Translation and Meaning of: 商品 - shouhin
The Japanese word 商品[しょうひん] is an essential term for those studying the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is "merchandise" or "product," but its application goes beyond commerce, reflecting aspects of Japanese society. In this article, we will explore everything from writing and pronunciation to everyday use and cultural curiosities. If you want to understand how the Japanese perceive the concept of 商品, this guide will help you.
The meaning and writing of 商品
The word 商品 is composed of two kanji: 商 (commerce) and 品 (product). Together, they form the concept of "merchandise" or "item for sale." It is a neutral term, used for both physical products and services in commercial contexts. Unlike 製品 (manufactured product), 商品 has a broader focus, encoming everything that can be traded.
In writing, it is important to note that the kanji 品 appears in other words such as 食品 (food) or 作品 (artwork), but always maintaining the idea of "quality". This relationship helps to memorize the meaning of 商品, since the second kanji is a clear indicator of the type of word we are dealing with.
How and when to use 商品 in everyday life
In Japan, 商品 is a common word in stores, supermarkets, and even in conversations about shopping. Phrases like "この商品はいくらですか?" (How much is this product?) are frequent. It also appears on price tags, ments, and catalogs, always highlighting something that is for sale.
It is worth noting that 商品 is not limited to physical objects. Services such as travel packages or subscriptions can also be referred to this way. For example, a hotel may offer "宿泊商品" (accommodation products), demonstrating how versatile the term is in the business world.
The cultural importance of 商品 in Japan
In the Japanese context, 商品 is not just a commercial term – it reflects values such as quality and presentation. The meticulous packaging and attention to detail in products are examples of this. Items like お土産 (omiyage, regional souvenirs) are treated as special 商品, carrying cultural significance beyond their monetary value.
Another interesting aspect is the use of 商品 in limited seasons, such as "季節商品" (seasonal products) that mark festivals or changes in the weather. This practice reinforces the relationship between commerce and tradition in Japan, showing how the word goes beyond its literal meaning.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 製品 (Seihin) - Product manufactured, result of a production process.
- 物品 (Buppin) - Physical objects or items, usually used in commerce contexts.
- 品物 (Shinamono) - Items or products in general can refer to specific goods.
- 商品品 (Shōhin) - Commercial value of a item, specifically in the context of products available for sale.
- 商品類 (Shōhinrui) - Category or type of products, referring to a class of goods.
- 商品種 (Shōhin-shu) - Variety or specific type of products, emphasizing distinctions within a category.
- 商品品目 (Shōhin-hinmoku) - List or itemization of products with specific details about each of them.
- 商品品質 (Shōhin-hinshitsu) - Product quality, focusing on manufacturing characteristics and standards.
- 商品品揃え (Shōhin-hin-zoroe) - Variety of products available, referring to the selection and range of goods on offer.
Related words
Romaji: shouhin
Kana: しょうひん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: merchandise; article of commerce; assets; stock; merchandise
Meaning in English: commodity;article of commerce;goods;stock;merchandise
Definition: A product is something or service that can be bought, sold or traded.
Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences
How to Write in Japanese - (商品) shouhin
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (商品) shouhin:
Example Sentences - (商品) shouhin
See below some example sentences:
Watashi wa maishuu atarashii shouhin o shiirerimasu
I buy new products every week.
I buy new products every week.
- 私は - personal pronoun "I"
- 毎週 - adverb "weekly"
- 新しい - adjective "new"
- 商品を - noun "product" + particle "the" (direct object)
- 仕入れます - verb "comprar" (formal)
Ruiji shita shouhin ga takusan arimasu
There are many similar products.
- 類似した - similar
- 商品 - product
- が - subject particle
- たくさん - many
- あります - there are
Takaka na shouhin wo kau no wa muzukashii desu
It is difficult to buy expensive products.
- 高価な - adjective meaning "expensive"
- 商品 - noun meaning "product"
- を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
- 買う - verb meaning "to buy"
- のは - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- 難しい - adjective meaning "difficult"
- です - linking verb indicating the polite and formal form of speech
Dairiten de shouhin wo kaimashita
I bought a product in the representation store.
I bought a product at an agency.
- 代理店 (dairiten) - means "agency" or "representative", it is a company that acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the end consumer.
- で (de) - is a particle that indicates the place where something happened, in this case, the purchase of the product at the agency.
- 商品 (shouhin) - means "product" or "merchandise".
- を (wo) - is a particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, the product that was purchased.
- 買いました (kaimashita) - is the past form of the verb "buy".
Kono shouhin wa raishuu hatsubai saremasu
This product will be released next week.
This product will be released next week.
- この商品 - This product
- は - Topic particle
- 来週 - Next week
- 発売 - Launch
- されます - Será feito (ive form of the verb "suru")
Kono shouhin no meyasu wa san nichi kan desu
The estimated time for this product is three days.
The default for this product is 3 days.
- この商品の目安 - indication of this product
- は - Topic particle
- 3日間 - three days
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kono shouhin no hanbai wa shuuryou shimashita
The sale of this product was closed.
The sale of this product is over.
- この商品の販売 - Sale of this product
- は - Topic particle
- 終了 - End, finish
- しました - The past form of the verb "する" (to do) is "did."
Kono shouhin no ureyuki wa kouchou desu
Sales of this product are going well.
Sales of this product are strong.
- この商品 - this product
- の - of
- 売れ行き - sales
- は - are
- 好調 - favorable, good
- です - is
Kono shouhin no toriatsukai ni wa juubun chuui shite kudasai
Please be careful enough when handling this product.
Be careful when handling this product.
- この商品 - This product
- の - Possessive particle
- 取り扱い - Handling
- には - Particle that indicates focus or attention
- 十分 - Sufficient
- 注意 - Attention
- してください - Please, do it.
Kono shouhin no hyouka wa takai desu
The evaluation of this product is high.
The evaluation of this product is high.
- この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
- 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
- の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
- 評価 - noun that means "evaluation" or "classification"
- は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- 高い - adjective that means "high" or "elevated," but in this context means "good" or "excellent."
- です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
