お客さん
お
きゃ
く
さ
ん
Meanings
1
Polite term for a guest or visitor, typically in a home or private setting. Honorific language shows respect toward the person.
A guest is coming today, so let's tidy up the room.
2
customer; client; shopper; spectator; audience; tourist; sightseer; passenger
Polite term for a customer or client in a business context, or for a spectator, audience member, tourist, or passenger. The exact meaning depends on the setting.
That shop is always full of customers.
Are you looking for something, sir/ma'am?
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉にお客さんが来るa guest comes to (a place)
We have a guest coming to our house today.
- お客さんを迎えるto welcome a guest or customer
The clerk welcomed the customer with a smile.
- お客さんの相手をするto attend to a customer
I was so busy I didn't have time to attend to the customers.
- お客さんが並ぶcustomers line up
Customers were already lining up before the store opened.