Chinese word

作客

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuò kè

Meaning

  • verbbe a guest

Example

他常常到隔壁家作客。tā cháng cháng dào gé bì jiā zuò kè

He often goes to the neighbors' house as a guest.

Illustration for 作客 (be a guest)

More examples

上周末，他被邀请到同学家作客，一住就是两天。shàng zhōu mò tā bèi yāo qǐng dào tóng xué jiā zuò kè yí zhù jiù shì liǎng tiān

Last weekend, he was invited to a classmate's home as a guest and stayed there for two days.

Core concept

A temporary visit centered on being received and hosted by another household.

Common phrases

  • 到亲朋家作客dào qīn péng jiā zuò kè

    visit relatives' and friends' homes as a guest

  • 受邀作客shòu yāo zuò kè

    visit as an invited guest

Similar words

做客zuò kè: Be an invited guest in someone else's home for a short time.
拜访bài fǎng: Go to someone's home to see them, exchange greetings, or handle a matter.
访问fǎng wèn: Go to a person or place to talk, gather information, or carry out official work.

Definition in Chinese

到别人家里当客人，短期停留或接受招待。dào bié rén jiā lǐ dāng kè rén duǎn qī tíng liú huò jiē shòu zhāo dài

Word origin

The compound combines 作 (zuò, "be or act as") with 客 (kè, "guest"), creating the sense of acting as a guest during a short stay.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may use visit for both entering a home and staying there, but this word highlights the hosted-guest role rather than only the act of arriving.

Other meanings

  • stayverb

Opposites

  • 做东zuò dōngplay hostverb

Word lists with this word