Meaning and Usage
"客人" (kèrén) primarily means "guest" or "visitor," referring to someone who is invited or welcomed to a place, such as a home, event, or business. It is commonly used in social and service contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "客人" when talking about guests at parties, customers in hotels or restaurants, or visitors to a home. It implies a polite and respectful attitude toward the person.
Collocations and Patterns
- 客人来了: guests have arrived
- 招待客人: to entertain or host guests
- 重要客人: important guest or client
- 请客人稍等: asking guests to wait politely
Nuances
Using "客人" shows formality and respect. It is more polite than just saying "人" (person) or "访客" (visitor). When addressing guests directly, it often appears with the plural suffix "们" (客人们).
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "客人" with "顾客" (gùkè), which specifically means "customer" in a commercial context. "客人" can be a customer but also includes social guests.