問屋(とんや)

問屋(とんや) is a traditional term for a wholesale business, still commonly used today.

Pronunciation

• Read as とんや, not といや
• This is an irregular reading

Writing

• 問(とん) (question - here used phonetically)
• 屋(や) (shop, store)

Business role

• Buys large quantities from manufacturers
• Sells smaller lots to retailers
• Acts as distributor/middleman

Common collocations

• 問屋(とんや)から仕入(しい)れる (to buy from a wholesaler)
• 問屋(とんや)街(がい) (wholesale district)
• 卸(おろし)問屋(とんや) (wholesale store)
• 食品(しょくひん)問屋(とんや) (food wholesaler)

Famous proverb

• そうは問屋(とんや)が卸(おろ)さない
• Literal: "The wholesaler won't sell it that way"
• Meaning: "Things won't go that easily" / "That's wishful thinking"
• Very commonly used expression

Famous wholesale districts

• 合羽橋(かっぱばし) (Tokyo - kitchenware)
• 築地(つきじ) (Tokyo - fish)
• 船場(せんば) (Osaka - textiles)

Modern usage

• Traditional 問屋(とんや) system still important
• Competing with direct manufacturer sales
• Online wholesale also emerging

Register: Neutral. Common in business and everyday conversation.