Meaning and Usage
"店員" (てんいん) means "clerk" or "store employee." It refers to the person who works at a shop or store, assisting customers and handling sales.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "店員" in everyday shopping situations, such as asking for help, locating products, or during payment.
Collocations and Patterns
- 店員に聞く: to ask the clerk
- 店員さん: polite or friendly way to refer to a clerk
- 新しい店員: new clerk
Register and Politeness
"店員" is a neutral term used in both casual and formal contexts. Adding さん (店員さん) makes it more polite or friendly.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse "店員" with "店長" (てんちょう), which means "store manager." Also, when addressing or referring to a clerk politely, use "店員さん" rather than just "店員."