酒店
zau² dim³
The Cantonese word for hotel is 酒店 (zau² dim³). Wiktionary also lists 旅館 / 旅馆 (leoi⁵ gun²).
Meaning: establishment providing accommodation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 酒店 | zau² dim³ |
| 旅館 / 旅馆 | leoi⁵ gun² |
The term 酒店 is the standard word for a hotel in Cantonese.
What does it mean word for word?
Although 酒店 is the modern word for hotel, its characters literally mean 'wine shop' or 'alcohol shop'.
Which one should you use?
While 酒店 is the standard term for a hotel, 旅館 refers more specifically to a guesthouse, inn or hostel.
How do you pronounce it?
zau² dim³
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may find the literal meaning of 'wine shop' confusing, but it is not an error to use 酒店 when referring to a hotel.
Did you know?
- While 酒店 is the standard word for 'hotel' in Cantonese, in Mandarin it often refers specifically to a 'bar' or 'pub'. Using this word in Beijing might lead you to a drink rather than a bed.
- The term 酒店 reflects a historical period when hospitality establishments were often centered around the sale of alcohol and food to travelers.
- In many Cantonese-speaking regions, if you ask for a 酒店, you are specifically signaling that you want a high-end or mid-range service rather than a cheap hostel.
Examples in context
- 去希爾頓酒店吖唔該。To the Hilton Hotel, please.This sentence is useful for requesting transport to a specific hotel.Tatoeba #670637 by nickyeow, translation #454458 by CM
- 呢間酒店裝得落一千人。This hotel has accommodations for 1,000 guests.This sentence is useful for describing the capacity of a hotel.Tatoeba #426962 by nickyeow, translation #60475 by CM
- 我哋住嘅嗰間酒店好舒服。The hotel where we stayed was very comfortable.This sentence is useful for describing the comfort of a hotel.Tatoeba #10645874 by clowergen, translation #247277 by CK
- 我要預訂一間酒店。I want to book a hotel.
- 在市中心附近有一家古色古香的客棧。There is a quaint guesthouse near the city center.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing where to stay for their trip.
- 子健 Tsz Kin你搵到酒店未？nei5 wan2 dou2 zau2 dim3 mei6?Have you found a hotel yet?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting未，我想搵間酒店近啲。mei6, ngo5 soeng2 wan2 gaan1 zau2 dim3 gan6 di1.Not yet, I want to find a hotel that is closer.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我見到一間酒店好平。ngo5 gin3 dou2 jat1 gaan1 zau2 dim3 hou2 peng4.I saw a hotel that is very cheap.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting快啲話我知係邊間酒店。faai3 di1 waa4 ngo5 zi1 hai6 bin1 gaan1 zau2 dim3.Tell me quickly which hotel it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hotel” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
