The word 常客 (chángkè) is a compound noun formed by combining the adjective 常 (cháng), meaning "frequent" or "regular", with the noun 客 (kè), meaning "guest" or "customer". It follows a common modifier-head structure in Chinese, where the first character describes the nature of the second. Literally meaning "frequent guest", it semantically merges to denote a "regular customer" or "frequent visitor", referring to someone who patronizes a place or service habitually.