손님 vs 방문객
Korean word comparison
Listen to 손님
Listen to 방문객
| 손님 | 방문객 |
|---|---|
SON-nim noun | bang-mun-gaek noun |
| a guest, customer, or visitor | a visitor |
How they differ
방문객 refers to someone who visits a place, event, or area, and it often sounds more neutral and informational than 손님. Unlike 손님, it does not normally imply the roles of guest or customer, only a person who comes to visit.
When to use each
When to use 손님: Use 손님 when you want the broader everyday sense of guest, customer, or visitor.
When to use 방문객: Use 방문객 when you want to describe visitors to a site, attraction, or event.
Side-by-side examples
- 식당에 손님이 많이 들어왔어요.
(Many customers came into the restaurant.) - 전시회 방문객이 예상보다 많았습니다.
(There were more exhibition visitors than expected.)
Register & nuance: 방문객 is formal and commonly used in news, signs, statistics, and official descriptions.