顾客

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 顾客 (gùkè) for "customer" is composed of two characters: 顾 (gù) and 客 (kè). The character 顾 originally meant "to look at" or "to pay attention to". In the context of 顾客, it refers to the merchant's attention to the customer's needs. The character 客 originally meant "guest" or "stranger". In the context of 顾客, it refers to the person who is receiving the merchant's attention.The word 顾客 first appeared in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). It was used to refer to people who came to a store to buy goods. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include anyone who received a service from a business.Today, 顾客 is the most common word for "customer" in Chinese. It is used in both formal and informal settings.