Meaning

Primary

Business

Alternatives

Commerce, Trade

Word Type

noun, verbal noun

Explanation

Selling merchandise is business, commerce, or trade.

Reading

しょうばい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. You've learned them both already!

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 商売の世界

    the business world

    商売のやり方

    way of doing business

    商売のコツ

    the tricks of the trade

Context Sentences

田中さんは商売で大きく成功しました。

Mr. Tanaka succeeded in business.

最近はあのコンビニのせいで、商売あがったりだね。

Business has dried up recently because of that convenience store.

学校卒業後に商売を始めたんですが、すぐに商売をすることは簡単ではないことを学びました。

After leaving school I went into business for myself, but I soon learned that running a business is no easy task.

Kanji Composition