売店

ばいてん

shop, stand

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 売店 (ばいてん) refers to a small shop or stand, often found in places like train stations, schools, or event venues. It typically sells snacks, drinks, magazines, and other small items for convenience.

Common Contexts

You will often hear 売店 used when talking about buying something quickly at a station or school. It implies a smaller, more casual retail spot than a full store.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 売店で (at the stand/shop): used to indicate the location where something is bought or sold.
  • 学校の売店 (school shop): a common place for students to buy snacks or supplies.
  • 売店が混む (the stand gets crowded): describing busy times, often during breaks or rush hours.

Register and Nuance

売店 is a neutral term suitable for everyday conversation. It is not formal but polite enough for general use. It emphasizes convenience and accessibility.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 売店 with 店 (みせ), which means any shop or store. 売店 specifically suggests a smaller, often temporary or limited selection shop, not a large retail store.

Example Sentences

えきのばいてんでざっしをかいました。

I bought a magazine at the station kiosk.

がっこうのばいてんはひるやすみにとてもこみます。

The school shop gets very crowded during lunch break.

ばいてんでおかしやのみものをうっています。

They sell snacks and drinks at the stand.