Translation guide
The English word "dealer" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a business that sells goods (like a car dealer), a person who deals cards in a game, and a person who buys and sells something (like an art dealer). It also touches on the illegal drug dealer sense.
A company or shop that sells a particular type of product, often with an authorized or official status.
General term for a shop or store that sells something. Often used for authorized dealers.
I bought a new car at that dealer.
Common loanword for an authorized dealer, especially for cars. Also used in finance.
Agency or distributor. Often used for insurance, travel, or business representation.
Authorized dealer or special contract shop. More formal and specific to exclusive agreements.
The person who distributes cards in a card game.
Literally 'parent', used for the dealer in many traditional Japanese card games and mahjong. Also the banker in gambling games.
A person or business that trades in a particular commodity, often as an intermediary.
General term for a trader, dealer, or business operator. Can be used for many types of dealers.
A person who sells illegal drugs.
Standard term for a drug dealer. Literally 'seller of narcotics'.
The loanword ディーラー is common for car dealers and financial dealers, but it is not used for drug dealers or card dealers in traditional games. Using ディーラー for a drug dealer would sound unnatural or like a direct translation mistake.
販売店 is a native Japanese word meaning 'shop that sells'. ディーラー implies an authorized or branded dealership, especially for cars. For a small independent shop, 販売店 is safer.
トヨタのディーラーで点検してもらった。
I had it inspected at a Toyota dealer.
保険の代理店に相談してください。
Please consult an insurance dealer (agent).
This product can only be purchased at authorized dealers.
I'm the dealer for the next game.
Loanword used in casino contexts or Western card games like poker.
Casino dealers need training.
I bought it from a used car dealer.
Merchant or trader. Slightly old-fashioned but still used for certain contexts like art dealers.
He is an art dealer.
Used for securities dealers, foreign exchange dealers, etc. Common in financial contexts.
He works as a foreign exchange dealer.
The police arrested a drug dealer.
Uses the loanword 'drug' instead of 'narcotics'. Slightly more colloquial.
He was a drug dealer.
Illegal seller, often used for drugs or contraband. More formal or news-like.
We got information from a dealer (illegal seller).