How to say "spectator" in Japanese

• 観客かんきゃくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe usual word for spectators at a performance, match, or similar event; it equally covers the 'audience' sense, whether in a theater or a stadium.
  観客かんきゃくは彼かれのホームランに興奮こうふんした。↗

  His home run excited the crowd.
• 見物人けんぶつにんCommon
  nounA spectator in the onlooker sense: someone watching a festival, parade, or street scene from the sidelines rather than being part of the audience; it also means 'sightseer'.
  彼かれが飛行機ひこうきに乗り込のりこむと、見物人けんぶつにんが集あつまってきた。↗

  Spectators gathered as he climbed into the plane.
• 見物けんぶつJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThough it can mean a spectator or onlooker, 見物 chiefly names the act of sightseeing or watching; to refer to the people themselves, 見物人 is the more precise word.
• 客きゃくJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounPrimarily means 'customer' or 'guest'; its 'spectator' sense is secondary, so for spectators at a match or performance 観客 is normally the better choice.
  春先はるさきだから客きゃくもあまりいませんでした。↗

  It was early spring, so there weren't many customers.
• お客様おきゃくさまCommon
  nounThe honorific counterpart of 客: businesses and venues use it when addressing customers or guests, including an audience, so it is not a neutral word for spectators in general.
  お客様きゃくさまのサイズは切きらしてしまっているようですが。↗

  I think we're out of your size.

Use 観客 for spectators watching a performance or match, 見物人 (or 見物) for onlookers at public events, and 客 or the honorific 「お客様」 chiefly for customers and guests rather than spectators.

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

• 観客かんきゃくspectator
• 見物人けんぶつにんspectator
• 観覧者かんらんしゃspectator
• 傍聴人ぼうちょうにんobserver
• 来場者らいじょうしゃvisitor
• 見物客けんぶつきゃくsightseer
• 観者かんしゃobserver
• 傍聴者ぼうちょうしゃobserver
• 見物けんぶつsightseer
• 客きゃくcustomer
• お客様おきゃくさまcustomer
• お客さんおきゃくさんcustomer