顾客 (gùkè)

顾客 refers to a customer or client — a person who buys goods or services from a business. 顾 means "to look after / attend to" and 客 means "guest / visitor." Together they capture the service-oriented mindset: a customer is a guest you attend to.

Meanings

[noun] Customer; client; patron; shopper.

Example Sentences

这家餐厅的顾客很多，总是要排队。 Zhè jiā cāntīng de gùkè hěn duō, zǒngshì yào páiduì. This restaurant has many customers and there is always a queue.

顾客就是上帝。 Gùkè jiùshì shàngdì. The customer is always right (lit. "customers are God").

店员热情地招待每一位顾客。 Diànyuán rèqíng de zhāodài měi yī wèi gùkè. The shop assistant warmly received every customer.

这个产品很受顾客欢迎。 Zhège chǎnpǐn hěn shòu gùkè huānyíng. This product is very popular with customers.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
接待顾客	receive / serve customers
老顾客	regular customer
顾客满意	customer satisfaction
吸引顾客	attract customers
为顾客服务	serve customers

Memory Hook

顾 (to look after / attend) plus 客 (guest). A customer is an honored guest you look after — the commercial version of hosting a visitor in your home.