Translation and Meaning of: 商品 - shouhin

The Japanese word 商品[しょうひん] is an essential term for those studying the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is "merchandise" or "product," but its application goes beyond commerce, reflecting aspects of Japanese society. In this article, we will explore everything from writing and pronunciation to everyday use and cultural curiosities. If you want to understand how the Japanese perceive the concept of 商品, this guide will help you.

The meaning and writing of 商品

The word 商品 is composed of two kanji: 商 (commerce) and 品 (product). Together, they form the concept of "merchandise" or "item for sale." It is a neutral term, used for both physical products and services in commercial contexts. Unlike 製品 (manufactured product), 商品 has a broader focus, encompassing everything that can be traded.

In writing, it is important to note that the kanji 品 appears in other words such as 食品 (food) or 作品 (artwork), but always maintaining the idea of "quality". This relationship helps to memorize the meaning of 商品, since the second kanji is a clear indicator of the type of word we are dealing with.

How and when to use 商品 in everyday life

In Japan, 商品 is a common word in stores, supermarkets, and even in conversations about shopping. Phrases like "この商品はいくらですか？" (How much is this product?) are frequent. It also appears on price tags, advertisements, and catalogs, always highlighting something that is for sale.

It is worth noting that 商品 is not limited to physical objects. Services such as travel packages or subscriptions can also be referred to this way. For example, a hotel may offer "宿泊商品" (accommodation products), demonstrating how versatile the term is in the business world.

The cultural importance of 商品 in Japan

In the Japanese context, 商品 is not just a commercial term – it reflects values such as quality and presentation. The meticulous packaging and attention to detail in products are examples of this. Items like お土産 (omiyage, regional souvenirs) are treated as special 商品, carrying cultural significance beyond their monetary value.

Another interesting aspect is the use of 商品 in limited seasons, such as "季節商品" (seasonal products) that mark festivals or changes in the weather. This practice reinforces the relationship between commerce and tradition in Japan, showing how the word goes beyond its literal meaning.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 製品 (Seihin) - Product manufactured, result of a production process.
• 物品 (Buppin) - Physical objects or items, usually used in commerce contexts.
• 品物 (Shinamono) - Items or products in general can refer to specific goods.
• 商品品 (Shōhin) - Commercial value of a item, specifically in the context of products available for sale.
• 商品類 (Shōhinrui) - Category or type of products, referring to a class of goods.
• 商品種 (Shōhin-shu) - Variety or specific type of products, emphasizing distinctions within a category.
• 商品品目 (Shōhin-hinmoku) - List or itemization of products with specific details about each of them.
• 商品品質 (Shōhin-hinshitsu) - Product quality, focusing on manufacturing characteristics and standards.
• 商品品揃え (Shōhin-hin-zoroe) - Variety of products available, referring to the selection and range of goods on offer.

商品

Romaji: shouhin
Kana: しょうひん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: merchandise; article of commerce; assets; stock; merchandise

Meaning in English: commodity;article of commerce;goods;stock;merchandise

Definition: A product is something or service that can be bought, sold or traded.

Example Sentences - (商品) shouhin

See below some example sentences:

価格と品質が釣り合う商品を探しています。

Kakaku to hinshitsu ga tsuriau shouhin wo sagashiteimasu

I'm looking for a product where price and quality are in balance.

I'm looking for a product where price and quality are balanced.

• 価格 - (price)
• と - (e)
• 品質 - (quality)
• が - (subject particle)
• 釣り合う - (balance)
• 商品 - (product)
• を - (direct object particle)
• 探しています - (searching)

公認された商品は信頼できる。

Kōnin sareta shōhin wa shinrai dekiru

Certified products are reliable.

• 公認された - officially recognized
• 商品 - product
• は - Topic particle
• 信頼できる - Reliable

各種商品が揃っています。

Kakushu shouhin ga sorotte imasu

Several products are available.

• 各種 - Several types
• 商品 - Products
• が - Subject particle
• 揃っています - They are complete/they are available

売り場にはたくさんの商品があります。

Uriba ni wa takusan no shouhin ga arimasu

In the store

There are many products on the sales floor.

• 売り場 (Uriba) - means "sales area" or "store."
• に (ni) - it is a particle that indicates the location of something, in this case, "in the sales area."
• は (wa) - it is a particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "in the sales area."
• たくさん (takusan) - means "many" or "a lot".
• の (no) - it is a particle that indicates possession or belonging, in this case, "many products".
• 商品 (shouhin) - means "products" or "goods".
• が (ga) - it is a particle that marks the subject of the sentence, in this case, "the products".
• あります (arimasu) - is a verb that means "to exist" or "to be present", in this case, "there are many products in the sales area".

手頃な価格の商品を探しています。

tegoro na kakaku no shouhin wo sagashiteimasu

I am looking for affordable products.

I'm looking for affordable products.

• 手頃な - affordable, reasonable
• 価格 - price
• の - particle indicating possession or connection
• 商品 - product, merchandise
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 探しています - searching

輸入した商品は品質が高いです。

yūnyū shita shōhin wa hinshitsu ga takai desu

Imported products have high quality.

• 輸入した - verb "to import" conjugated in the past
• 商品 - noun "product"
• は - Topic particle
• 品質 - noun "quality"
• が - subject particle
• 高い - adjective "high" conjugated in the present
• です - verb "to be" conjugated in the present

送料は商品の配送費用です。

Souryou wa shouhin no haisou hiyou desu

Freight is the cost of shipping the product.

The shipping fee is the cost of delivery of the product.

• 送料 - It means "shipping cost" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "shipping cost".
• 商品 - It means "product" in Japanese.
• の - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words, in this case, "product" and "shipping cost".
• 配送 - It means "delivery" in Japanese.
• 費用 - It means "cost" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.