常客 (cháng kè) — regular customer; frequent visitor | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

regular customerfrequent visitor

Measure word · 位

Examples

常客。
Zhè jiā kā fēi diàn de cháng kè hěn duō.
This coffee shop has many regular customers.
常客。
Tā yǐ jīng shì zhè jiā cān tīng de cháng kè le.
He's already a regular at this restaurant.
常客，。
Zuò wéi diàn yǐng yuàn de cháng kè, tā měi gè yuè kàn zhì shǎo sì chǎng diàn yǐng.
As a regular at the cinema, she watches at least four movies a month.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

常chángregular

'常' (regular) and '客' (guest) combine to mean a frequent visitor.

Characters in this word

Most 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

巾巾jīncloth

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng常cháng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀各客

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

Shopping & Errands Social Roles & Status

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