客户

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kèhù: 客户 - Customer, Client

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: kehu, 客户, customer in Chinese, client in Chinese, Chinese for customer, what is kehu, kèhù meaning, Chinese business terms, 顾客, guke, Chinese for client, business relationships in China.
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 客户 (kèhù), the essential Chinese word for “customer” or “client.” This page explores its use in business, sales, and service contexts, going beyond a simple translation to uncover the cultural importance of building relationships (`关系 guānxi`) with clients in modern China. Learn the crucial difference between 客户 (kèhù) and 顾客 (gùkè) to sound more like a native speaker.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): kèhù
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: A customer or client; a person or organization that purchases goods or services.
  • In a Nutshell: 客户 (kèhù) is the standard, professional term for any “customer” or “client” with whom a business has a relationship. Think of it as the go-to word in any commercial setting, from a bank's account holder to a law firm's client, or a company's long-term buyer. It implies a more established connection than just a one-time shopper.

Character Breakdown

  • 客 (kè): This character means “guest,” “visitor,” or “customer.” It pictures a person (人) under a roof (宀), signifying a visitor who has arrived at a place.
  • 户 (hù): This character originally depicted a single-panel door and means “household,” “door,” or “account.” It represents a single, established unit.
  • When combined, 客户 (kèhù) literally translates to “guest household” or “guest account.” This perfectly captures the modern meaning: a guest who is formally registered or has an account with a business, making them a client or an established customer.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Western business, the phrase “the customer is always right” often emphasizes transactional satisfaction. While service is important in China, the concept of 客户 (kèhù) is deeply intertwined with 关系 (guānxi), or long-term, trust-based relationships.
  • A 客户 (kèhù) is not just a source of revenue; they are a partner to be cultivated. Building a strong relationship with a 客户 (kèhù) often involves activities that might seem purely social in the West, such as elaborate dinners, gift-giving, and showing personal care. This is done to build trust and ensure long-term loyalty and cooperation.
  • Unlike the often clear-cut professional/personal divide in the West, the relationship with a key 客户 (kèhù) in China can blur these lines. A good business partner might also be considered a friend, and this mutual trust and understanding is seen as the foundation for successful, lasting business. Losing a 客户 (kèhù) can be seen not just as a loss of business, but as a failure in relationship management.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Business and Sales: This is the most common context. Sales teams discuss acquiring new 客户 (新客户), maintaining relationships with old ones (老客户), and managing client accounts. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is called 客户关系管理 (kèhù guānxi guǎnlǐ).
  • Service Industries: Banks, law firms, consulting agencies, and IT companies all refer to their clients as 客户 (kèhù). It conveys a professional, ongoing service relationship.
  • Formality: 客户 (kèhù) is a neutral to formal term. While a street vendor might use a casual greeting, any established shop, company, or service provider will use 客户 (kèhù) in their internal and external communications. It's the standard, professional choice.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们公司有很多外国客户。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu hěn duō wàiguó kèhù.
    • English: Our company has a lot of foreign clients.
    • Analysis: A straightforward example of using 客户 to mean “clients” in a B2B (business-to-business) context.
  • Example 2:
    • 作为销售，你需要了解客户的需求。
    • Pinyin: Zuòwéi xiāoshòu, nǐ xūyào liǎojiě kèhù de xūqiú.
    • English: As a salesperson, you need to understand the customer's needs.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the focus on understanding the customer, a key part of the sales process.
  • Example 3:
    • 我今天下午要去拜访一个重要客户。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ yào qù bàifǎng yí ge zhòngyào kèhù.
    • English: I have to go visit an important client this afternoon.
    • Analysis: `拜访 (bàifǎng)` is a formal verb for “visit,” often used in a business context with 客户.
  • Example 4:
    • 我们的首要任务是提高客户满意度。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen de shǒuyào rènwù shì tígāo kèhù mǎnyìdù.
    • English: Our first priority is to increase customer satisfaction.
    • Analysis: Shows 客户 used in a more abstract, corporate strategy sense. `客户满意度 (kèhù mǎnyìdù)` is a standard business metric.
  • Example 5:
    • 这位是我们的老客户了，合作了很多年。
    • Pinyin: Zhè wèi shì wǒmen de lǎo kèhù le, hézuòle hěn duō nián.
    • English: This is a long-term client of ours; we've been cooperating for many years.
    • Analysis: The term `老客户 (lǎo kèhù)` means “old/long-term customer” and implies a valuable, established relationship.
  • Example 6:
    • 客服正在处理那位客户的投诉。
    • Pinyin: Kèfú zhèngzài chǔlǐ nà wèi kèhù de tóusù.
    • English: Customer service is currently handling that client's complaint.
    • Analysis: `客服 (kèfú)` is the shortened form of `客户服务 (kèhù fúwù)`, or “customer service.”
  • Example 7:
    • 银行需要验证客户的身份信息。
    • Pinyin: Yínháng xūyào yànzhèng kèhù de shēnfèn xìnxī.
    • English: The bank needs to verify the customer's identity information.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 客户 in the banking/finance sector for an account holder.
  • Example 8:
    • 我们正在寻找有潜力的客户。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo yǒu qiánlì de kèhù.
    • English: We are looking for potential clients.
    • Analysis: `潜在客户 (qiánzài kèhù)` is the standard term for “potential customer” or “sales lead.”
  • Example 9:
    • 对待每一位客户都要有耐心。
    • Pinyin: Duìdài měi yí wèi kèhù dōu yào yǒu nàixīn.
    • English: You must be patient with every single customer.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the polite measure word `位 (wèi)` for people, which is very common to use with 客户.
  • Example 10:
    • 商店里的顾客很多，但只有一部分会成为我们的长期客户。
    • Pinyin: Shāngdiàn lǐ de gùkè hěn duō, dàn zhǐyǒu yí bùfen huì chéngwéi wǒmen de chángqī kèhù.
    • English: There are many shoppers in the store, but only some of them will become our long-term clients.
    • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between `顾客 (gùkè)` (shoppers) and `客户 (kèhù)` (established, long-term clients).

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `客户 (kèhù)` vs. `顾客 (gùkè)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
    • `顾客 (gùkè)` refers to a “shopper” or “customer” in a retail or transactional setting, like a supermarket, restaurant, or mall. The relationship is often temporary and anonymous.
    • `客户 (kèhù)` implies a more formal, registered, or ongoing relationship. It's used for clients of a firm, account holders at a bank, or major B2B purchasers. A company can be a 客户, but a company cannot be a 顾客.
    • Incorrect: 那个律师事务所的顾客很多。 (Nàge lǜshī suǒ de gùkè hěn duō.)
    • Correct: 那个律师事务所的客户很多。 (Nàge lǜshī suǒ de kèhù hěn duō.) A law firm has “clients,” not “shoppers.” * `客户 (kèhù)` vs. `客人 (kèrén)`: * `客人 (kèrén)` means “guest” in a social context (e.g., guests visiting your home, a guest at a party). It is not used for commercial customers. * Incorrect: 我公司今天来了几位重要的客人。 (Wǒ gōngsī jīntiān láile jǐ wèi zhòngyào de kèrén.) While they are “guests” at the company, in a business context, 客户 is the correct term.
    • Correct: 我公司今天来了几位重要的客户。 (Wǒ gōngsī jīntiān láile jǐ wèi zhòngyào de kèhù.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 顾客 (gùkè) - A synonym meaning “customer,” but typically used for shoppers in retail and one-off transactions. Less formal than `客户`.
  • 用户 (yònghù) - “User.” Specifically refers to the user of a product, service, app, or platform (e.g., “WeChat user”).
  • 消费者 (xiāofèizhě) - “Consumer.” A more formal, economic term used in media, law, or academic contexts to refer to the general population of consumers.
  • 老客户 (lǎo kèhù) - “Old/long-term customer.” A highly valued client with a long history with the company.
  • 潜在客户 (qiánzài kèhù) - “Potential client” or “lead.” A person or company identified as a possible future customer.
  • 客户服务 (kèhù fúwù) - “Customer service.” Often abbreviated to `客服 (kèfú)`.
  • 关系 (guānxi) - The crucial concept of “relationship” or “network” that is essential for maintaining good standing with a `客户`.
  • 订单 (dìngdān) - The “order” (for goods or services) that a `客户` places.
  • 买家 (mǎijiā) - “Buyer.” A very direct term, often used on e-commerce platforms like Taobao.
  • 当事人 (dāngshìrén) - “Party concerned” or “client” specifically in a legal case. A more technical term than `客户`.