賓 means “honored guest, VIP”

ひん · hin

Also: V.I.P., guest

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まろうど, したがう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヒン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 15 strokes

The story

Under a roof (宀), a guest arriving with a gift of shells (貝), the old money: someone to receive with honor. School ceremonies seat their 来賓 up front, airports keep a 貴賓室, and a visiting head of state comes as a 国賓.

Used in 来賓 (raihin, guest of honor), 国賓 (kokuhin, state guest), and 貴賓室 (kihinshitsu, VIP room)

More from Rites & Omens

• 崇 revere
• 禍 calamity
• 厄 misfortune
• 詣 visit a shrine
• 吉 good luck
• 儀 ceremony
• 典 classic
• 賀 congratulations
• 斎 purification
• 犠 sacrifice
• 寿 long life
• 祥 good omen

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.