bàifǎng: 拜访 - To Visit (Formally), To Pay a Visit

• Keywords: baifang, bàifǎng, 拜访, how to say visit in Chinese, formal visit in Chinese, pay a visit Chinese, visiting elders in Chinese, visiting a professor in Chinese, Chinese etiquette, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to use 拜访 (bàifǎng), a crucial Chinese verb that means “to pay a formal visit.” More than just “visiting,” 拜访 (bàifǎng) implies a deep level of respect and is used when calling on elders, teachers, or important clients. Mastering this word is key to navigating Chinese social and professional etiquette correctly and showing proper respect.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bàifǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To formally visit or call on someone, typically out of respect or for a specific purpose.
• In a Nutshell: 拜访 (bàifǎng) is not your casual “dropping by a friend's house.” Think of it as “to pay a call on” someone you hold in high esteem. It carries a weight of formality and respect. You would 拜访 (bàifǎng) your old professor, a potential business partner, or your grandparents, but you would simply 看 (kàn) or 找 (zhǎo) a close friend.

• 拜 (bài): This character's ancient form depicts two hands clasped together, a gesture of respect or worship. It means “to pay respect,” “to bow,” or “to worship.”
• 访 (fǎng): The left radical, 言 (yán), means “speech.” The right part, 方 (fāng), provides the sound and can mean “place” or “direction.” Together, it means to go to a place to inquire or talk—in other words, “to visit.”

The characters combine beautifully: “to pay respect” (拜) + “to visit” (访) = 拜访 (bàifǎng), a visit conducted with respect.

In Chinese culture, hierarchy and respect for seniority (both in age and status) are paramount. 拜访 (bàifǎng) is a linguistic tool that reflects and reinforces these values. It's a social ritual, not just an action. A good Western comparison is the difference between “hanging out” and “requesting a meeting.” You “hang out” with a friend, but you “request a meeting” with your boss. Similarly, in Chinese, you might 串门 (chuànmén) (drop by) a neighbor's house, but you would formally 拜访 (bàifǎng) a respected elder. The act of a 拜访 (bàifǎng) is often part of maintaining good 关系 (guānxi). For example, visiting a former teacher shows you haven't forgotten their guidance, which strengthens your bond. The most famous example is 拜年 (bàinián), the tradition of formally visiting one's elders during the Chinese New Year to pay respects, which is a cornerstone of the festival.

拜访 (bàifǎng) is primarily used in formal or semi-formal situations where a power or respect dynamic is present.

• Professional/Academic: You 拜访 (bàifǎng) a prospective client, a senior executive in another company, or a renowned professor you wish to study with. It implies the visit is purposeful and professional.
• Social/Familial: You 拜访 (bàifǎng) your grandparents, your partner's parents for the first time, or an elderly family friend. It signals deep respect and acknowledges their seniority.
• Formality: Using 拜访 (bàifǎng) for a casual get-together with a peer would sound strange, overly formal, and even sarcastic. For friends, you would use verbs like 找 (zhǎo), 看 (kàn), or 去…玩 (qù…wán).

• Example 1:
  • 下个周末我打算去拜访我的大学教授。
  • Pinyin: Xià ge zhōumò wǒ dǎsuàn qù bàifǎng wǒ de dàxué jiàoshòu.
  • English: Next weekend I plan to pay a visit to my university professor.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case. The relationship between a student and a professor is one of respect, making 拜访 (bàifǎng) the perfect word.
• Example 2:
  • 我们明天要去拜访一位重要的客户。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen míngtiān yào qù bàifǎng yí wèi zhòngyào de kèhù.
  • English: We are going to visit an important client tomorrow.
  • Analysis: In a business context, 拜访 (bàifǎng) shows respect for the client and highlights the formal nature of the meeting.
• Example 3:
  • 他从老家来，特地拜访了以前帮助过他的那位长辈。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóng lǎojiā lái, tèdì bàifǎng le yǐqián bāngzhù guò tā de nà wèi zhǎngbèi.
  • English: He came from his hometown and made a special point to visit the elder who had helped him in the past.
  • Analysis: The word 特地 (tèdì), meaning “specially,” often appears with 拜访 (bàifǎng), emphasizing the deliberate and respectful nature of the visit.
• Example 4:
  • 很久没有拜访您了，您身体好吗？
  • Pinyin: Hěn jiǔ méiyǒu bàifǎng nín le, nín shēntǐ hǎo ma?
  • English: I haven't visited you in a long time, how has your health been?
  • Analysis: This is a polite and respectful phrase to use when greeting an elder or superior you haven't seen for a while. Note the use of the respectful pronoun 您 (nín).
• Example 5:
  • 欢迎你下次来我们公司拜访。
  • Pinyin: Huānyíng nǐ xià cì lái wǒmen gōngsī bàifǎng.
  • English: You are welcome to visit our company next time.
  • Analysis: This is a formal invitation, suitable for a business context. It's polite and professional.
• Example 6:
  • 春节期间，拜访亲友是重要的传统。
  • Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān, bàifǎng qīnyǒu shì zhòngyào de chuántǒng.
  • English: During the Spring Festival, visiting relatives and friends is an important tradition.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the cultural practice itself. While 亲友 (qīnyǒu) includes friends, in the context of Chinese New Year, the visits are typically more formal and ritualized, making 拜访 (bàifǎng) appropriate.
• Example 7:
  • 这位外国代表明天将拜访我校。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi wàiguó dàibiǎo míngtiān jiāng bàifǎng wǒ xiào.
  • English: This foreign delegate will visit our school tomorrow.
  • Analysis: For official visits, 拜访 (bàifǎng) or the even more formal 访问 (fǎngwèn) can be used. 拜访 (bàifǎng) adds a touch of respectful courtesy.
• Example 8:
  • 他带着礼物去拜访他未来的岳父岳母。
  • Pinyin: Tā dàizhe lǐwù qù bàifǎng tā wèilái de yuèfù yuèmǔ.
  • English: He brought a gift to visit his future parents-in-law.
  • Analysis: Visiting your partner's parents for the first time is a situation demanding maximum respect. 拜访 (bàifǎng) is essential here, and bringing a gift is standard protocol.
• Example 9:
  • 我下周出差去上海，想顺便拜访一下您。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiàzhōu chūchāi qù Shànghǎi, xiǎng shùnbiàn bàifǎng yíxià nín.
  • English: I'll be in Shanghai on a business trip next week and would like to stop by to visit you.
  • Analysis: The phrase 顺便 (shùnbiàn), “by the way,” softens the formality slightly, but the use of 拜访 (bàifǎng) and 您 (nín) maintains the overall tone of respect.
• Example 10:
  • 总经理上任后，第一个任务就是拜访公司的老员工。
  • Pinyin: Zǒngjīnglǐ shàngrèn hòu, dì-yī ge rènwù jiùshì bàifǎng gōngsī de lǎo yuángōng.
  • English: After the new general manager took office, his first task was to visit the company's veteran employees.
  • Analysis: This action shows respect for the experience and contribution of the long-serving staff, a smart move for any new leader.

• The “Friend” Mistake: The most common error for English speakers is using 拜访 (bàifǎng) when visiting a close friend or peer. It's a “false friend” of the English word “visit.”
  • Incorrect: 我要去拜访我的好朋友，我们一起看电影。(Wǒ yào qù bàifǎng wǒ de hǎo péngyou, wǒmen yīqǐ kàn diànyǐng.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds comically formal, as if you are requesting a formal audience with your friend to watch a movie.
  • Correct: 我要找我的好朋友一起看电影。(Wǒ yào zhǎo wǒ de hǎo péngyou yīqǐ kàn diànyǐng.) OR 我要去我朋友家玩。(Wǒ yào qù wǒ péngyou jiā wán.)
• 拜访 (bàifǎng) vs. 看 (kàn):
  • 看 (kàn) is a broader term for “to visit.” You can 看朋友 (kàn péngyou - visit a friend) or 看老师 (kàn lǎoshī - visit a teacher).
  • 拜访 (bàifǎng) is a subset of 看 (kàn) that specifically adds a layer of formality and respect. While you could use 看 (kàn) for a teacher, using 拜访 (bàifǎng) is more polite and appropriate, especially if the visit is planned or for a serious matter. You would almost never 拜访 (bàifǎng) a friend of the same age.

• 看望 (kànwàng) - To visit someone, often with an element of care, like visiting a sick person or an elderly relative.
• 拜年 (bàinián) - To pay a formal visit during the Chinese New Year; a specific cultural application of 拜访 (bàifǎng).
• 访问 (fǎngwèn) - To visit in an official capacity; more formal than 拜访 (bàifǎng). Used for state visits, formal interviews, or official delegations.
• 探望 (tànwàng) - Similar to 看望 (kànwàng), it means to visit and check in on someone's well-being.
• 串门 (chuànmén) - (Informal) To drop by a neighbor's or friend's house for a casual chat. The cultural opposite of 拜访 (bàifǎng).
• 做客 (zuòkè) - To be a guest in someone's home. This is the perspective of the person doing the visiting.
• 看 (kàn) - The most general and common verb for “to visit,” can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but lacks the strong respectful connotation of 拜访 (bàifǎng).
• 找 (zhǎo) - Literally “to find/look for,” but colloquially used to mean “to go see someone” for a specific, often casual, purpose.