拉客 (lā kè) — to solicit customers (e.g. taxi passengers, restaurant diners); to solicit clients (in the sex trade)

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning to actively approach and try to attract customers — used of taxi drivers, restaurant hosts, and sex workers soliciting clients. Pairs with 客, a general word for "customer."

verb
to solicit customers (e.g. taxi passengers, restaurant diners)to solicit clients (in the sex trade)

Examples

  • 拉客。
    Chū zū chē sī jī zài huǒ chē zhàn fù jìn lā kè.
    Taxi drivers solicit passengers near the train station.
  • 。
    Tā zuó tiān zài jiē shàng lā le liǎng gè kè.
    He solicited two customers on the street yesterday.
  • 拉客。
    Nà ge dì fāng lā kè de qíng kuàng hěn yán zhòng.
    The soliciting situation in that place is very serious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

拉lāpull
客kèguest

To 拉 (pull) 客 (guests) is to draw customers or passengers in.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì拉lā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Open 拉 →

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
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.

Open 客 →

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