商店

• Pinyin: shāng diàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 商 = commerce/business; 店 = 广 (shelter/building) + 占 (to occupy), meaning a shop under a roof

Meaning

Shop; store. A place where goods are sold.

The general word for any retail shop or store. Can refer to small shops or larger stores. More specific types include 书店 (bookshop), 花店 (flower shop), and 网店 (online store). Slightly more formal than 店, which is used more casually.

Examples

1. 学校旁边有一家商店。 There is a shop next to the school.
2. 这家商店卖水果。 This shop sells fruit.
3. 商店几点开门？ What time does the shop open?

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, location

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我要去商店买东西。(I need to go to the store to buy things.)
• 这家商店很便宜。(This shop is very cheap.)

Don't Say

• 在一个商店。(Slightly awkward — use 在一家商店, as 家 is the measure word for shops and businesses)

Origin & History

A compound of 商 (commerce) and 店 (shop/store), together meaning a commercial establishment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal