Japanese word

商人

Pronunciation

Romajishōnin

Meaning

  • nounmerchant

Example

この町には昔、多くの商人がいました。ko no machi ni wa mukashi ō ku no shō nin ga i ma shi ta

There were many merchants in this town long ago.

Illustration for 商人 (merchant)

More examples

商人同士が市場で情報を交換することもあります。shō nin dō shi ga shi jō de jō hō o kō kan su ru ko to mo a ri ma su

Merchants sometimes exchange information with one another at the market.

Core concept

商人 (shōnin) centers on someone who connects goods with buyers through business and trade.

Common phrases

  • 商人と取引するshō nin to torihiki su ru

    do business with a merchant

Similar words

商売人shōbainin: A person who earns a living through business or trade.
貿易商bōekishō: A person who conducts business by importing and exporting goods.
行商人gyōshōnin: A person who travels from place to place to sell goods.

Definition in Japanese

商品を売買して利益を得ることを仕事とする人。shō hin o bai bai shi te ri eki o e ru ko to o shi goto to su ru hito

Word origin

商人 (shōnin) is a compound of 商 (shō, "trade") and 人 (nin, "person"), so its form directly links a person with trade.

Usage tips

  • In The Merchant of Venice, merchant refers to a person engaged in buying and selling goods, not simply to a shop owner.

Other meanings

  • tradernoun
  • dealernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word