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:

この商品の販売は終了しました。

Kono shouhin no hanbai wa shuuryou shimashita

The sale of this product was closed.

The sale of this product is over.

• この商品の販売 - Sale of this product
• は - Topic particle
• 終了 - End, finish
• しました - The past form of the verb "する" (to do) is "did."

この商品の売れ行きは好調です。

Kono shouhin no ureyuki wa kouchou desu

Sales of this product are going well.

Sales of this product are strong.

• この商品 - this product
• の - of
• 売れ行き - sales
• は - are
• 好調 - favorable, good
• です - is

この商品の取り扱いには十分注意してください。

Kono shouhin no toriatsukai ni wa juubun chuui shite kudasai

Please be careful enough when handling this product.

Be careful when handling this product.

• この商品 - This product
• の - Possessive particle
• 取り扱い - Handling
• には - Particle that indicates focus or attention
• 十分 - Sufficient
• 注意 - Attention
• してください - Please, do it.

この商品の評価は高いです。

Kono shouhin no hyouka wa takai desu

The evaluation of this product is high.

The evaluation of this product is high.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 評価 - noun that means "evaluation" or "classification"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 高い - adjective that means "high" or "elevated," but in this context means "good" or "excellent."
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form

この商品の包装はとても美しいです。

Kono shouhin no housou wa totemo utsukushii desu

The packaging of this product is very beautiful.

The packaging of this product is very beautiful.

• この - Demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this one".
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise".
• の - Particle that indicates possession or relationship.
• 包装 - noun that means "packaging".
• は - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• とても - adverb that means "very" or "extremely".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.

この商品の値段は高すぎる。

Kono shouhin no nedan wa takasugiru

The price of this product is too high.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 値段 - noun meaning "price" or "value"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 高すぎる - adjective meaning "very expensive" or "very high"

この商品の価格は高すぎます。

Kono shouhin no kakaku wa takasugimasu

The price of this product is too high.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 価格 - noun meaning "price" or "value"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 高すぎます - The verb that means "to be too expensive" or "to be very expensive," conjugated in the present affirmative and polite form.

この商品の産地はどこですか？

Kono shouhin no sandi wa doko desu ka?

What is the place of origin of this product?

Where is the production area for this product?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 産地 - noun meaning "place of production" or "origin"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• どこ - interrogative pronoun meaning "where"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - Particle that indicates a question
• ？ - punctuation mark that indicates a question

この商品の定価はいくらですか？

Kono shouhin no teika wa ikura desu ka?

What is the list price of this product?

• この - demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - possession particle, indicating that the product is the object of the question
• 定価 - fixed price
• は - topic particle, indicating that the question refers to the fixed price of the product
• いくら - interrogative pronoun that means "how much"
• ですか - an expression that indicates a polite question, equivalent to "could you please tell me?"

この商店はとても人気があります。

Kono shouten wa totemo ninki ga arimasu

This store is very popular.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 商店 - noun meaning "store"
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this store"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 人気 - noun meaning "popularity"
• が - subject particle indicating that "popularity" is the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb meaning "to exist" or "to have"