The Chinese word **光顾 (guānggù)**, meaning "to patronize" or "to be a customer," is a polite and respectful compound formed through semantic combination. It literally fuses **光 (guāng)**, meaning "light" or "honor," with **顾 (gù)**, meaning "to visit" or "to look after." The term metaphorically suggests that a customer's visit brings the "light" or "honor" of their presence to a business, thereby elevating the act of shopping into a gracious favor. This construction reflects the traditional Chinese cultural emphasis on humility and respect in commercial interactions, where the business owner expresses gratitude by framing the customer's action as an honorable visitation.