商社(しょうしゃ)

しょうしゃ
noun
trading company
businessworkbusiness
1. trading company; trading house
A company that engages in import/export and international trade. Japanese trading companies (especially 総合商社) are distinctive corporate entities that trade in a vast range of goods and invest globally.
To get a job at a major trading company.
Trading company employees travel abroad frequently.
Japan's general trading companies deal in a wide range of goods, from natural resources to food products.

総合(そうごう)商社(しょうしゃ) (general trading companies) such as 三菱商事(みつびししょうじ), 三井物産(みついぶっさん) and 伊藤忠商事(いとうちゅうしょうじ) are among Japan's largest corporations; 専門(せんもん)商社(しょうしゃ) focus on one industry.

Common collocations

  • 総合(そうごう)商社(しょうしゃ): general trading company
  • 大手(おおて)商社(しょうしゃ): major trading company
  • 商社(しょうしゃ)マン: trading-company employee (informal)

Watch out: Do not confuse it with the homophone 勝者(しょうしゃ) (winner).