lǚguǎn: 旅馆 - Hotel, Inn

• Keywords: lǚguǎn, 旅馆, Chinese hotel, book a hotel in China, lǚguǎn meaning, what is a lǚguǎn, 酒店 jiǔdiàn vs 旅馆 lǚguǎn, accommodation in China, Chinese inn, travel in China, HSK 3 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 旅馆 (lǚguǎn), a common Chinese word for a hotel or inn. This guide explores its cultural context, differentiates it from similar terms like 酒店 (jiǔdiàn), and provides practical example sentences. Discover what kind of accommodation a 旅馆 typically is and how to use the term correctly when traveling in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǚ guǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A place that provides lodging and other services for travelers; a hotel or inn.
• In a Nutshell: 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) is a general and slightly traditional term for a place to stay while traveling. Think of it as the default word for “hotel,” often implying a more functional, budget-friendly, or smaller establishment compared to a luxurious, modern high-rise. It's the Chinese equivalent of an “inn” or “motel.”

• 旅 (lǚ): This character means “to travel” or “journey.” It depicts people traveling under a banner, evoking the image of a traveling party or caravan.
• 馆 (guǎn): This character means “establishment,” “hall,” or “shop.” It's a common suffix for buildings with a specific public purpose, like a restaurant (饭馆 fànguǎn) or a museum (博物馆 bówùguǎn).
• Together, 旅 (travel) + 馆 (establishment) literally means a “travel establishment”—a place built specifically for travelers to rest.

Historically, travelers in China stayed at a 客栈 (kèzhàn), a traditional inn that often served as a teahouse and a stable for horses. 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) is the more modern evolution of this concept, emerging in the 20th century. The key cultural distinction for a learner is understanding 旅馆 in relation to its modern counterparts. In Western culture, the word “hotel” covers everything from a cheap roadside motel to the Ritz-Carlton. In Chinese, the choice of word subtly signals the establishment's class and style:

• 旅馆 (lǚguǎn): Often implies a smaller, independently-run, or more basic hotel. It's functional and focused on providing a place to sleep. It's comparable to a motel, a simple inn, or a 2-star hotel in the West.
• 酒店 (jiǔdiàn): This term is used for larger, more modern, and often more luxurious hotels that offer a wide range of amenities like restaurants, conference rooms, and gyms. This is the word you'd use for a Marriott, Hilton, or any major chain hotel.
• 宾馆 (bīnguǎn): Translates to “guesthouse.” These were traditionally state-run and used to host officials and dignitaries. Today, the term is still used for many hotels, sometimes implying a slightly more formal or official character, though they can range from mid-tier to very high-end.

Choosing the right word reflects your expectations. If you're looking for simple, affordable lodging, you're looking for a 旅馆.

In modern China, 旅馆 is a widely understood term, though it's less common in the marketing materials of upscale hotels, which prefer the more prestigious-sounding 酒店 (jiǔdiàn).

• On the Street: You will frequently see signs with “旅馆” on the street, especially in smaller cities, older neighborhoods, or near train stations. These signs indicate no-frills, affordable accommodation.
• In Conversation: It's a perfectly neutral and common word to use when asking for directions (“Is there a hotel nearby?”) or talking about past travel (“We stayed at a small lǚguǎn.”).
• Connotation: The connotation is generally neutral but can lean towards “basic” or “budget.” It's not negative, but it doesn't suggest luxury. If a friend tells you they are staying in a 旅馆, you would not assume they are at a five-star resort.

• Example 1:
  • 我们在火车站附近找了一家旅馆。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài huǒchēzhàn fùjìn zhǎole yī jiā lǚguǎn.
  • English: We found a hotel near the train station.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and practical scenario. Hotels near train stations are often the functional, no-frills type, making 旅馆 the perfect word here.
• Example 2:
  • 这家旅馆的价格很便宜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā lǚguǎn de jiàgé hěn piányi.
  • English: This hotel's price is very cheap.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the common association of 旅馆 with affordability.
• Example 3:
  • 请问，这家旅馆一个晚上多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè jiā lǚguǎn yī gè wǎnshang duōshao qián?
  • English: Excuse me, how much is one night at this hotel?
  • Analysis: A standard question a traveler would ask when checking prices at a smaller inn or hotel.
• Example 4:
  • 虽然这个旅馆有点旧，但是很干净。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhège lǚguǎn yǒudiǎn jiù, dànshì hěn gānjìng.
  • English: Although this hotel is a bit old, it's very clean.
  • Analysis: This shows how 旅馆 can be used to describe the condition of the lodging, acknowledging it might not be the most modern place.
• Example 5:
  • 你想住旅馆还是五星级酒店？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng zhù lǚguǎn háishì wǔxīngjí jiǔdiàn?
  • English: Do you want to stay in a simple hotel (inn) or a five-star hotel?
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 旅馆 with a high-end hotel (酒店), making the difference in class very clear.
• Example 6:
  • 他开了一家小旅馆来招待游客。
  • Pinyin: Tā kāile yī jiā xiǎo lǚguǎn lái zhāodài yóukè.
  • English: He opened a small inn to host tourists.
  • Analysis: The classifier “家 (jiā)” is commonly used for businesses like hotels, restaurants, and shops.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的旅行预算不多，只能住便宜的旅馆。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de lǚxíng yùsuàn bù duō, zhǐ néng zhù piányi de lǚguǎn.
  • English: Our travel budget isn't big, so we can only stay in cheap hotels.
  • Analysis: This reinforces the association of 旅馆 with budget-friendly travel.
• Example 8:
  • 你需要提前预订旅馆的房间吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào tíqián yùdìng lǚguǎn de fángjiān ma?
  • English: Do you need to book the hotel room in advance?
  • Analysis: A practical sentence combining the target word with other key travel vocabulary like “预订 (yùdìng) - to book” and “房间 (fángjiān) - room”.
• Example 9:
  • 这家旅馆不提供早餐。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā lǚguǎn bù tígōng zǎocān.
  • English: This hotel doesn't provide breakfast.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the limited services that might be expected from a more basic 旅馆.
• Example 10:
  • 走了很长的路，我们终于找到了一个可以休息的旅馆。
  • Pinyin: Zǒule hěn cháng de lù, wǒmen zhōngyú zhǎodàole yī gè kěyǐ xiūxi de lǚguǎn.
  • English: After walking a long way, we finally found a hotel where we could rest.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the feeling of a weary traveler finding simple, welcome lodging.

The most common pitfall for learners is not understanding the difference between 旅馆, 酒店, and 宾馆. Using the wrong one isn't a critical error, but it can sound strange or misrepresent the place you're talking about.

• Mistake: Using 旅馆 for a luxury hotel.
  • Incorrect: 我住在上海的丽思卡尔顿旅馆。(Wǒ zhù zài Shànghǎi de Lìsī Kǎ'ěrdùn lǚguǎn.) - “I'm staying at the Ritz-Carlton inn.”
  • Why it's wrong: The Ritz-Carlton is a world-famous luxury brand. Calling it a 旅馆 is a major understatement and sounds comical, like calling a palace a “shack.”
  • Correct: 我住在上海的丽思卡尔顿酒店。(Wǒ zhù zài Shànghǎi de Lìsī Kǎ'ěrdùn jiǔdiàn.)
• Key Distinction Summary:
  • 旅馆 (lǚguǎn): Use for motels, inns, budget hotels, or when speaking generally about a place to stay without specifying its quality.
  • 酒店 (jiǔdiàn): Use for mid-range to high-end hotels, major hotel chains (Marriott, Hyatt, etc.), resorts, and places with multiple amenities.
  • 宾馆 (bīnguǎn): Use for places specifically named “Binguǎn,” or when referring to official guesthouses. It's less of a general-purpose word than the other two.

• 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) - A more modern and often upscale hotel; the most common word for a standard Western-style hotel.
• 宾馆 (bīnguǎn) - Guesthouse; often has a more formal or official feel.
• 客栈 (kèzhàn) - A traditional, historical-style inn; now often used for boutique hotels with a classic Chinese theme.
• 民宿 (mínsù) - Homestay, B&B, or guesthouse run by a local family, similar to Airbnb.
• 青年旅舍 (qīngnián lǚshè) - Youth hostel.
• 旅行 (lǚxíng) - To travel; the root action that necessitates a 旅馆.
• 预订 (yùdìng) - To book or make a reservation.
• 入住 (rùzhù) - To check in (to a hotel).
• 退房 (tuìfáng) - To check out (of a hotel).
• 房间 (fángjiān) - Room (in a building, including a hotel).