Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== kèhù: 客户 - Customer, Client ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** kehu, 客户, customer in Chinese, client in Chinese, Chinese for customer, what is kehu, kèhù meaning, Chinese business terms, 顾客, guke, Chinese for client, business relationships in China. * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **客户 (kèhù)**, the essential Chinese word for "customer" or "client." This page explores its use in business, sales, and service contexts, going beyond a simple translation to uncover the cultural importance of building relationships (`关系 guānxi`) with clients in modern China. Learn the crucial difference between **客户 (kèhù)** and **顾客 (gùkè)** to sound more like a native speaker. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kèhù * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** A customer or client; a person or organization that purchases goods or services. * **In a Nutshell:** **客户 (kèhù)** is the standard, professional term for any "customer" or "client" with whom a business has a relationship. Think of it as the go-to word in any commercial setting, from a bank's account holder to a law firm's client, or a company's long-term buyer. It implies a more established connection than just a one-time shopper. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **客 (kè):** This character means "guest," "visitor," or "customer." It pictures a person (人) under a roof (宀), signifying a visitor who has arrived at a place. * **户 (hù):** This character originally depicted a single-panel door and means "household," "door," or "account." It represents a single, established unit. * When combined, **客户 (kèhù)** literally translates to "guest household" or "guest account." This perfectly captures the modern meaning: a guest who is formally registered or has an account with a business, making them a client or an established customer. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Western business, the phrase "the customer is always right" often emphasizes transactional satisfaction. While service is important in China, the concept of **客户 (kèhù)** is deeply intertwined with **[[关系]] (guānxi)**, or long-term, trust-based relationships. * A **客户 (kèhù)** is not just a source of revenue; they are a partner to be cultivated. Building a strong relationship with a **客户 (kèhù)** often involves activities that might seem purely social in the West, such as elaborate dinners, gift-giving, and showing personal care. This is done to build trust and ensure long-term loyalty and cooperation. * Unlike the often clear-cut professional/personal divide in the West, the relationship with a key **客户 (kèhù)** in China can blur these lines. A good business partner might also be considered a friend, and this mutual trust and understanding is seen as the foundation for successful, lasting business. Losing a **客户 (kèhù)** can be seen not just as a loss of business, but as a failure in relationship management. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Business and Sales:** This is the most common context. Sales teams discuss acquiring new **客户 (新客户)**, maintaining relationships with old ones (**老客户**), and managing client accounts. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is called **客户关系管理 (kèhù guānxi guǎnlǐ)**. * **Service Industries:** Banks, law firms, consulting agencies, and IT companies all refer to their clients as **客户 (kèhù)**. It conveys a professional, ongoing service relationship. * **Formality:** **客户 (kèhù)** is a neutral to formal term. While a street vendor might use a casual greeting, any established shop, company, or service provider will use **客户 (kèhù)** in their internal and external communications. It's the standard, professional choice. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们公司有很多外国**客户**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu hěn duō wàiguó **kèhù**. * English: Our company has a lot of foreign clients. * Analysis: A straightforward example of using **客户** to mean "clients" in a B2B (business-to-business) context. * **Example 2:** * 作为销售，你需要了解**客户**的需求。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi xiāoshòu, nǐ xūyào liǎojiě **kèhù** de xūqiú. * English: As a salesperson, you need to understand the customer's needs. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the focus on understanding the customer, a key part of the sales process. * **Example 3:** * 我今天下午要去拜访一个重要**客户**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ yào qù bàifǎng yí ge zhòngyào **kèhù**. * English: I have to go visit an important client this afternoon. * Analysis: `拜访 (bàifǎng)` is a formal verb for "visit," often used in a business context with **客户**. * **Example 4:** * 我们的首要任务是提高**客户**满意度。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de shǒuyào rènwù shì tígāo **kèhù** mǎnyìdù. * English: Our first priority is to increase customer satisfaction. * Analysis: Shows **客户** used in a more abstract, corporate strategy sense. `客户满意度 (kèhù mǎnyìdù)` is a standard business metric. * **Example 5:** * 这位是我们的老**客户**了，合作了很多年。 * Pinyin: Zhè wèi shì wǒmen de lǎo **kèhù** le, hézuòle hěn duō nián. * English: This is a long-term client of ours; we've been cooperating for many years. * Analysis: The term `老客户 (lǎo kèhù)` means "old/long-term customer" and implies a valuable, established relationship. * **Example 6:** * 客服正在处理那位**客户**的投诉。 * Pinyin: Kèfú zhèngzài chǔlǐ nà wèi **kèhù** de tóusù. * English: Customer service is currently handling that client's complaint. * Analysis: `客服 (kèfú)` is the shortened form of `客户服务 (kèhù fúwù)`, or "customer service." * **Example 7:** * 银行需要验证**客户**的身份信息。 * Pinyin: Yínháng xūyào yànzhèng **kèhù** de shēnfèn xìnxī. * English: The bank needs to verify the customer's identity information. * Analysis: Demonstrates the use of **客户** in the banking/finance sector for an account holder. * **Example 8:** * 我们正在寻找有潜力的**客户**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo yǒu qiánlì de **kèhù**. * English: We are looking for potential clients. * Analysis: `潜在客户 (qiánzài kèhù)` is the standard term for "potential customer" or "sales lead." * **Example 9:** * 对待每一位**客户**都要有耐心。 * Pinyin: Duìdài měi yí wèi **kèhù** dōu yào yǒu nàixīn. * English: You must be patient with every single customer. * Analysis: This sentence uses the polite measure word `位 (wèi)` for people, which is very common to use with **客户**. * **Example 10:** * 商店里的顾客很多，但只有一部分会成为我们的长期**客户**。 * Pinyin: Shāngdiàn lǐ de gùkè hěn duō, dàn zhǐyǒu yí bùfen huì chéngwéi wǒmen de chángqī **kèhù**. * English: There are many shoppers in the store, but only some of them will become our long-term clients. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between `顾客 (gùkè)` (shoppers) and `客户 (kèhù)` (established, long-term clients). ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`客户 (kèhù)` vs. `顾客 (gùkè)`:** This is the most common point of confusion. * **`顾客 (gùkè)`** refers to a "shopper" or "customer" in a retail or transactional setting, like a supermarket, restaurant, or mall. The relationship is often temporary and anonymous. * **`客户 (kèhù)`** implies a more formal, registered, or ongoing relationship. It's used for clients of a firm, account holders at a bank, or major B2B purchasers. A company can be a **客户**, but a company cannot be a **顾客**. * **Incorrect:** 那个律师事务所的**顾客**很多。 (Nàge lǜshī suǒ de **gùkè** hěn duō.) * **Correct:** 那个律师事务所的**客户**很多。 (Nàge lǜshī suǒ de **kèhù** hěn duō.) // A law firm has "clients," not "shoppers." * **`客户 (kèhù)` vs. `客人 (kèrén)`:** * **`客人 (kèrén)`** means "guest" in a social context (e.g., guests visiting your home, a guest at a party). It is not used for commercial customers. * **Incorrect:** 我公司今天来了几位重要的**客人**。 (Wǒ gōngsī jīntiān láile jǐ wèi zhòngyào de **kèrén**.) // While they are "guests" at the company, in a business context, **客户** is the correct term. * **Correct:** 我公司今天来了几位重要的**客户**。 (Wǒ gōngsī jīntiān láile jǐ wèi zhòngyào de **kèhù**.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[顾客]] (gùkè) - A synonym meaning "customer," but typically used for shoppers in retail and one-off transactions. Less formal than `客户`. * [[用户]] (yònghù) - "User." Specifically refers to the user of a product, service, app, or platform (e.g., "WeChat user"). * [[消费者]] (xiāofèizhě) - "Consumer." A more formal, economic term used in media, law, or academic contexts to refer to the general population of consumers. * [[老客户]] (lǎo kèhù) - "Old/long-term customer." A highly valued client with a long history with the company. * [[潜在客户]] (qiánzài kèhù) - "Potential client" or "lead." A person or company identified as a possible future customer. * [[客户服务]] (kèhù fúwù) - "Customer service." Often abbreviated to `客服 (kèfú)`. * [[关系]] (guānxi) - The crucial concept of "relationship" or "network" that is essential for maintaining good standing with a `客户`. * [[订单]] (dìngdān) - The "order" (for goods or services) that a `客户` places. * [[买家]] (mǎijiā) - "Buyer." A very direct term, often used on e-commerce platforms like Taobao. * [[当事人]] (dāngshìrén) - "Party concerned" or "client" specifically in a legal case. A more technical term than `客户`.