beckon, beck, love hotel, leisure hotel

"Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back,
When gold and silver becks me to come on."
--Philip Faulconbridge from "King John" (3.3.12)
No room at Japan's Love Hotels at Christmas

By Jonathan Head BBC, Tokyo

Like many other non-Christian countries, Japan has got into the habit of celebrating Christmas.
But as well as the usual decorations and presents, the Japanese have also made this season into an uniquely romantic one.

Guests pay according to how many hours they stay

For the country's famous Love Hotels - fantastic-looking roadside buildings which beckon travellers with flashes of neon - this is by far their busiest time of year.
Christmas Eve has, for reasons no-one has been able to explain to me, become the most romantic night of the calendar.
At a time when many Christians are in church, it has become a tradition for young couples to enjoy their first moments of passion; for suitors to propose marriage; for older couples to escape the noisy confines of the family home for a rare night of intimacy.
Ideally, this should happen in a luxury hotel. But these are booked up months in advance, and are beyond the pockets of many Japanese.


leisure
n.
Freedom from time-consuming duties, responsibilities, or activities.
idiom:
at (one's) leisure

1. When one has free time; at one's convenience: I'll return the call at my leisure.

[Middle English, from Norman French leisour, from Old French leisir, to be permitted, from Latin licēre.]

━━ n., a. 余暇; ((形容詞的)) 暇な.
at leisure　暇で; ゆっくり.
at one's leisure　暇な［都合のよい］ときに.
leisure centre　〔英〕 レジャーセンター.
leisure class　（the 〜） 有閑階級.
lei・sured　━━ a. 暇のある; 気楽な.
leisure industry　レジャー産業.
lei・sure・li・ness　━━ n.
lei・sure・ly　━━ a., ad. ゆっくりした; 落ち着き払った; のんびりと.
leisure suit　レジャースーツ.

beckonLine breaks: beckon

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛk(ə)n/ 

Definition of beckon in English:

verb

[NO OBJECT]

1Make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head toencourage or instruct someone to approach or follow:Miranda beckoned to Adam

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCESSYNONYMS

1.1[WITH OBJECT AND ADVERBIAL OF DIRECTION] Summon(someone) by beckoning to them:he beckoned Cameron over[WITH OBJECT AND INFINITIVE]: he beckoned Duncan to follow

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1.2Appear attractive or inviting:the going is tough and soft options beckon

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Origin

Old English bīecnan, bēcnan, of West Germanic origin; related to beacon.

beck 2Line breaks: beck

Pronunciation: /bɛk/ 

noun

literary

A gesture requesting attention, such as a nod orwave.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Origin

Middle English: from archaic beck, abbreviated form ofbeckon.

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Phrases

at someone's beck and call

1

Always having to be ready to obey someone’s ordersimmediately:enjoy having servants at your beck and callshe was at her mother’s beck and call