商人(しょうにん)

しょうにん
noun
merchant, trader
See also: 承認(しょうにん) (approval)
1. merchant, trader, shopkeeper
A person who buys and sells goods for profit.
商人(しょうにん)が店(みせ)を開(ひら)いた。
The merchant opened a shop.
大阪(おおさか)は昔(むかし)から商人(しょうにん)の町(まち)として知(し)られている。
Osaka has long been known as a city of merchants.
その商人(しょうにん)は外国(がいこく)との貿易(ぼうえき)で財(ざい)を成(な)した。
That merchant made a fortune through foreign trade.
江戸時代(えどじだい)の商人(しょうにん)は社会的(しゃかいてき)な地位(ちい)が低(ひく)かった。
Merchants had low social status during the Edo period.
Historically, merchants (商人) were at the bottom of the four-class system (士農工商)
町(まち)の商人(しょうにん)たちは朝(あさ)早(はや)くから店(みせ)を開(あ)け、夜(よる)遅(おそ)くまで働(はたら)いて家族(かぞく)を支(ささ)えていた。
The merchants in town would open their shops early in the morning and work until late at night to support their families.

商人(しょうにん) is a somewhat formal or literary word for a merchant or trader. In modern usage, it often appears in historical contexts or when referring to traditional business people.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 商売人(しょうばいにん): businessperson, tradesman (everyday tone)
  • 商店(しょうてん)主(しゅ): shop owner
  • 貿易(ぼうえき)商(しょう): trading company/trader

HISTORICAL NOTE:
In the Edo period class system (士農工商(しのうこうしょう): samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants), merchants were officially ranked lowest, yet many became extremely wealthy.

CULTURAL NOTE:
大阪(おおさか) has long been known as a city of merchants (商人(しょうにん)の町(まち)), and the expression 大阪商人(おおさかしょうにん) refers to the shrewd, business-savvy character associated with the city.

Related Words

Related: 商売(しょうばい) (business, trade)
core
Added 2026.1.12 9:53 · Revised 2026.3.30 11:16
03000/03236_shounin