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Kotomora

商

make a deal, selling, dealing in, merchant

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 500Strokes11

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

Explore all words using 商 →

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.