손님 vs 고객
Korean word comparison
Listen to 손님
Listen to 고객
| 손님 | 고객 |
|---|---|
SON-nim noun | go-gaek noun |
| a guest, customer, or visitor | a customer or client |
How they differ
고객 is narrower than 손님 because it usually refers to someone who buys goods or uses a service. 손님 is broader and can also mean a guest or visitor, so it works in more social and general situations.
When to use each
When to use 손님: Use 손님 when you mean a guest, visitor, or customer in a broad everyday sense.
When to use 고객: Use 고객 when you want to emphasize a paying customer or service user.
Side-by-side examples
- 가게에 손님이 많아요.
(There are many customers in the store.) - 우리 고객을 위해 특별 할인을 제공합니다.
(We offer special discounts for our customers.)
Register & nuance: 고객 is more businesslike and common in service, sales, and official contexts than 손님.