商
make a deal, selling, dealing in, merchant
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- あきな.う
Nanori
- あき
Meaning
商 centers on commercial exchange: making deals, selling goods, and the merchant who does the dealing.
Most common words using 商
24 of 406- 商品しょうひんN3
commodity; article of commerce; goods; stock; merchandise
- 商業しょうぎょうN3
commerce; trade; business
- 商店しょうてんN2
shop; store; firm
- 商しょうN1
quotient
- 商売しょうばいN3
trade; business; commerce
- 商標しょうひょう
trademark
- 商人しょうにんN3
merchant; trader; tradesman; dealer; shopkeeper
- 商法しょうほう
business practice; business method; commerce
- 商社しょうしゃN2
trading company
- 商用しょうよう
business (engagement)
- 商工しょうこう
commerce and industry
- 通商つうしょう
commerce; trade
- 商事しょうじ
commercial affairs
- 商談しょうだんN1
business discussion; negotiation
- 商会しょうかい
firm; company
- 商戦しょうせん
sales battle; business competition
- 年商ねんしょう
yearly (annual) turnover
- 商いあきない
trade; business; trading; dealing
- 商務しょうむ
commercial affairs
- 商魂しょうこん
commercial spirit
- 商学しょうがく
commercial science
- 商工会議所しょうこうかいぎしょ
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- 大商いおおあきない
heavy turnover (trading)
- 商品券しょうひんけん
gift certificate
Study
Etymology
商 originally depicted a stand or base with a mouth-like element, possibly related to discussing or negotiating. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has long been associated with trade and merchants.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like a merchant's stall with a canopy, and the bottom 口 is the mouth haggling over a deal. Together, 商 is a merchant selling goods.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a merchant putting on a show to sell his wares: show -> ショウ, and the merchant's loud pitch draws a crowd.