常連

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 常連 (じょうれん) is a noun for a regular customer who visits the same establishment frequently and is familiar to staff.
• Basic usage: 喫茶店に来る常連だ predicates the status of a customer who comes every morning, while 常連の好み identifies the preferences remembered by the proprietor.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Visiting pattern and personal preference
  • 常連だ denotes a relationship established through repeated visits, while 常連の好み concerns that customer’s individual preferences. It does not mean a one-time visitor or merely a nearby resident.