustling, and highly organized hub of activity.

• A Public Square Indoors: Due to China's large population, public spaces like a `银行大厅` (bank lobby) are designed for high traffic. You'll typically find a ticket-based queuing system (`取号机 qǔhàojī`), multiple numbered windows for different services, and staff members (often wearing a sash) whose primary job is to direct people and answer initial questions. The atmosphere is less about quiet waiting and more about efficient, high-volume processing. It's a microcosm of Chinese public life: lively, communal, and system-oriented.
• Contrast with Western Lobbies: An American bank lobby, for instance, might have a single queue line and prioritize a sense of privacy and quiet consultation. The Chinese `大厅` often feels more like a community hall where many people's business is conducted in a shared space. This reflects a more collective approach to public services, where the focus is on managing the crowd efficiently.

`大厅` is an extremely common and useful noun. You will encounter it constantly when navigating cities.

• In Hotels (酒店 jiǔdiàn): The `酒店大厅` is the hotel lobby, where the `前台` (qiántái - front desk) is located. It's a common meeting point.
• In Banks (银行 yínháng): The `银行大厅` is the main banking hall where customers wait for tellers.
• In Airports and Stations (机场 jīchǎng / 车站 chēzhàn): You'll hear about the `出发大厅` (chūfā dàtīng - departure hall) or `到达大厅` (dàodá dàtīng - arrivals hall).
• In Residential Buildings (公寓 gōngyù): Larger, modern apartment buildings have a `大厅` on the ground floor with mailboxes and elevators.
• In Theaters and Venues: While a concert hall is a `音乐厅 (yīnyuè tīng)` and an exhibition hall is a `展览厅 (zhǎnlǎn tīng)`, the main entrance lobby for these venues is still called the `大厅`.

The term is neutral and descriptive. Its level of formality simply matches the building it describes—a grand hotel `大厅` is formal, while an apartment building `大厅` is casual.

• Example 1:
  • 我们在酒店大厅见吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài jiǔdiàn dàtīng jiàn ba.
  • English: Let's meet in the hotel lobby.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical phrase for coordinating a meeting place.
• Example 2:
  • 银行大厅里有很多人在排队。
  • Pinyin: Yínháng dàtīng lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén zài páiduì.
  • English: There are a lot of people queuing in the bank lobby.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly describes a typical scene in a Chinese bank. `排队 (páiduì)` means “to queue” or “to line up.”
• Example 3:
  • 请在一楼大厅的前台登记。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài yī lóu dàtīng de qiántái dēngjì.
  • English: Please register at the front desk in the lobby on the first floor.
  • Analysis: This shows the relationship between `大厅` and `前台 (qiántái)`, the front desk. `登记 (dēngjì)` means “to register.”
• Example 4:
  • 机场的出发大厅在二楼。
  • Pinyin: Jīchǎng de chūfā dàtīng zài èr lóu.
  • English: The airport's departure hall is on the second floor.
  • Analysis: `出发 (chūfā)` means “to depart,” so `出发大厅` is the specific name for the departure hall.
• Example 5:
  • 他正在公寓楼下的大厅等电梯。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài gōngyù lóu xià de dàtīng děng diàntī.
  • English: He is waiting for the elevator in the lobby downstairs in the apartment building.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `大厅` for a residential building. `电梯 (diàntī)` is “elevator.”
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司的大厅设计得非常现代。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de dàtīng shèjì de fēicháng xiàndài.
  • English: This company's lobby is designed very modernly.
  • Analysis: `设计 (shèjì)` means “to design,” and `现代 (xiàndài)` means “modern.”
• Example 7:
  • 婚礼的招待会将在酒店的主大厅举行。
  • Pinyin: Hūnlǐ de zhāodàihuì jiāng zài jiǔdiàn de zhǔ dàtīng jǔxíng.
  • English: The wedding reception will be held in the hotel's main hall.
  • Analysis: `主 (zhǔ)` means “main,” so `主大厅` emphasizes it's the principal hall.
• Example 8:
  • 走进剧院，首先看到的就是宽敞的大厅。
  • Pinyin: Zǒu jìn jùyuàn, shǒuxiān kàn dào de jiùshì kuānchǎng de dàtīng.
  • English: Walking into the theater, the first thing you see is the spacious lobby.
  • Analysis: `宽敞 (kuānchǎng)` is a great adjective to use with `大厅`, meaning “spacious” or “roomy.”
• Example 9:
  • 大厅的屏幕上显示着所有航班的信息。
  • Pinyin: Dàtīng de píngmù shàng xiǎnshì zhe suǒyǒu hángbān de xìnxī.
  • English: The screen in the hall displays information for all the flights.
  • Analysis: A very useful sentence for an airport context. `航班 (hángbān)` is “flight.”
• Example 10:
  • 如果你迷路了，就回到大厅问一下服务员。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ mílù le, jiù huí dào dàtīng wèn yīxià fúwùyuán.
  • English: If you get lost, just go back to the lobby and ask an attendant.
  • Analysis: This shows the `大厅` as a central, reliable point of orientation in a large building.

The most significant point of confusion for English speakers is distinguishing `大厅` from `客厅 (kètīng)`.

• `大厅 (dàtīng)` vs. `客厅 (kètīng)` (Living Room):
  • `大厅` is for public buildings. It's a lobby, hall, or foyer.
  • `客厅 (kètīng)` is for a private residence. It is the “living room” or “sitting room” where you entertain guests (`客 kè` means guest).
  • INCORRECT: 我邀请你来我家的大厅喝茶。(Wǒ yāoqǐng nǐ lái wǒjiā de dàtīng hē chá.) - This sounds like you live in a hotel or mansion and are inviting them to your grand lobby.
  • CORRECT: 我邀请你来我家的客厅喝茶。(Wǒ yāoqǐng nǐ lái wǒjiā de kètīng hē chá.) - “I invite you to come have tea in my living room.”
• `大厅 (dàtīng)` vs. `走廊 (zǒuláng)` (Hallway):
  • A `大厅` is a large, open room.
  • A `走廊 (zǒuláng)` is a long, narrow passage or corridor that connects rooms. Don't use `大厅` to refer to the hallway outside your hotel room.

• 客厅 (kètīng) - The living room in a house. The most important distinction to learn.
• 前台 (qiántái) - The front desk or reception, which is almost always located within a `大厅`.
• 大堂 (dàtáng) - A close synonym for `大厅`, often used for grander, more impressive lobbies (e.g., in a five-star hotel). It carries a slightly more formal and stately feel.
• 门厅 (méntīng) - Foyer or entrance hall. Refers specifically to the area right inside the main door (`门 mén`), often smaller than a full `大厅`.
• 礼堂 (lǐtáng) - An auditorium or assembly hall, a space designed for ceremonies (`礼 lǐ`), speeches, or large gatherings.
• 走廊 (zǒuláng) - A hallway or corridor. A passage for walking (`走 zǒu`), not a room for waiting.
• 餐厅 (cāntīng) - Restaurant or dining hall. Uses the same character `厅` to denote a hall for a specific purpose (dining `餐 cān`).
• 候车厅 (hòuchē tīng) - A waiting hall in a train (`火车 huǒchē`) or bus station (`汽车 qìchē`). `候 (hòu)` means “to wait.”
• 候机厅 (hòujī tīng) - A waiting hall in an airport (boarding gate area). `机 (jī)` comes from `飞机 (fēijī)`, meaning airplane.