国賓

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 国賓 is a noun read こくひん, meaning a foreign dignitary officially invited and received as a state guest.
• Basic usage: Use 国賓として訪れる for visiting in the official capacity of a state guest and 国賓を迎える for welcoming one.
  • 物語の王は国賓として隣国を訪れた。 describes a fictional king visiting a neighboring country as a state guest; 式典会場には国賓を迎える旗が並んだ。 describes flags arranged at the ceremony venue to welcome the state guest.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 国賓として
  • として identifies the king's official capacity during the visit.
• 国賓を迎える
  • を marks the state guest as the person being welcomed.
• 国賓 and an ordinary visitor
  • 国賓 specifically implies an official state invitation and ceremonial reception.