問屋(とんや)

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

Pronunciation

• Read とんや, an irregular reading of 問(とん)

Writing

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

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)

Common expressions

• 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

CULTURAL NOTE (wholesale districts):

• 合羽橋(かっぱばし) (Tokyo - kitchenware)
• 豊洲(とよす) (Tokyo - fish; the market moved here from 築地(つきじ) in 2018)
• 船場(せんば) (Osaka - textiles)

Usage

• A 問屋(とんや) buys in bulk from manufacturers and sells smaller lots to retailers
• The traditional system now competes with direct and online sales

Register: Neutral. Common in business and everyday conversation.