Japanese word

中小企業

Pronunciation

Romajichūshōkigyō

Meaning

  • nounsmall and midsize business

Example

この国では中小企業が経済を支えています。ko no kuni de wa chū shō ki gyō ga kei zai o sasa e te i ma su

Small and midsize businesses support the economy in this country.

Illustration for 中小企業 (small and midsize business)

More examples

多くの中小企業が地域の雇用を支えています。ō ku no chū shō ki gyō ga chi iki no ko yō o sasa e te i ma su

Many small and midsize businesses support local employment.

Core concept

Refers to a business whose scale falls below that of a major corporation, including both small and medium-sized enterprises.

Common phrases

  • 中小企業で働くchū shō ki gyō de hatara ku

    work for a small and midsize business

  • 中小企業に融資するchū shō ki gyō ni yū shi su ru

    lend to small and midsize businesses

  • 中小企業支援chū shō ki gyō shi en

    support for small and midsize businesses

Definition in Japanese

事業の規模が比較的小さいか中程度である企業。ji gyō no ki bo ga hi kaku teki chii sa i ka chū tei do de a ru ki gyō

Word origin

中小企業 (chūshō kigyō) is a compound of 中 (chū, "middle"), 小 (shō, "small"), and 企業 (kigyō, "enterprise"), grouping enterprises by their relatively limited scale.

Usage tips

  • English business writing often uses SME as a concise label for a small or medium-sized enterprise, especially in discussions of economic policy.

Opposites

Related words

  • 中小企業者chūshōkigyōshaSME operatornoun

Word lists with this word