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March 24, 2026
顾客(顧客)gùkè(gu4ke4)
顾客 (gù kè) means 'customer' or 'client' in Mandarin. This term is commonly used in business contexts to refer to individuals who purchase goods or services. It conveys a sense of respect towards those who are patronizing a business.
Frequency#2447DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the customer is often viewed as someone to be treated with utmost respect, reflecting the traditional value of hospitality. Businesses may go to great lengths to ensure customer satisfaction, which is crucial for maintaining good relationships.
Memory Tip
Think of 顾 (gù) as 'to take care of' and 客 (kè) as 'guest.' Imagine a shopkeeper who is taking care of their guests (customers), ensuring they have everything they need. The character 顾 looks like a person with a roof (representing a place of business) taking care of their guest.
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AI Study Notes for 顾客
Quick Contrast
消费者 (xiāofèi zhě) refers to 'consumer' and emphasizes the act of consuming goods or services, while 顾客 (gù kè) specifically denotes a customer or client in a business context.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 顾 (gù) as 'to take care of' and 客 (kè) as 'guest.' Imagine a shopkeeper who is taking care of their guests (customers), ensuring they have everything they need. The character 顾 looks like a person with a roof (representing a place of business) taking care of their guest.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 顾客 with 客人 (kè rén), which means 'guest' in a more general sense. 顾客 is specifically a customer in a commercial context. In formal settings, it's important to use this term to show respect towards clients.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 顾客 helps learners expand their vocabulary related to commerce and service. Pay attention to how this word is used in sentences with related terms such as 商店 (shāng diàn - store) and 交易 (jiāo yì - transaction).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the customer is often viewed as someone to be treated with utmost respect, reflecting the traditional value of hospitality. Businesses may go to great lengths to ensure customer satisfaction, which is crucial for maintaining good relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 顾客 with 客人 (kè rén), mistakenly using it for guests in non-commercial settings. For example, saying '她是我的顾客' (She is my customer) when referring to a friend visiting, should be corrected to '她是我的客人' (She is my guest).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 顾客
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Grammar Patterns of 顾客
顾客 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In some stores we were undermanned and customer service was suffering.
8
顾客们知道我们的清仓大甩卖是实实在在的全场降价。
gù kè mén zhī dào wǒ mén de qīng cāng dà shuǎi mài shì shí shí zài zài de quán cháng jiàng jià。
Customers know that our stocktake sales offer genuine markdowns across the store.
9
顾客多数是些谈正事的中年男子。
gù kè duō shù shì xiē tán zhèng shì de zhōng nián nán zǐ。
The guests were mostly middle-aged men talking business.
10
我认为更多的顾客也许更喜欢软性推销。
wǒ rèn wéi gēng duō de gù kè yě xǔ gēng xǐ huān ruǎn xìng tuī xiāo。
I think more customers probably prefer a soft sell.
Cultural Notes for 顾客
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the customer is often viewed as someone to be treated with utmost respect, reflecting the traditional value of hospitality. Businesses may go to great lengths to ensure customer satisfaction, which is crucial for maintaining good relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about 顾客
You can say: '我们的顾客非常满意这项服务。' (Our customers are very satisfied with this service.)
Yes, 顾客 can be used in both formal business discussions and informal conversations about shopping.
顾客 is used for both singular and plural in Mandarin; context usually clarifies whether it refers to one or multiple customers.
