三千客

sānqiānkè

idiom

Meanings

1 a host of retainers; a large and influential circle of guests

Characters

guest; retainer

Examples

当年他府上三千客，如今冷冷清清。

Dāngnián tā fǔ shàng sānqiānkè, rújīn lěnglěng qīngqīng.

Back then his household hosted a throng of retainers; today it's deserted.

能养三千客的，不是一般人物。

Néng yǎng sānqiānkè de, bú shì yìbān rénwù.

Anyone who could keep three thousand retainers was no ordinary figure.

Tips

history

Recalls the four Warring States noble patrons — Mengchang of Qi, Xinling of Wei, Pingyuan of Zhao, Chunshen of Chu — each said to feed 3,000 guest-scholars (门客). The phrase now hints at powerful networks or a glittering salon.

Stroke Order

三 sān

千 qiān

客 kè