Translation guide
The activity of buying and selling goods and services, especially on a large scale. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 商業 (shōgyō), but the best choice depends on context: trade, business, or economic exchange.
The broad activity of buying and selling, especially as an economic sector.
The standard term for commerce as an industry or economic activity. Used in formal and academic contexts.
商業は経済の重要な部分です。
Commerce is an important part of the economy.
Refers to commercial transactions or trade dealings. More concrete than 商業.
国際的な商取引が増えている。
International commerce is increasing.
Often used in compound terms like 通商政策 (trade policy) or 通商産業省 (Ministry of International Trade and Industry). Formal and somewhat bureaucratic.
通商交渉が難航している。
Trade negotiations are facing difficulties.
Buying and selling conducted over the internet.
The formal term for electronic commerce. Often abbreviated as EC (イーシー).
電子商取引の市場は急速に成長している。
The e-commerce market is growing rapidly.
Loanword from English, used in business and tech contexts.
Eコマースの売上が伸びている。
E-commerce sales are increasing.
The practical side of trade, often in a corporate or entrepreneurial context.
A common word for business or trade, often with a focus on buying and selling for profit. Can be used for small or large enterprises.
彼は商売が上手だ。
He is good at commerce.
Loanword used broadly for business, including commerce. Very common in modern Japanese.
The physical or logistical movement of goods in trade.
Refers to trade or commerce, often with a historical or cross-border nuance. Used in terms like 交易路 (trade route).
シルクロードは古代の交易路だ。
The Silk Road was an ancient route of commerce.
商業 (shōgyō) is formal and refers to commerce as an industry. 商売 (shōbai) is more concrete and often implies a profit-making activity, from a small shop to a large company. ビジネス (bijinesu) is a broad loanword that covers business in general, including commerce.
The loanword コマース is not used by itself; it appears in compounds like Eコマース (e-commerce) or mコマース (mobile commerce). For general commerce, use 商業 or other native terms.
Short for ネット通信販売 (internet mail order). Casual and commonly used for online shopping.
ネット通販で服を買った。
I bought clothes through online commerce.
国際ビジネスに携わっている。
I am involved in international commerce.