仕入れる

• Reading: しいれる
• Romaji: shiireru
• Kanji breakdown: 仕 (shi/tsuka) — serve, do; 入 (nyū/i) — enter, put in
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.i.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To stock up on; to purchase; to procure goods. Used primarily in business for buying inventory or materials.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb commonly used in retail, restaurant, and manufacturing contexts. The compound of 仕 (serve, do) and 入れる (put in) conveys the idea of bringing goods in for business purposes. Also used figuratively for gathering information or knowledge.

Examples

1. 新鮮な野菜を市場で仕入れる。 I buy fresh vegetables at the market.
2. 今月は仕入れのコストが上がった。 The cost of procurement went up this month.
3. 彼はどこからそんな情報を仕入れてくるのだろう。 I wonder where he gets his information from.

Usage Guide

Context: business, retail, restaurants

Tone: practical

Origin & History

Compound of 仕 (to do, to serve) and 入れる (to put in). Originally described the act of procuring goods for a merchant shop, literally putting merchandise into the business.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: Adults

Social background: Merchant