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

新た

arata

new; fresh; original

割引き

waribiki

discount; reduction; reimbursement; Discounted tenths

人気

ninki

popular; business conditions; public sentiment

ten

store; establishment

segare

son; my son

製品

seihin

manufactured products; finished products

主要

shuyou

boss; main; main; major

shina

thing; article; assets; dignity; Article (goods); ant for meal courses

品物

shinamono

bens; article; thing

産物

sanbutsu

product; result; fruit

商品

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:

私は毎週新しい商品を仕入れます。

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)
類似した商品がたくさんあります。

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
高価な商品を買うのは難しいです。

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
代理店で商品を買いました。

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".
この商品は来週発売されます。

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")
この商品の目安は3日間です。

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
この商品の販売は終了しました。

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."
この商品の売れ行きは好調です。

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
この商品の取り扱いには十分注意してください。

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.
この商品の評価は高いです。

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

商品