How to say "client" in Japanese

• クライアントCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword for 'client', common in computing and in professional services such as law, design and consulting, for the party that engages a professional or is served by one.
  私、自動車じどうしゃにしょっちゅう乗のってるの。だから、クライアントが私にコンタクトが取とれないって文句もんくを言いうの。↗

  I'm on the road a lot, and my clients are complaining that they can never reach me.
• 顧客こきゃくCommon
  no-adjectiveThe general word for the customers or clients of a shop, company or service provider — people or firms that buy goods or use services; it covers the plain business sense of 'client' across industries.
  銀行ぎんこうはリスクの高たかい顧客こきゃくへのローンには高たかい金利きんりをつける。↗

  Banks charge higher interest on loans to risky customers.
• 依頼者いらいしゃCommon
  nounFrames the client as the party who requests or commissions work; a natural word for the client of a lawyer, translator or agency, seen from the professional's side.
  ヘタクソな人ひとは英訳えいやくしないでください。英訳えいやく依頼者いらいしゃからのお願ねがいです。↗

  Please don't do translations if you're crap at it. This is a plea from the English translation clients.
• 得意先とくいさきCommon
  nounAn established, repeat customer of a business — the idea behind 'patron; clientele'; it suggests a steady, valued trading relationship, so it fits regular clients rather than one-off ones.
  その会社かいしゃは将来しょうらいお得意先とくいさきになりそうな人々ひとびとをパーティーに招待しょうたいした。↗

  The company invited their prospective customers to the party.
• 取引先とりひきさきCommon
  nounA company one does business with — a client company or business connection; the word is direction-neutral, covering customers and suppliers alike, and suits corporate talk about partner firms.
  営業員えいぎょういんをこの新あたらしい取引先とりひきさきに派遣はけんしてください。↗

  Please send your sales reps to this new account.

Use 「クライアント」 for the loanword in IT and professional services, 顧客 for a business's customers or clients generally, 依頼者 for someone commissioning work, 得意先 for regular customers, and 取引先 for client companies or trading partners.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• クライアントclient
• 顧客こきゃくcustomer
• 依頼者いらいしゃclient
• 得意先とくいさき(regular) customer
• 取引先とりひきさきcustomer
• 利用者りようしゃuser
• 建て主たてぬしclient (of a builder, etc.)
• 依頼人いらいにんclient
• 依頼主いらいぬしclient
• 客先きゃくさきcustomer
• 得意客とくいきゃくfrequent customer
• 弁護依頼人べんごいらいにん(lawyer's) client
• 客きゃくcustomer
• 施主せしゅclient (of a builder, etc.)
• お客様おきゃくさまcustomer
• お客さんおきゃくさんcustomer