Learn a Chinese Character - 客

1. Character Basics

Radical: 宀 (roof radical)

Stroke Count: 9

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: kè

3. Meaning

English meaning: guest, visitor, customer, passenger, traveler

4. Common Words

• 客人 (kè rén) - guest, visitor
• 客户 (kè hù) - customer, client
• 乘客 (chéng kè) - passenger
• 客气 (kè qi) - polite, courteous
• 游客 (yóu kè) - tourist, traveler

5. Grammar & Usage

Usage notes:

• 作为名词，表示外来的人：家里来客人了。(We have guests at home.)
• 与其他字组合成词，表示各种不同的身份：顾客、乘客、游客
• 可以作为前缀使用：客观性、客串
• 常见结构：客+身份词、客+动词

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, hospitality towards guests is highly valued. The concept of "客" has deep cultural roots, with traditional proverbs like "有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎" (It is such a delight to have friends coming from afar). In Chinese history, the relationship between host and guest was governed by strict etiquette, which continues to influence social interactions today.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Mnemonic: The character "客" has "宀" (roof) on top and "各" (each) below. Imagine a roof (宀) under which various (各) guests (客) gather.