Definitions

1. Noun:
   • Guest; visitor; caller: A person who visits another's home or place for social purposes, in relation to the host or receiver.
   • Customer; patron; client: A person who engages in a transaction, such as buying goods or services, in relation to a shop, business, or establishment.
   • Passenger: A person who is traveling in a vehicle (like a bus, train, or plane), in relation to the service staff.
   • (Archaic/Literary) Talented or celebrated person: A person of talent, heroism, or beauty admired by society, often used with a modifier.
   • (Archaic/Colloquial) Chinese person: A general term formerly used to refer to ethnic Chinese people in Vietnam.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Guest):
  • Nhà tôi đang có khách. (My house has guests.)
  • Chủ nhà niềm nở đón tiếp khách. (The host warmly welcomes the guests.)
• Noun (Customer):
  • Cửa hàng này rất đông khách. (This shop has many customers.)
  • Anh ấy là khách quen của tiệm. (He is a regular customer of the store.)
• Noun (Passenger):
  • Xe buýt chở đầy khách. (The bus is full of passengers.)
  • Khách trên chuyến bay được phục vụ bữa ăn. (Passengers on the flight are served a meal.)

Advanced Usage

• "Khách khứa": A polite and slightly formal term for guests or visitors collectively.
  • Dọn dẹp nhà cửa để đón khách khứa. (Clean the house to welcome guests.)
• "Khách sáo": To be overly polite or ceremonious in a way that seems insincere or distant.
  • Đừng khách sáo quá, cứ tự nhiên như ở nhà. (Don't be so ceremonious, just make yourself at home.)
• "Khách vãng lai": A transient or casual visitor/customer; someone who is just passing through.
  • Quán cà phê chủ yếu phục vụ khách vãng lai. (The café mainly serves casual customers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khách hàng (n): Customer, client (specifically for business).
  • Chăm sóc khách hàng là ưu tiên hàng đầu. (Customer service is the top priority.)
• Du khách (n): Tourist, traveler.
  • Thành phố thu hút nhiều du khách. (The city attracts many tourists.)
• Thượng khách (n): Distinguished guest, VIP guest.
  • Ông ấy là thượng khách của công ty. (He is a distinguished guest of the company.)
• Bạn hàng (n): Business partner, client (emphasizing a business relationship).
  • Gặp gỡ bạn hàng từ nước ngoài. (Meet with business partners from abroad.)

Synonyms

• Thực khách: Diner, restaurant patron (specifically for food service).
• Người đến chơi: Visitor, caller (informal, for social visits).
• Hành khách: Passenger (formal, for transport).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Tiếp khách: To receive/entertain guests.
  • Bà ấy đang bận tiếp khách. (She is busy entertaining guests.)
• Đãi khách: To host/treat guests (often with food/drink).
  • Mời anh ở lại dùng cơm, để tôi đãi khách. (Please stay for a meal, let me host you.)
• Khách mời: Invited guest (e.g., at an event).
  • Chương trình có nhiều khách mời nổi tiếng. (The show has many famous invited guests.)

Related Idioms

• "Khách đến nhà không gà thì vịt": Literally "When a guest comes to the house, if not chicken then duck." Meaning: One must generously and hospitably entertain guests with the best one has.
  • Theo phong tục, "khách đến nhà không gà thì vịt". (According to custom, one must treat guests lavishly.)
• "Ăn ở như khách": To behave like a guest (in one's own home). Meaning: To be overly formal or reserved, not acting naturally or familiarly.
  • Sao cậu lại ăn ở như khách thế, cứ tự nhiên đi. (Why are you acting like a guest? Just make yourself at home.)

noun

1. guest; caller; vistor
   • chủ và khách
     host and guest customer; partron
   • cửa tiệm nhiều khách
     a well partronized shop