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客厅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
客厅kètīngdrawing room (room for arriving guests)HSK 4, n, rank #4906, Hard
客厅kètīngliving roomHSK 4, n, rank #4906, Hard
客厅kètīng>间[jiān]HSK 4, n, rank #4906, Hard
kètīng(ke4ting1) T4
  1. 1drawing room (room for arriving guests)
  2. 2living room
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March 24, 2026
客厅(客廳)kètīng(ke4ting1)

客厅 (kètīng) refers to the living room or drawing room in a home where guests are received and family gathers. It is typically a comfortable space designed for socializing and relaxation, often furnished with sofas, chairs, and entertainment equipment.

Frequency#4906DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the living room is often a symbol of hospitality, where families showcase their social status and welcome guests. It’s common to see tea sets and decorations that reflect the family's values or traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cozy living room filled with guests (客, kè) chatting and enjoying each other's company. The character 厅 (tīng) looks like an open space, emphasizing the idea of a welcoming room. Together, they form the perfect image of a gathering space.

Meanings of 客厅

kètīng(ke4ting1)
1drawing room (room for arriving guests)
2living room
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 客厅

客厅Simplified
客廳Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4906Frequency Rank
间Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 客厅

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Podcast: 客厅

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AI Study Notes for 客厅

Quick Contrast

客厅 (kètīng) vs 起居室 (qǐjūshì) — use 客厅 when referring specifically to a living room for receiving guests, while 起居室 is more general and can refer to any room for daily living activities.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a cozy living room filled with guests (客, kè) chatting and enjoying each other's company. The character 厅 (tīng) looks like an open space, emphasizing the idea of a welcoming room. Together, they form the perfect image of a gathering space.

Usage Notes

In everyday conversation, '客厅' is commonly used when talking about home layouts or interior design. Be cautious with tone when pronouncing the word, as a mispronunciation could change its meaning. It's often used in collocations, such as '装饰客厅' (decorate the living room).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 4 word, '客厅' connects well with other vocabulary related to home and family, such as '卧室' (bedroom) and '厨房' (kitchen). Focus on using it in sentences to describe your living space or preferences.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the living room is often a symbol of hospitality, where families showcase their social status and welcome guests. It’s common to see tea sets and decorations that reflect the family's values or traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 客厅 with other rooms, such as '厨房' (kitchen) or '餐厅' (dining room). For example, saying '我在厨房看电视' (I watch TV in the kitchen) instead of '我在客厅看电视' (I watch TV in the living room) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 客厅

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Component Characters

客kècustomer
HSK 19 strokes宀
View full entry
厅tīng(reception) hall
HSK 54 strokes厂
View full entry

Write 客厅

客
厅

Practice writing 客厅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 客厅

客厅 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我拿起了电话，她知趣地进了____。

I took the phone, and she went discreetly into the living room.

Example Sentences for 客厅 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我拿起了电话，她知趣地进了客厅。

wǒ ná qǐ le diàn huà， ， tā zhī qù dì jìn le kè。

I took the phone, and she went discreetly into the living room.
2
在这间客厅，我们粘贴了各种美丽的印花纸。

zài zhè jiān kè tīng， ， wǒ mén nián tiē le gè zhǒng měi lì de yìn huā。

In this living room we've mixed glorious floral prints.
3
原来那间起居室成了她的客厅兼书房。

yuán lái nà jiān qǐ jū shì chéng le tā de kè tīng jiān shū fáng。

The old drawing room serves her as both sitting room and study.
4
表演过后会在客厅举行气氛融洽的聚会。

biǎo yǎn guò hòu huì zài kè tīng jǔ háng qì fēn róng qià de jù huì。

Following the performances there were chummy gatherings in the drawing room.
5
她朝客厅方向扬了扬头说：“他在那里面。”

tā zhāo kè tīng fāng xiàng yáng le yáng tóu shuō：“ ：“ tā zài nà lǐ。”

She nodded towards the drawing room. "He's in there."
6
我们就坐在客厅的沙发上看电视。

wǒ mén jiù zuò zài kè tīng de shā fā shàng kàn diàn shì。

We were sitting on the couch in the living room watching TV.
7
那大客厅,小客厅,大餐间,二楼,各处的窗洞,全都亮出了电灯光.

nà dà kè tīng, , xiǎo kè, tīng , dà, cān jiān, , èr lóu , gè, chǔ de chuāng dòng , quán dū liàng.

Lights blazed from every window in the front of the house.
8
客厅是冷色调的银绿色。

kè tīng shì lěng sè tiáo de yín lǜ sè。

The drawing-room was a cool silver green.
9
张看到偌大的客厅里空无一人，似乎很惊讶。

zhāng kàn dào ruò dà de kè tīng lǐ kōng wú yī rén， ， sì hū hěn jīng。

Chang seemed surprised to find the big living-room empty.
10
她拿起咖啡壶，又轻手放下去了客厅。

tā ná qǐ kā fēi hú， ， yòu qīng shǒu fàng xià qù le kè。

She picked up the coffee pot, then plopped it down and went into the living room.

Cultural Notes for 客厅

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the living room is often a symbol of hospitality, where families showcase their social status and welcome guests. It’s common to see tea sets and decorations that reflect the family's values or traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 客厅

客厅 (kètīng) is the living room for guests, while 卧室 (wòshì) refers to the bedroom, a private space for sleeping.