Translation and Meaning of: 商 - shou

The Japanese word 商[しょう] is an essential term for anyone looking to understand the commercial and economic aspects of Japan. Its main meaning is related to trade, business, and transactions, but its application goes beyond the purely financial context. In this article, we will explore everything from the origin and writing of the kanji to its everyday use and compound expressions. If you are learning Japanese or simply curious about the language, understanding 商[しょう] can open doors to a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.

Meaning and Origin of the Kanji 商

The kanji 商 is composed of the radical 亠 (tou, which indicates "cover" or "roof") and the lower part 冏 (kei, associated with "exchange" or "negotiation"). Historically, this character originated in ancient China, representing the idea of trade and the exchange of goods. In Japan, it was incorporated with the same meaning, becoming part of terms such as 商業[しょうぎょう] (commerce) and 商品[しょうひん] (goods).

In addition to its literal meaning, 商 carries a connotation of movement and social interaction. Unlike other kanjis related to money, such as 金[きん], it emphasizes the relationship between people in transactions. This nuance is important to understand why the term appears in contexts ranging from small businesses to large corporations.

Everyday Use and Common Expressions

In daily life, 商[しょう] appears in various words and phrases. One of the most well-known is 商売[しょうばい], which means "business" or "commerce." This expression is often used to refer to commercial activities, whether it's a neighborhood store or a multinational company. Another example is 商人[しょうにん], which designates a merchant or trader.

It is worth noting that 商 also appears in less obvious contexts. In 商談[しょうだん], for example, the term refers to business negotiations, showing how the word is linked to processes of dialogue and agreement. This type of use reinforces the idea that commerce in Japan is not just an exchange of products, but also of relationships.

Tips for Memorizing and Applying

An effective way to memorize 商[しょう] is to associate it with words that are already part of the basic vocabulary of those studying Japanese. For example, 商店[しょうてん] means "store" and can be easily remembered by thinking of commercial establishments. Another tip is to practice with simple sentences, like "この商品は高いです" (This product is expensive), which helps reinforce the use of the kanji in real contexts.

Interestingly, 商 also appears in technical terms, such as 商法 [しょうほう] (commercial law), showing its relevance in specialized areas. For those seeking fluency, learning these variations is essential. A good strategy is to create flashcards with practical examples, highlighting both the meaning and the pronunciation.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 売り (Uri) - Sale
• 取引 (Torihiki) - Transação, negociação
• ビジネス (Bijinesu) - Business, Trade
• 商業 (Shōgyō) - Commerce, Commercial activity
• 販売 (Hanbai) - Sale, Marketing
• 商売 (Shōbai) - Trade, Business (focusing on local activities)
• 商人 (Shōnin) - Merchant, Trader
• 商店 (Shōten) - Store, Commercial establishment
• 商業的 (Shōgyō-teki) - Commercial, Related to trade
• 商用 (Shōyō) - Commercial use

商

Romaji: shou
Kana: しょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: quotient

Meaning in English: quotient

Definition: To sell products.

Example Sentences - (商) shou

See below some example sentences:

私は毎週新しい商品を仕入れます。

Watashi wa maishuu atarashii shouhin o shiirerimasu

I buy new products every week.

I buy new products every week.

• 私は - personal pronoun "I"
• 毎週 - adverb "weekly"
• 新しい - adjective "new"
• 商品を - noun "product" + particle "the" (direct object)
• 仕入れます - verb "comprar" (formal)

商売は信用である。

Shoubai wa shin'you de aru

Os negócios são baseados na confiança.

Negócios são crédito.

• 商売 (shoubai) - Business, Trade
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 信用 (shinyou) - confiança, crédito
• である (dearu) - ser, estar (forma formal)

類似した商品がたくさんあります。

Ruiji shita shouhin ga takusan arimasu

There are many similar products.

• 類似した - semelhante
• 商品 - product
• が - subject particle
• たくさん - many
• あります - there are

高価な商品を買うのは難しいです。

Takaka na shouhin wo kau no wa muzukashii desu

It is difficult to buy expensive products.

• 高価な - adjective meaning "expensive"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 買う - verb meaning "to buy"
• のは - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 難しい - adjective meaning "difficult"
• です - linking verb indicating the polite and formal form of speech

売買は商売の基本です。

Baibai wa shōbai no kihon desu

Comprar e vender é a base dos negócios.

Comprar e vender é a base dos negócios.

• 売買 - compra e venda
• 商売 - Business, Trade
• 基本 - Base, foundation

商売繁盛

shoubai hanjou

Prosperidade nos negócios.

Negócios prósperos

• 商売 - significa "negócio" ou "comércio" em japonês.
• 繁盛 - significa "prosperidade" ou "sucesso" em japonês.

商業は経済の重要な分野です。

Shōgyō wa keizai no jūyōna bun'ya desu

Trade is an important sector of the economy.

Commercial is an important field of economics.

• 商業 - trade
• は - Topic particle
• 経済 - economy
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 分野 - Field, area
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

代理店で商品を買いました。

Dairiten de shouhin wo kaimashita

I bought a product in the representation store.

I bought a product at an agency.

• 代理店 (dairiten) - means "agency" or "representative", it is a company that acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the end consumer.
• で (de) - is a particle that indicates the place where something happened, in this case, the purchase of the product at the agency.
• 商品 (shouhin) - means "product" or "merchandise".
• を (wo) - is a particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, the product that was purchased.
• 買いました (kaimashita) - is the past form of the verb "buy".

この商品は来週発売されます。

Kono shouhin wa raishuu hatsubai saremasu

This product will be released next week.

This product will be released next week.

• この商品 - This product
• は - Topic particle
• 来週 - Next week
• 発売 - Lançamento
• されます - Será feito (passive form of the verb "suru")

この商品の目安は３日間です。

Kono shouhin no meyasu wa san nichi kan desu

The estimated time for this product is three days.

The default for this product is 3 days.

• この商品の目安 - indication of this product
• は - Topic particle
• ３日間 - three days
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present