商品

• Pinyin: shāng pǐn
• Hanzi breakdown: 商 = ancient character for commerce, with components suggesting a building for trade; 品 = three 口 (mouths) stacked, meaning items or variety

Meaning

Commodity; goods; merchandise. Products available for sale or trade.

A somewhat formal word for products or goods in a commercial context. More specific than 东西 (thing/stuff), 商品 emphasizes the commercial nature of items — things made to be sold. Used in business, shopping, and economics. Common collocations include 商品价格 (commodity prices), 商品质量 (product quality), and 商品经济 (commodity economy).

Examples

1. 这家超市的商品种类非常多。 This supermarket has a huge variety of products.
2. 买商品之前应该先看看质量好不好。 Before buying products, you should check if the quality is good.
3. 网上购物的商品可以七天内退换。 Products purchased online can be returned or exchanged within seven days.

Usage Guide

Context: business, shopping, economics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这些商品都在打折。(These products are all on sale.)
• 消费者有权退换不合格的商品。(Consumers have the right to return defective goods.)

Don't Say

• 你给我的商品很好吃。(Don't use 商品 for food given as a gift — 商品 implies something sold commercially. For gifts, just name the item directly.)

Origin & History

商 originally referred to merchants and commerce; 品 means goods or items (composed of three 口 mouths, suggesting variety). Together: goods of commerce.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal