商(あきな)い

あきない
noun
trade; business; commerce
economics
1. trade; business; commerce; dealing
The act of buying and selling goods, or running a business. A somewhat traditional word that conveys the spirit of Japanese merchant culture.
商(あきな)いは信用(しんよう)が大切(たいせつ)だ。
Trust is important in business.
祖父(そふ)は長年(ながねん)商(あきな)いを続(つづ)けてきた。
My grandfather has been in business for many years.
商(あきな)いの基本(きほん)は、客(きゃく)の立場(たちば)に立(た)って考(かんが)えることだと教(おし)えられた。
I was taught that the basics of business are thinking from the customer's perspective.

Usage

A traditional word with roots in Japanese merchant culture. Carries a warmer, more personal nuance than the modern ビジネス or 商売(しょうばい). Often associated with small, family-run shops and traditional commerce. The proverb 商(あきな)いは牛(うし)の涎(よだれ) (business is like a cow's drool — slow and steady wins) reflects the patient approach to trade this word evokes.

Common collocations

  • 商(あきな)いをする (to do business)
  • 商(あきな)いが上手(うま)い (to be good at business)
  • 商(あきな)いの道(みち) (the way of commerce)

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 商売(しょうばい) (more common everyday term)
Compare: ビジネス (business)
general
Added 2026.3.16 14:40 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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