八百屋(やおや)

やおや
noun
greengrocer, vegetable shop
shopping
1. greengrocer, vegetable shop
A shop that sells fruits and vegetables.
八百屋(やおや)で野菜(やさい)を買(か)う。
To buy vegetables at the greengrocer.
駅(えき)の近(ちか)くに八百屋(やおや)があります。
There's a greengrocer near the station.
八百屋(やおや)のトマトは新鮮(しんせん)です。
The tomatoes at the greengrocer are fresh.
あの八百屋(やおや)さんの野菜(やさい)はいつも新鮮(しんせん)でおいしい。
The vegetables at that greengrocer are always fresh and delicious.
毎朝(まいあさ)八百屋(やおや)で新鮮(しんせん)な野菜(やさい)と果物(くだもの)を買(か)うのが楽(たの)しみです。
I enjoy buying fresh vegetables and fruit at the greengrocer every morning.

Etymology

A common explanation is that an older word 青屋(あおや) (produce shop) shifted to やおや, and 八百(やお) ("eight hundred", that is, many kinds of goods) was chosen as the spelling. 屋(や) means shop.

Common expressions

  • 八百屋(やおや)で買(か)う: to buy at the greengrocer
  • 八百屋(やおや)さん: the greengrocer (person)

RELATED WORDS (other shops):

Usage

While スーパー dominate today, traditional 八百屋(やおや) still exist in 商店街(しょうてんがい) (shopping streets) and are valued for fresh, local produce and personal service.

Related Words

Related: スーパー (supermarket)
Compare: 精肉店(せいにくてん) (butcher shop)
Related: 米屋(こめや) (rice shop)
Related: 肉屋(にくや) (butcher)
Related: 魚屋(さかなや) (fish shop)
Related: 花屋(はなや) (florist)
Related: 酒屋(さかや) (liquor store)
core
Added 2026.1.11 19:10 · Revised 2026.10.10 4:58
02500/02978_yaoya