📖 Meaning
It means that visitors and guests are numerous, filling the doorway of a home or establishment. The idiom describes a scene of bustling social activity where many people come to visit. It conveys a sense of popularity, hospitality, or social prominence.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Biography of Dou Wei' in the Old Book of Tang (《旧唐书·窦威传》). Dou Wei's older brothers all achieved high office through military merit and associated with powerful, influential families, so their home was constantly filled with guests. Dou Wei himself, however, held a quiet and idle post with little social activity. The contrast highlighted his brothers' prominence versus his own modest circumstances. Over time, '宾客盈门' became a standard expression for a household teeming with visitors.
💡 Example Usage
每逢过年，他家总是宾客盈门，十分热闹。
Every Chinese New Year, his home is always filled with guests and very lively.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 宾客盈门
- Pinyin: bīn kè yíng mén
- Literal Translation: guests, fill, door
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4