商 shāng trade
trade; to discuss
How to remember 商: 亠 lid + 丷 horns + 冏 window = trade. At the night market, a stall with a lid for a roof, two horns under it and a bright window does a roaring trade.
Component breakdown
商 = 亠 lid + 丷 horns + 冏 window
- 亠 lid
- 丷 horns
- 冏 window
At the night market, a stall with a lid for a roof, two horns under it and a bright window does a roaring trade.
How it came to be
The oldest form is a stand with a sign on top. It was the name of the Shang people, who were remembered as traders.
How it is used
- 'Commerce / trade' - 商店 (shāngdiàn) shop, 商品 (shāngpǐn) goods, 商人 (shāngrén) merchant, 商业 (shāngyè) business.
- It also carries a separate verb sense 'to discuss/consult': 商量 (shāngliang) talk something over, 协商 (xiéshāng) negotiate.
- 商场 (shāngchǎng) is a shopping mall/department store, larger than a single 商店.
Words with 商
- 商店shāngdiànshopHSK 1
- 商场shāngchǎngshopping mallHSK 2
- 商量shāngliangconsultHSK 4
- 商品shāngpǐncommodityHSK 4
- 商业shāngyèbusinessHSK 5
- 商人shāngrénmerchantHSK 5
- 商务shāngwùcommercial affairsHSK 5
- 商家shāngjiāmerchantHSK 5
- 电商diànshānge-commerce (short for 电子商务)HSK 5
- 厂商chǎngshāngmanufacturerHSK 6
- 商标shāngbiāotrademarkHSK 6
- 经商jīngshāngto tradeHSK 6
- 商机shāngjībusiness opportunityHSK 7
- 商用shāngyòngcommercialHSK 7
- 商讨shāngtǎoto discussHSK 7
- 商议shāngyìto negotiateHSK 7
- 开发商kāifāshāngdeveloperHSK 7
- 情商qíngshāngemotional intelligenceHSK 7
- 招商zhāoshāngto seek investment or fundingHSK 7
- 协商xiéshāngto consult withHSK 8
- 商贩shāngfàntraderHSK 8
- 商贾shānggǔmerchantHSK 8
- 智商zhìshāngIQ (intelligence quotient)HSK 9
- 磋商cuōshāngto consultHSK 9
Example sentences
- 商店关门了。 Shāngdiàn guānmén le.The shop is closed.
- 这是一个商业网站。 Zhè shì yí gè shāngyè wǎngzhàn.This is a commercial website.
- 这家商店在打折。 Zhè jiā shāngdiàn zài dǎzhé.This shop is giving discounts.
- 他们在商量新工作。 Tāmen zài shāngliang xīn gōngzuò.They're discussing the new job.