Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

customer; visitor; guest

Chinese: 客人、顾客或外来的。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “ke” becomes a different word in each tone. 客 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 不客气bù kè qiyou're welcome; don't mention it; impolite; rude
  • 顾客gù kècustomer; client
  • 客人kè rénvisitor; guest; customer; client
  • 游客yóu kètraveler; tourist; (online gaming) guest player
  • 旅客lǚ kètraveler; tourist

Example Sentence

今天家里来了几位客人。Jīn tiān jiā lǐ lái le jǐ wèi kè rén.A few guests came to our home today.

今天Jīn tiāntoday家里jiā lǐhomeláito comele(completed action)small tablewèiposition客人kè rénvisitor

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

A roof (宀) over 各 (gè, sound): a person who comes from outside to a house — a ‘guest / visitor’.

A way to remember it

Someone arriving under your roof (宀) — a guest.

Easy to confuse with

  • ‘Road’: shares 各, but with the foot radical 足 instead of a roof.