退房 (退房 – tuì fáng) means “to check out” of a hotel or other accommodation in Chinese. Its structure hints at the action of leaving or withdrawing from a place.

Here’s a breakdown of the characters:

• 退 (tuì): This character means “to retreat,” “to withdraw,” or “to decline.” It originally depicted a foot stepping back, symbolizing the act of moving backward or away from something.
• 房 (fáng): This character means “house” or “room.” It originally depicted a building or shelter, representing a place of dwelling.

Combining these elements, 退房 literally means “to withdraw from a room” or “to retreat from a house.” This accurately captures the action of checking out, which involves leaving a hotel room or other accommodation and returning the key.

The term 退房 emerged as hotels and commercial lodging became more common. It effectively combines existing characters to represent this specific action, highlighting the act of leaving or withdrawing from a temporary dwelling.

退房 is used in various contexts related to accommodation:

• 退房时间 (tuìfáng shíjiān): Check-out time
• 办理退房手续 (bànlǐ tuìfáng shǒuxù): To complete check-out procedures
• 延迟退房 (yánchí tuìfáng): Late check-out

By understanding the original meaning of 退房, we can appreciate how the character’s structure reflects the action of leaving a place of residence. It also highlights the historical context of temporary lodging and the evolution of language to incorporate modern hospitality practices.

Questions

What does 退房 (tuìfáng) mean?
a) To check in
b) To check out
c) To book a room
d) To clean a room

Which component in 退房 (tuìfáng) means “to retreat” or “to withdraw”?
a) 退 (tuì)
b) 房 (fáng)
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b

What was the original meaning of 房 (fáng) based on its structure?
a) A door
b) A window
c) A house or room
d) A bed

Which phrase means “check-out time”?
a) 入住时间 (rùzhù shíjiān)
b) 退房时间 (tuìfáng shíjiān)
c) 预订时间 (yùdìng shíjiān)
d) 打扫时间 (dǎsǎo shíjiān)

Which sentence correctly uses 退房 (tuìfáng)?
a) 我今天要退房。(Wǒ jīntiān yào tuìfáng.) – I need to check out today.
b) 退房时间是中午12点。(Tuìfáng shíjiān shì zhōngwǔ 12 diǎn.) – Check-out time is 12 pm.
c) 我想办理退房手续。(Wǒ xiǎng bànlǐ tuìfáng shǒuxù.) – I would like to complete check-out procedures.
d) All of the above.

Which character in 退房 (tuìfáng) also appears in the word “后退” (hòutuì)?
a) 退 (tuì)
b) 房 (fáng)
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b

When do people typically 退房 (tuìfáng)?
a) When they first arrive at a hotel
b) When they want to extend their stay
c) When they are ready to leave the hotel
d) When they want to order room service

What might the “foot stepping back” component in 退 (tuì) symbolize in the context of 退房 (tuìfáng)?
a) Entering a room
b) Staying in a place
c) Leaving or withdrawing from a place
d) Running away

What is usually involved in 办理退房手续 (bànlǐ tuìfáng shǒuxù)?
a) Returning the room key and settling the bill
b) Ordering food from the hotel restaurant
c) Booking a taxi to the airport
d) Asking for a wake-up call

In the sentence “请您在12点前退房” (Qǐng nín zài 12 diǎn qián tuìfáng – Please check out before 12 pm), what does 退房 mean?
a) To check in
b) To go to bed
c) To check out
d) To have breakfast