旅客

• Pinyin: lǚ kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 旅 (lǚ) — to travel, journey; 客 (kè) — guest, visitor

Meaning

Traveller; passenger. A person who is travelling, especially by train, plane, or other public transport.

A more formal term than 游客 (tourist). Used in transportation contexts — at airports, train stations, and in official announcements. Refers to people who are in transit rather than specifically sightseeing.

Examples

1. 请旅客们注意安全。 Passengers, please pay attention to safety.
2. 这趟列车上有很多旅客。 There are many passengers on this train.
3. 旅客可以在候车室休息。 Travellers can rest in the waiting room.

Usage Guide

Context: transport, announcements

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 请旅客们排队上车。(Passengers, please queue to board.)
• 旅客朋友们，欢迎来到北京。(Dear passengers, welcome to Beijing.)

Don't Say

• 不要在日常口语中用'旅客'称呼朋友 (Don't call your friends 旅客 casually — it sounds like a public announcement; use 游客 or just describe them normally)

Origin & History

Compound of 旅 (to travel, journey) and 客 (guest, visitor). Literally a 'travel guest', a term used since classical times for people on journeys.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal