1.
regular customer; regular patron
a customer who frequents a particular shop, restaurant, or establishment
あの人はこの店の常連客だ。
That person is a regular at this shop.
常連客には特別な割引がある。
There are special discounts for regular customers.
店長は常連客の名��と好みを全部覚えている。
The shop owner remembers all the regular customers' names and preferences.
Composed of 常連 (regular, habitual visitor) + 客 (customer). The shorter form 常連 alone is also very common and carries the same meaning in context.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 常連客になる: to become a regular
- 常連客向けサービス: service for regulars
- 常連客を大切にする: to value regular customers
- 常連客が多い店: a shop with many regulars
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 常連: regular — shorter form, same meaning in casual speech
- リピーター: repeat customer — loanword, often used in marketing contexts
- 得意客: valued customer — more formal, emphasizes the business relationship
- 馴染みの客: familiar customer — warmer, emphasizes the personal connection
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japanese food and drink culture, being recognized as a 常連 at a bar, izakaya, or restaurant often comes with perks like personalized service, off-menu items, or a reserved seat.