How to say "patron" in Japanese

• 顧客こきゃくCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'patron' in the commercial sense: a customer or client of a shop, company, or service. Neutral business vocabulary for the people who buy from or use a business.
  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.
• 恩人おんじんCommon
  nounFor 'patron' as a personal benefactor: someone who has helped you so much that you feel deep gratitude and indebtedness. The emphasis falls on the debt owed, not on any business relationship.
  私は恩人おんじんにしたことを、恥はずかしく思おもった。↗

  I was ashamed of what I had done to my benefactor.
• パトロンCommon
  nounAs a loanword it is the direct equivalent of 'patron' in the arts sense: a person who financially supports an artist or the arts, including a patroness.
• 保護者ほごしゃCommon
  nounReally means guardian, protector, or parent — someone who protects and looks after a person in their care. As 'patron' it is only marginal, seldom the word you want.
  ジョンはヘレンの保護者ほごしゃのようにふるまっている。↗

  John acts like Helen's guardian.
• 得意先とくいさきCommon
  nounAlso covers the commercial sense, with the nuance of regular, ongoing business: the customers or clients a company serves repeatedly, its clientele.
  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.

For the business sense use 顧客 (or 得意先 for regular clientele), for a personal benefactor 恩人, for a patron of the arts 「パトロン」; 保護者 really means guardian or parent and seldom fits.

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

• 顧客こきゃくcustomer
• 恩人おんじんbenefactor
• パトロンpatron (of the arts, an artist, etc.)
• 保護者ほごしゃguardian
• 得意先とくいさき(regular) customer
• 後ろ盾うしろだてbacking
• 利用者りようしゃuser
• 試筋ためすじpatron
• 後援者こうえんしゃsupporter
• 常客じょうきゃくregular customer
• 常得意じょうとくいregular customer
• ドル箱ドルばこsource of funds
• 来店者らいてんしゃvisitor (to a store, restaurant, etc.)
• 引き手ひきてknob
• 援助者えんじょしゃsupporter
• 得意とくいregular customer
• 贔屓ひいきpatron
• 金脈きんみゃくfinancial connections
• リピーターrepeat customer
• 金蔵かねぐらfinancial supporter
• 金穴きんけつprovider of funds
• 像主ぞうしゅ(historically) patron