Translation guide
The act of selling goods, typically by traveling and offering items directly to people, often on a small scale or informally. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific verbs and nouns that distinguish between types of peddling, from traditional street vending to door-to-door sales.
To sell goods while moving through streets or public places, often from a cart, stall, or by carrying items.
The general term for peddling or itinerant trading. It refers to the occupation of traveling around to sell goods, often associated with traditional street vendors.
He peddles goods in the town every day.
Literally 'to walk around selling'. A verb phrase that vividly describes the action of peddling while moving from place to place.
She goes around selling handmade accessories.
Refers to a stallholder or hawker at festivals or events, often with a slightly shady or traditional connotation. Not a general term for peddling.
At the festival, many hawkers set up stalls.
To sell goods by visiting people's homes or businesses directly, often carrying samples or catalogs.
To sell items casually, often without a fixed shop, such as at a market stall or on the street.
A street stall or booth. Often used in the context of peddling goods at markets or festivals.
I sell used clothes at a street stall on weekends.
A general term for a peddler or street vendor, often used in historical or traditional contexts.
To peddle illicit items such as drugs or stolen goods, often secretly.
行商 (gyōshō) is a broader term for itinerant trading, often outdoors or in public spaces. 訪問販売 (hōmon hanbai) specifically means door-to-door sales, visiting homes or offices. Use 行商 for traditional street peddling and 訪問販売 for modern direct sales.
The English word 'peddling' can have negative connotations (e.g., peddling drugs, peddling lies). In Japanese, the neutral term 行商 does not carry this nuance. For illegal peddling, use 密売 or 違法に売る. For metaphorical uses like 'peddling influence', consider 売り込む or 広める instead of a direct translation.
He goes door-to-door selling vacuum cleaners.
昔は物売りが街を歩き回っていた。
In the old days, peddlers used to walk around the town.
They were peddling counterfeit brand goods on the street.