Meaning and Usage
The word 商売 (しょうばい) refers to trade, business, or commerce, often implying the act of buying and selling goods or services to make a profit. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about running a business or engaging in commercial activities.
Common Contexts
商売 is frequently used to describe small or medium-sized businesses, family-run shops, or any commercial venture. It can refer to both the activity and the business itself.
Collocations and Patterns
- 商売を始める (しょうばいをはじめる): to start a business
- 商売がうまくいく: business goes well
- 商売で利益を出す: to make a profit in business
- 商売繁盛 (しょうばいはんじょう): prosperous business (often seen on signs or in greetings)
Register and Nuance
商売 is neutral in formality and can be used in casual and polite contexts. It often carries a practical, everyday nuance rather than a formal corporate sense.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 商売 with 仕事 (しごと, work/job). 商売 specifically refers to business or trade activities, often with a commercial or entrepreneurial nuance, while 仕事 is a broader term for work or tasks done for a job or profession.