How to say "trader" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 業者ぎょうしゃnounCovers a trader or dealer as a business or company — a firm you deal with, such as a supplier or contractor. This is usually the word you want for commercial traders in everyday contexts.
- 商人しょうにんnounA merchant or tradesman in the traditional sense — someone who buys and sells goods for a living. Fits historical or general commercial contexts rather than corporate business.
- 売人ばいにんnounIn the sense of 'trader', this word chiefly means a drug dealer or pusher. It is almost never the word you want for an ordinary trader; think of it as meaning someone who sells illicit goods.
- 商売人しょうばいにんnounA trader or merchant with the nuance of a shrewd, business-minded person. Used for someone sharp at making deals, sometimes with a slightly calculating connotation.
Use 業者 for businesses or dealers, 商人 for merchants in the traditional sense, 商売人 for businesspeople with a shrewd nuance, and note that 売人 usually means a drug dealer.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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