ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to welcome

What 迎 is made of

Where 迎 comes from

迎 combines walking 辶 with a figure turning to face someone: you don't welcome by waiting — you walk out to meet the guest on the road. The motion is built into the character.

迎 in Chinese culture

欢迎光临! 'welcome, honored visit!' chimes at every shop door in China, often from a recorded voice that never tires. 迎新 welcomes the new — new students, new year — and 迎面 means 'coming right at you', head-on.

Example

How to remember it

Walk 辶 out to meet them face-on — that's a real WELCOME.

The automated 欢迎光临 doorbell greeting is so universal that Chinese kids imitate it as a game — it may be the most-heard recorded phrase in the country.

Same sound, different tones

Words unlocked by 迎

Related characters

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