旅客 (lǚ kè) is a compound noun meaning 'passenger' or 'traveler'. The first character 旅 (lǚ) means 'journey', 'travel', or 'trip', and the second character 客 (kè) means 'guest' or 'visitor'. Together, they literally suggest 'a guest on a journey' — someone traveling from one place to another, typically using public transportation like trains, buses, planes, or ferries. It emphasizes the person’s role during transit rather than their destination or purpose.

This term is formal and neutral in register, commonly used in official announcements, transport signage, news reports, and service contexts (e.g., airport staff addressing travelers). While it can refer to tourists, it’s broader: a commuter on a subway is also a 旅客, as is someone visiting family by train. It’s less personal than 游客 (tourist) and more specific than 人 (person) — always implying movement between locations via organized transport.