小売り店

• Reading: こうりてん
• Romaji: kouriten
• Kanji breakdown: 小 (kou/ko) — small; 売 (uri/bai) — sell; 店 (ten/mise) — store, shop
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɾi.teɴ/

Meaning

Retail store; retail shop. A store that sells goods directly to consumers.

A noun referring to shops that sell products directly to end consumers, as opposed to 卸売り (oroshiuri, wholesale). Includes everything from small neighbourhood shops to chain stores. The broader term 小売業 (kourigyou, retail industry) is used in business contexts. Japan's retail landscape has shifted significantly with the rise of コンビニ (convenience stores) and online shopping.

Examples

1. 商店街の小売り店が次々と閉店している。 Retail stores in the shopping district are closing one after another.
2. 小売り店で働いた経験が面接で役に立った。 My retail work experience came in handy during the job interview.
3. この地域には小売り店が少なくて不便だ。 This area doesn't have many retail stores, which is inconvenient.

Usage Guide

Context: business, shopping, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 小売り (kouri: 小 small + 売り selling, i.e. retail/selling in small quantities) + 店 (ten, store/shop). A store that sells in small quantities to individual customers.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal