拉客

lākè

verb #35,955

Meanings

1 to solicit customers
2 to tout for business (taxis, shops, hotels)
3 (of a sex worker) to solicit clients

Characters

guest, customer

Examples

HSK 3

车站门口总有人拉客。

Chēzhàn ménkǒu zǒng yǒurén lākè.

There are always people touting for customers at the station entrance.

HSK 5

这家餐厅靠服务员在街上拉客。

Zhèjiā cāntīng kào fúwùyuán zài jiēshàng lākè.

This restaurant relies on its staff hustling for customers on the street.

Tips

register

Slightly negative - implies pushy or aggressive solicitation, not legitimate marketing. The most charged use is for sex-worker solicitation (e.g. 拉客女); context decides which sense applies.

memory

拉 (lā, 'to pull') + 客 (kè, 'guest/customer') = 'pulling in customers' - the literal image of grabbing someone off the street.

Stroke Order

拉 lā

客 kè