相場

• Reading: そうば
• Romaji: souba
• Kanji breakdown: 相 (sou) — mutual, together, each other; 場 (ba/jou) — place, market floor
• Pronunciation: /soː.ba/

Meaning

Market price; going rate; market speculation. The prevailing price of goods or securities at a given time.

A versatile financial and everyday term. In finance, 相場 refers to market prices of securities, currencies, and commodities (株式相場, 為替相場). In everyday speech, it can mean 'the going rate' for anything (e.g., 引越し費用の相場). 相場師 is a speculator, and 相場観 means one's sense or intuition about market direction — a nuanced term for experienced investors.

Examples

1. 為替相場の急激な変動が輸出企業の業績に直接影響している。 Sharp fluctuations in exchange rates are directly affecting the performance of export companies.
2. 人材紹介の手数料の相場は、採用者の年収の30%前後と言われている。 The going rate for recruitment agency fees is said to be around 30% of the hired person's annual salary.
3. 今の相場観では、年内の利上げは難しいという見方が大勢を占めている。 The prevailing market view is that an interest rate hike within the year would be difficult.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, market analysis, everyday pricing, real estate

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 相 (sou, mutual/together/each other) and 場 (ba/jou, place/market). Originally referred to 'the place where things meet and are exchanged' — the marketplace. Over time extended to mean the prices established there and, by further extension, the going rate for anything.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal