How to say "selling" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 販売はんばいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general word for selling as a commercial activity — the sale and distribution of goods or services. It is the usual choice for business contexts such as product sales and sales methods.
- 売りうりnoun, noun (suffix)Refers to the act of selling, or to what is being offered for sale. It can also mean a selling point — the strong feature that helps something sell.
- noun, suru verbA loanword covering selling and sales, especially selling activity directed at customers, such as a salesperson's visits or sales talk. Common in business and workplace talk.
- 売り渡しうりわたしnounSelling in the sense of handing over or transferring something to a buyer, typically as the formal completion of a sale. Not the everyday word for selling in general.
- 外交がいこうnounSelling in the specific sense of canvassing — going out to sell, as in door-to-door selling. Outside this sense the word mainly means diplomacy, so it is seldom the word you want for selling generally.
Use 販売 for selling as a commercial activity, 「セールス」 for sales work or persuasion, 「売り」 for the act or point of selling, and 「売り渡し」 or 外交 only in their specific senses.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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