Customers and crowds
Core words, Stage 4chunk 22 of 79People
Lets you talk about customers, a crowd, or the person in question.
- okyakusancustomer; guest; visitor
- kyakucustomer; guest
- honninthe person themselves; the person in question
- oozeilots of people; a crowd
Mix-ups kyaku alone sounds blunt; okyakusan is the everyday form.
okyakusan
customer; guest; visitor
The everyday polite way to say kyaku; used by staff and hosts alike.
Shop staff say okyakusama to customers' faces.
kyou wa okyakusan ooi ne.
Lots of customers today, huh.
今日はお客さん多いね。
kyou wa okyakusan ga ooi desu ne.
There are a lot of customers today.
今日はお客さんが多いですね。
Written お客さん · おきゃくさんRank #896 in 3,030 TV dramas
kyaku
customer; guest
The plain form; sounds blunt on its own, so say okyakusan when customers can hear.
ano mise, kyaku zenzen inakatta yo.
That place had no customers at all.
あの店、客全然いなかったよ。
ano mise wa kyaku ga zenzen imasen deshita.
That shop had no customers at all.
あの店は客が全然いませんでした。
Written 客 · きゃくRank #1057 in 3,030 TV dramas
honnin
the person themselves; the person in question
Points to the person being talked about, as opposed to others speaking for them.
Add go- (gohonnin) when speaking politely about someone else.
honnin ni kiite yo.
Just ask them directly.
本人に聞いてよ。
gohonnin ni kiite kudasai.
Please ask the person directly.
ご本人に聞いてください。
Written 本人 · ほんにんRank #833 in 3,030 TV dramas
oozei
lots of people; a crowd
Only for people, never things; often oozei no hito.
Mix-up: takusan works for anything; oozei is people only.
kinou, oozei kite taihen datta.
Tons of people came yesterday, it was crazy.
昨日、大勢来て大変だった。
kinou wa oozei kite taihen deshita.
Lots of people came yesterday, so it was hectic.
昨日は大勢来て大変でした。
Written 大勢 · おおぜいRank #1946 in 3,030 TV dramas