八百屋
Meanings
1
greengrocer; fruit and vegetable shop
Refers to a shop that sells vegetables and often fruit; it can also refer to the person running such a shop.
I bought tomatoes at the greengrocer in front of the station.
This fruit and vegetable shop has cheap fruit too.
2
Colloquial extended use for someone who handles many different kinds of tasks; the ordinary meaning is still the vegetable-shop sense, so 何でも屋 is clearer in most modern contexts.
In casual usage, 八百屋 can also refer to someone who can handle all kinds of tasks.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に八百屋があるthere is a greengrocer at 〈place〉
There's a small greengrocer in front of the station.
- 八百屋で〈物〉を買うto buy something at the greengrocer
I bought tomatoes at the greengrocer.
- 八百屋を営むto run a greengrocer's shop
My grandfather ran a greengrocer's shop for many years.