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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.
Strokes19Frequency#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.
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).
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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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.
When to use 顾客
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.
顾客 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 顾客
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.
