손님 vs 내방객
Korean word comparison
Listen to 손님
Listen to 내방객
| 손님 | 내방객 |
|---|---|
SON-nim noun | nae-bang-gaek noun |
| a guest, customer, or visitor | a visitor |
How they differ
내방객 is specifically someone who visits a place, especially an office, institution, museum, or event. 손님 is more everyday and personal, and it can also imply hospitality or commercial service, not just a formal visit.
When to use each
When to use 손님: Use 손님 for a general guest, visitor, or customer in ordinary conversation.
When to use 내방객: Use 내방객 when you mean an official visitor to a place or institution.
Side-by-side examples
- 오늘 집에 손님이 오셨어요.
(A guest came to our house today.) - 박물관 내방객 수가 늘었습니다.
(The number of museum visitors has increased.)
Register & nuance: 내방객 is formal and often used in announcements, reports, or institutional writing rather than casual speech.