拉客

lākè
verb #35,955

Meanings

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

Examples

Chēzhàn ménkǒu zǒng yǒurén lākè.
There are always people touting for customers at the station entrance.
Zhè jiā cāntīng kào fúwùyuán zài jiē shàng 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, lākènǚ); context decides which sense applies.
memory
(lā, 'to pull') + (kè, 'guest/customer') = 'pulling in customers' — the literal image of grabbing someone off the street.

Stroke Order