顾客 (gù kè) literally combines 顾 (gù), meaning 'to attend to' or 'to care for', and 客 (kè), meaning 'guest' or 'visitor'. Together, they form a formal, respectful term for a person who purchases goods or services — that is, a 'customer'. Unlike more casual terms like 买家 (mǎi jiā, 'buyer'), 顾客 emphasizes the relationship between a business and the people it serves, highlighting hospitality and service orientation.

This word is commonly used in retail, hospitality, and service industries — such as stores, restaurants, hotels, and online platforms. It appears frequently in signage (e.g., 欢迎光临顾客服务中心 — 'Welcome to the Customer Service Center'), staff training materials, and customer service phrases. While neutral in register, it’s slightly more formal than 客人 (kè rén) and carries no implication of friendship or personal connection — it specifically denotes a commercial relationship.