Quick answer
商 is the kanji for "Merchant". Its reading is あきな.う (akinau). This page includes example sentences and a stroke-order diagram.
Meaning
Merchant
Also : Selling · Dealing in · Make a deal
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
11 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
The kanji 商 represents 'MAKE A DEAL'. Think of this shape as a picture representing the concept of make a deal.
On-reading: しょう — sounds like 'sho' in 'show'. Kun-reading: あきな.う.
Example Sentences
商店街でお土産を買いました。
しょうてんがいでおみやげをかいました。
I bought souvenirs in the shopping street.
商売が順調で、今月は利益が増えた。
しょうばいがじゅんちょうで、こんげつはりえきがふえた。
Business is going well and profits increased this month.
Vocabulary using 商
Grammar to study at this level
- [Verb dictionary/nai form] + ように～ように (you ni) - So that
- [Verb dictionary form] + ことにする～ことにする (koto ni suru) - Decide to
- [Verb dictionary form] + ことになる～ことになる (koto ni naru) - It has been decided that
- [Noun/Verb te-form] + ばかり～ばかり (bakari) - Only / Nothing but
- [Verb/Adjective plain form] + はずだ～はずだ (hazu da) - Should be / It is expected
Last updated Jun 11, 2026
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