商売・取引

物流ぶつりゅうと流通りゅうつうの効率化こうりつかが企業きぎょうの課題かだいだ。

Improving logistics and distribution efficiency is a challenge for firms.

Usage 流通 is the distribution of goods to market; 物流 (ぶつりゅう) is the physical logistics. It also means the circulation of money or information: 流通している (in circulation).

Remember it 流 (to flow) + 通 (to pass through) → goods flowing through to the buyer.

この店みせは卸売おろしうり価格かかくで商品しょうひんを売うっている。

This shop sells goods at wholesale prices.

Usage 卸売 = wholesale: 卸売業 (wholesale trade), 卸売市場 (wholesale market). The chain runs 生産者 → 卸売 → 小売 → 消費者. 卸 alone is also common: 卸値 (wholesale price).

Remember it 卸 (to unload goods) + 売 (to sell) → unloading goods to sell on.

小売店こうりてんの数かずが年々ねんねん減へっている。

The number of retail stores is falling every year.

Usage 小売 = retail: 小売店 (retail store), 小売業, 小売価格 (retail price). Note the reading こうり, not しょうばい.

Remember it 小 (small) + 売 (to sell) → selling in small amounts.

毎朝まいあさ市場いちばで魚さかなの仕入しいれをしている。

Every morning I buy in fish at the market.

Usage 仕入れ is a business buying stock to sell: 仕入れる, 仕入れ値 (cost price), 仕入れ先 (supplier). Also figurative: 情報を仕入れる (pick up information).

Remember it 仕 (to serve, do) + 入れる (to put in) → putting stock in.

今月こんげつの売上うりあげは先月せんげつより二割にわり増ふえた。

This month's sales were up 20% on last month.

Usage 売上 (also 売り上げ) = sales or turnover: 売上が伸びる (sales grow), 売上高 (sales figure), 売上目標. 利益 is profit after costs.

Remember it 売る (to sell) + 上げる (to raise) → what selling brings up.

企業きぎょうは利潤りじゅんを追求ついきゅうするだけでなく、社会しゃかい貢献こうけんも求もとめられる。

Companies are expected not only to pursue profit but also to contribute to society.

Usage 利潤 = profit, in economics: 利潤を追求する (pursue profit), 利潤率. 利益 (りえき) is the everyday business word; 儲け (もうけ) is casual.

Remember it 利 (profit) + 潤 (to moisten, enrich) → profit that enriches.

この料理りょうりの原価げんかは三百円さんびゃくえんぐらいだ。

The cost price of this dish is about 300 yen.

Usage 原価 = cost price: 原価計算 (cost accounting), 原価割れ (selling below cost), 原価率 (cost ratio).

Remember it 原 (original) + 価 (price) → the original price.

三月さんがつは決算けっさんの時期じきで、経理けいり部ぶは忙いそがしい。

March is when the books are closed, so the accounting department is busy.

Usage 決算 is closing the accounts for a period: 決算期 (fiscal period end), 決算発表 (earnings announcement), 決算セール (a year-end clearance sale).

Remember it 決 (to settle) + 算 (to calculate) → settling the calculations.

毎日まいにちの売上うりあげを帳簿ちょうぼにつけている。

I record the daily sales in the account book.

Usage 帳簿 = account book: 帳簿をつける (keep the books), 帳簿を調べる (audit the books). 家計簿 (かけいぼ) is a household budget book.

Remember it 帳 (notebook) + 簿 (register) → a register notebook.

注文ちゅうもんを受うけたら、伝票でんぴょうに書かいてください。

When you take an order, please write it on the slip.

Usage 伝票 is a slip or voucher: 注文伝票 (order slip), 伝票を切る (write out a slip). At a restaurant, you take the 伝票 to the register to pay.

Remember it 伝 (to convey) + 票 (slip) → a slip that conveys information.

経費けいひで落おとすので領収書りょうしゅうしょをもらってください。

Please get a receipt, since we'll put this through as an expense.

Usage 領収書 is the formal receipt made out in your name; レシート is the printed till slip. For business expenses you must ask for a 領収書.

Remember it 領 (to receive) + 収 (to collect) + 書 (document) → a document confirming money was received.

今月こんげつ分ぶんの請求書せいきゅうしょをお送おくりします。

I'll send you this month's invoice.

Usage 請求書 is an invoice asking for payment; 領収書 is the receipt after you pay. 請求書を発行する (issue an invoice).

Remember it 請求 (to claim payment) + 書 (document) → a document claiming payment.

店みせの前まえに料理りょうりの見本みほんが並ならんでいる。

Sample dishes are lined up in front of the restaurant.

Usage 見本 is a sample or model: 見本品 (sample product), 食品サンプル (the plastic food models outside Japanese restaurants). Figuratively, a role model: 見本を見せる.

Remember it 見る (to see) + 本 (original) → the original to look at.

この商品しょうひんは品質ひんしつがよくて、値段ねだんも手頃てごろです。

This product is good quality and the price is reasonable too.

Usage 商品 is merchandise for sale; 製品 (せいひん) is something manufactured. 手頃 (てごろ) = reasonable, just right for you.

Remember it 商 (commerce) + 品 (goods) → goods for trade. 品 is three boxes stacked, a pile of items.

ご注文ちゅうもんの商品しょうひんは明日あす発送はっそういたします。

We'll ship your order tomorrow.

Usage 発送 is sending out goods or mail: 発送する, 発送日 (shipping date), 発送済み (shipped). 配送 is delivering them to the door.

Remember it 発 (to send out) + 送 (to send) → sending out.

配送はいそう料りょうは全国ぜんこく一律いちりつ五百円ごひゃくえんです。

Delivery is a flat 500 yen anywhere in the country.

Usage 配送 is delivery to the customer: 配送料 (delivery fee), 配送業者 (delivery company), 無料配送. 配達 (はいたつ) is similar, used for mail and newspapers.

Remember it 配 (to distribute) + 送 (to send) → sending around to each place.

工場こうじょうから新製品しんせいひんの出荷しゅっかが始はじまった。

Shipments of the new product have started leaving the factory.

Usage 出荷 is goods shipped out from a factory, farm or warehouse: 出荷する, 出荷数, 出荷停止 (a shipping halt). Its opposite is 入荷.

Remember it 出 (to go out) + 荷 (goods, load) → goods going out.

人気にんきの商品しょうひんが来週らいしゅう入荷にゅうかする予定よていです。

The popular product is due to arrive in stock next week.

Usage 入荷 is goods arriving at a shop: 入荷する, 入荷待ち (awaiting stock), 新入荷 (new arrivals). Its opposite is 出荷.

Remember it 入 (to come in) + 荷 (goods) → goods coming in.

商品しょうひんに不良ふりょうがあったので、返金へんきんしてもらった。

The product was defective, so I got a refund.

Usage 返金 = refund: 返金する, 返金を求める (ask for a refund), 全額返金 (full refund). 返品 is returning the goods themselves.

Remember it 返 (to return) + 金 (money) → money returned.

市役所しやくしょで住民票じゅうみんひょうを交付こうふしてもらった。

I had a copy of my residence certificate issued at city hall.

Usage 交付 is an official issuing of documents or funds: 交付する, 交付金 (a grant), 免許証の交付. 発行 (はっこう) is issuing tickets or publications.

Remember it 交 (to hand over) + 付 (to give) → handing over officially.

支払しはらいはカードでも大丈夫だいじょうぶですか。

Is it OK to pay by card?

Usage 支払い = payment: 支払い方法 (payment method), 支払い期限 (due date), お支払い (polite, at a register). The verb is 支払う.

Remember it 支 (to pay out) + 払う (to pay) → paying out.

家賃やちんは毎月まいつき銀行ぎんこう振込ふりこみで払はらっている。

I pay my rent by bank transfer every month.

Usage 振込 (also 振り込み) = bank transfer: 振り込む (to transfer), 振込手数料 (transfer fee), 振込先 (payee account). Watch out for 振り込め詐欺 (transfer scams).

Remember it 振る (to swing, allocate) + 込む (into) → swinging money into an account.

給料きゅうりょうは銀行ぎんこう口座こうざに振ふり込こまれる。

My salary is paid into my bank account.

Usage 口座 = bank account: 口座を開く (open an account), 口座番号 (account number), 口座振替 (direct debit). An online account is アカウント.

Remember it 口 (opening) + 座 (seat, place) → a place opened for your money.

毎月まいつき三万円さんまんえんずつ貯金ちょきんしている。

I'm saving 30,000 yen every month.

Usage 貯金 = savings: 貯金する, 貯金箱 (piggy bank), 貯金を崩す (dip into savings). Technically, money in a bank is 預金 (よきん).

Remember it 貯 (to store) + 金 (money) → storing money.

老後ろうごのために貯蓄ちょちくを増ふやしたい。

I want to increase my savings for retirement.

Usage 貯蓄 is saving and building up assets, a more formal word than 貯金: 貯蓄率 (savings rate), 貯蓄型保険 (savings-type insurance).

Remember it 貯 (to store) + 蓄 (to accumulate) → storing and accumulating.

店みせを開ひらくための資金しきんを集あつめている。

I'm raising funds to open a shop.

Usage 資金 = funds or capital: 資金を集める, 資金不足 (lack of funds), 資金繰り (cash flow). 資本 (しほん) is capital in economics.

Remember it 資 (resources) + 金 (money) → money as a resource.

銀行ぎんこうに預あずけても、利子りしはほとんどつかない。

Even if you put money in the bank, you get almost no interest.

Usage 利子 = interest on money: 利子がつく (earn interest), 利子を払う. 利息 (りそく) is the same thing; 金利 is the interest rate.

Remember it 利 (profit) + 子 (child) → the child that money gives birth to.

銀行ぎんこうは中小ちゅうしょう企業きぎょうへの貸付かしつけを増ふやした。

The banks increased their lending to small and medium-sized businesses.

Usage 貸付 (also 貸し付け) is a formal word for lending money: 貸付金 (loan), 貸付利率. 融資 is financing; ローン is the everyday loanword.

Remember it 貸す (to lend) + 付ける (to attach) → lending with terms attached.

借金しゃっきんを返かえすために働はたらいている。

I'm working to pay back my debts.

Usage 借金 = debt, borrowed money: 借金をする (borrow money), 借金を返す (pay it back), 借金まみれ (drowning in debt).

Remember it 借りる (to borrow) + 金 (money) → borrowed money.

住宅じゅうたくローンの返済へんさいが来年らいねん終おわる。

I'll finish paying off my mortgage next year.

Usage 返済 = repayment of a loan: 返済する, 返済期限 (repayment deadline), 繰り上げ返済 (early repayment).

Remember it 返 (to return) + 済 (to settle) → returning and settling up.

家賃やちんを三か月さんかげつ滞納たいのうしてしまった。

I've fallen three months behind on my rent.

Usage 滞納 = being in arrears on payments: 家賃を滞納する, 税金の滞納, 滞納者. 延滞 (えんたい) is similar, often for loans or rentals.

Remember it 滞 (to stagnate) + 納 (to pay in) → payment that's stuck.

電気でんき代だいの督促とくそく状じょうが届とどいた。

I received a reminder notice for my electricity bill.

Usage 督促 is a formal demand for payment: 督促状 (reminder notice), 督促する. 催促 (さいそく) is a more general 'hurry-up' request.

Remember it 督 (to supervise) + 促 (to urge) → supervising and urging.

電気でんき代だいが値上ねあげされて、家計かけいへの負担ふたんが増ふえた。

Electricity charges went up, increasing the burden on household finances.

Usage 値上げ pairs with 値下げ, and both build on 値 (ね, price): 値段, 値札 (price tag), 値引き. 家計 (かけい) = household finances.

Remember it 値 (price) + 上げ (raising) → raising the price.

セールで商品しょうひんが大幅おおはばに値下ねさげされた。

Goods were heavily discounted in the sale.

Usage 値下げ is the shop cutting prices; 値引き is a discount given to you; 値切る is you haggling for one. 大幅に (おおはば) = substantially.

Remember it 値 (price) + 下げ (lowering) → lowering the price.

月つき定額ていがくで映画えいがが見放題みほうだいのサービスに入はいった。

I signed up for a flat-rate monthly service with unlimited films.

Usage 定額 = a fixed amount or flat rate: 定額制 (subscription), 定額料金. サブスク (subscription) is the loanword. 定額給付金 is a fixed-sum government handout.

Remember it 定 (fixed) + 額 (amount) → a fixed amount.

新あたらしいパソコンを十二回じゅうにかいの分割払ぶんかつばらいで買かった。

I bought a new computer in twelve instalments.

Usage 分割払い = paying in instalments: 〜回払い (in ... payments). Its opposite is 一括払い (lump-sum payment). 分割 means division.

Remember it 分割 (to divide up) + 払い (payment) → payment divided up.

車くるまの代金だいきんを一括いっかつで払はらった。

I paid for the car in one lump sum.

Usage 一括 means all at once or in one batch: 一括払い (lump-sum payment), 一括で (all together), 一括処理 (batch processing).

Remember it 一 (one) + 括 (to bundle) → bundled into one.

この値段ねだんには消費税しょうひぜいが含ふくまれています。

This price includes consumption tax.

Usage 消費税 is Japan's consumption tax, 10% (8% on food). 税込 (ぜいこみ) = tax included, 税抜 (ぜいぬき) = before tax.

Remember it 消費 (consumption) + 税 (tax) → the tax on consumption.

成績せいせきが優秀ゆうしゅうな学生がくせいは授業料じゅぎょうりょうが免除めんじょされる。

Students with excellent grades are exempted from tuition fees.

Usage 免除 = exemption: 免除する, 授業料免除 (tuition waiver), 試験の免除. 免税 is tax exemption specifically.

Remember it 免 (to be exempt) + 除 (to remove) → removing an obligation.

年末ねんまつに得意先とくいさきへ挨拶あいさつに回まわった。

At the end of the year, I went around greeting our regular clients.

Usage 得意先 is a regular client or valued customer: 得意先を回る (visit clients). 取引先 is any business partner. お得意様 is the polite form.

Remember it 得意 (favorite, strong point) + 先 (the other party) → your favorite customers.