客 (kè) — guest; visitor; customer; passenger; traveler; tourist
Definition
A combining form meaning 'guest, customer, traveler' — rarely used alone. The compound carries the specific sense: 客人 (guest), 顾客 (customer), 游客 (tourist).
noun
guestvisitorcustomerpassengertravelertourist
Measure word · 位
Examples
- 。Jīn wǎn yǒu kè rén lái chī fàn.A guest is coming to dinner tonight.
- 。Shāng diàn lǐ de gù kè hěn duō.There are many customers in the store.
- 。Zhè ge jǐng diǎn de yóu kè hěn duō.There are many tourists at this scenic spot.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.
Appears in
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