Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 客人 | kyakujin | [kʲa̠kɯ̟ʑĩɴ] (narrow) | |
| 客 | kyaku | [kʲa̠kɯ̟] (narrow) [ma̠ɾo̞ːdo̞] (narrow) |
|
| お客さん | o-kyaku-san | [o̞kʲa̠kɯ̟̊sã̠ɴ] (narrow) | honorific |
| 来客 | raikyaku | [ɾa̠ikʲa̠kɯ̟] (narrow) | |
| 来賓 | raihin | [ɾa̠içĩɴ] (narrow) |
The form 客 is a versatile word that can mean either a social guest or a customer in a business context.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 来客 literally combines the characters for 'come' and 'guest', referring to the act of a guest arriving or the presence of visitors.
Which one should you use?
While 客 is the most common and versatile way to say guest or customer, other forms are more specific. 来賓 is used specifically for formal guests or dignitaries at official events and ceremonies. 来客 refers to the act of a guest arriving or the presence of visitors.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For polite situations, such as when speaking politely about a guest or when addressing a customer in a service setting, use お客さん. In formal settings, the term お客様 is a common and respectful term for guest. For formal or official contexts, 訪問者 is used to refer to visitors or guests in a more general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
kyakujin
When do people say it?
The high regard for hospitality in Japanese culture is reflected in the phrase お客様は神様です, which translates to The guest is god.
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, the 'guest' is not just a recipient but an active participant who must follow a complex set of rituals to maintain harmony.
- When welcoming a guest, Japanese people often use the word いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase), a specialized greeting that is almost never used for guests in a private home.
- The character 客 is a Middle Chinese borrowing, and its pronunciation in Japanese reflects ancient phonetic patterns. It shares a common ancestor with the Hokkien word 'khik'.
Examples in context
- トムはお客さんです。Tom is our guest.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person as a guest.Tatoeba #1212019 by KK_kaku_, translation #1164507 by CK
- お客さん連れてきていい？Is it OK if I bring a guest?This sentence is useful for asking permission to bring a guest.Tatoeba #12146669 by small_snow, translation #4665770 by CK
- そろそろお客が来る時間だ。It's almost time for the guest to arrive.This sentence is useful for noting the expected arrival time of a guest.Tatoeba #204473 by bunbuku, translation #41715 by timmartin
- お客様、ようこそ！Welcome, guests!
- お客様へのご案内です。This is a guide for our guests.
- お客さんを迎える準備はできていますか？Are you ready to welcome your guests?
- みんな、お客さんが来るから、片付けしましょう！Everyone, let's clean up because guests are coming!
- 今日は予定外の来客がありました。We had an unexpected visitor today.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himari and Kenta are preparing their home for a visitor.
- 陽葵 Himariもうすぐ客人が来るよ。Mōsugu kyakujin ga kuru yo.The guest will be here soon.
- 健太 Kenta飲み物は準備した？Nomimono wa junbi shita?Did you prepare the drinks?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、客人の好みに合わせたよ。Un, kyakujin no konomi ni awaseta yo.Yes, I matched them to the guest's preference.
- 健太 Kentaいい準備だね。Ii junbi da ne.That's great preparation.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guest” translations and entries 客人, 客, お客さん, 来客, 来賓, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 客, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
