From a story in 《
后汉书》 (Hòu Hàn Shū, Book of the Later Han): the official Chen Fan (
陈藩) kept a special couch (
榻, tà) hung up on the wall, only 'lowering it' (
下榻) when his honored friend Xu Zhi (
徐稚) came to stay. The 'lowered couch' became literary shorthand for 'putting someone up as an honored guest'. Today
下榻 is formal news-register: heads of state, delegations, VIPs
下榻 a hotel; ordinary travelers
住 (zhù).
