水みず商しょう売ばい

noun

chancy trade; business with uncertain profitability

Refers to businesses where income is unstable and depends on popularity, trends, or luck. Often used for entertainment or service industries with high variability.

• 飲いん食しょく店てんは水みず商しょう売ばいだから、景けい気きに左さ右ゆうされやすい。

  Restaurants are a chancy business, so they are easily affected by the economy.

noun

night entertainment business; nightlife business

Specifically refers to bars, hostess clubs, cabarets, and similar nightlife establishments. This is the most common modern usage.

• 彼かの女じょは水みず商しょう売ばいで働はたらいている。

  She works in the night entertainment business.

• 水みず商しょう売ばいは華はなやかに見みえるが、大たい変へんな仕し事ごとだ。

  The nightlife business looks glamorous, but it's tough work.