Sensitive term for prostitution or a prostitute. Often used in historical or legal contexts; in modern everyday language, 売春 (ばいしゅん) is more common.
In the Edo period, there were areas where prostitution was officially recognized.
She was forced into prostitution due to poverty.
prostitute
brothel
brothel; whorehouse
Standard kanji form for this word.
Outdated kanji form using 賣 (old form of 売).
Compound of 淫 (いん, 'lewdness') and 売 (ばい, 'selling'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period.