How to Say ‘Guest; customer (less polite)’ in Japanese
お客
o kyaku
[oh kyah-koo]
💬 Usage Tip: Less polite than [お客様]. In business, prefer [お客様]. [お客さん] is casual-friendly, common in shops.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Using the right honorific level matters in Japan. Saying [お客] in a formal interview can sound too casual.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix (polite)
Adds politeness. お客 is a casual-business way to say “customer/guest,” but お客様 is more formal.
お客に丁寧に対応します。
I respond politely to customers.
客
kyaku
[kyah-koo]
customer; guest
The core noun meaning “customer/guest.” In service Japanese, often paired with お or 様.
客への説明をわかりやすくします。
I make explanations to customers easy to understand.
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