书店

• Pinyin: shū diàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 书 (book) + 店 (shop, store)

Meaning

Bookstore; bookshop. A shop where books are sold.

The standard word for a bookstore. Chinese bookstores often also sell stationery, magazines, and educational materials. The most famous chain in China is 新华书店 (Xinhua Bookstore), found in virtually every city.

Examples

1. 我想去书店买书。 I want to go to the bookstore to buy books.
2. 学校旁边有一个书店。 There is a bookstore next to the school.
3. 这个书店很大。 This bookstore is very big.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们去书店看看吧。(Let's go to the bookstore and have a look.)
• 书店几点关门？(What time does the bookstore close?)

Don't Say

• 我在书店看了书。(Not wrong but may imply browsing without buying — to say you bought a book, say 我在书店买了书)

Origin & History

Compound of 书 (book) and 店 (shop, store), literally 'book shop.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal