Translation guide
The English word 'seller' can refer to a person, a company, or a product that sells. In Japanese, the translation depends on the context: whether you mean a shop clerk, a vendor, a merchant, or a product that sells well. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these meanings.
Referring to a person whose job is to sell goods in a store or to customers.
General term for a shop clerk or store employee. Neutral and widely used.
あの店員に聞いてみよう。
Let's ask that seller.
Salesperson, often used in department stores or for specific products. Slightly more formal than 店員.
販売員が丁寧に説明してくれた。
The seller explained it politely.
Literally 'seller' in a transaction context, often used in economics or contracts. Not for a shop clerk.
売り手と買い手の交渉が続いている。
Negotiations between the seller and the buyer are ongoing.
Referring to a business entity that sells products or services.
The seller or distributor of a product, often used on packaging or in business contexts.
この商品の販売元は東京の会社です。
The seller of this product is a Tokyo-based company.
Used in business or legal contexts to refer to the selling party. Neutral.
Formal term for a seller, often used in legal documents or terms of service.
Describing an item that is popular and sells in large quantities.
A best-selling item or a product that is currently selling well. Common in retail and marketing.
この新製品は売れ筋になるだろう。
This new product will be a good seller.
A verb phrase meaning 'sells well'. More casual and descriptive than 売れ筋.
この本はよく売れている。
This book is a good seller.
Referring to someone who sells goods in a market, on the street, or from a stall.
A street vendor or stallholder. Neutral term.
露天商が果物を売っている。
A seller is selling fruit on the street.
A peddler or itinerant seller. Slightly old-fashioned.
売り手 (urite) is a formal term for a seller in a transaction, not a person working in a store. Use 店員 (ten'in) for a shop assistant.
✕ あの売り手に聞いてみよう。
Don't say: Let's ask that seller.
○ あの店員に聞いてみよう。
Say: Let's ask that shop clerk.
In a seller's market, the seller has the advantage.
販売者は商品の欠陥に対して責任を負う。
The seller is responsible for defects in the product.
Loanword for 'bestseller', used for books, music, etc. Not typically for everyday items.
彼の小説はベストセラーになった。
His novel became a bestseller.
In the old days, a seller would come to the village.