商

JLPT N3

Trade, business

Readings

On’yomi: ショウ (shō)

Kun’yomi: あきな(う) (akina(u))

• あきな(う) – to trade, to do business, to deal

Structure

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Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

商売

しょうばい

business

商品

しょうひん

product

商店

しょうてん

shop

貿易商

ぼうえきしょう

trader

商人

しょうにん

merchant

Example Sentences

商売をします。

しょうばいをします。

I do business.

商品です。

しょうひんです。

It is a product.

商店です。

しょうてんです。

It is a shop.

貿易商です。

ぼうえきしょうです。

He is a trader.

商人です。

しょうにんです。

He is a merchant.

Cultural Note

💼 In Japan, 商 is associated with both tradition and respect. The word 商人 (しょうにん) was historically used for merchants in Edo-period towns, forming an important class in society. Modern words like 商社 (trading company) and 商談 (business talk) reflect Japan’s strong culture of careful, respectful negotiation in business.