客
きゃく
customer, guest
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
今日は客が多いです。
きょうはきゃくがおおいです。
There are many customers today.
お客さんが来ましたよ。
おきゃくさんがきましたよ。
A guest has arrived.
店員が店の前でお客さんを待っています。
てんいんがみせのまえでおきゃくさんをまっています。
The shop clerk is waiting for customers in front of the store.
Common patterns
- お客さん
- customer, guest (polite)
- 客が多い
- there are many customers
- 客を待つ
- wait for customers
Memory tip
In speech it is nearly always お客さん, or お客様 when you speak to the customer directly; bare 客 sounds blunt and belongs to writing. It covers shop customers and visitors to your home alike.
Kanji in this word
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What does 客 mean?