商 shāng — commerce; consult
这条街上有很多商店。Zhè tiáo jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō shāng diàn.There are many shops on this street.
Common words: 商店 (shāng diàn)、商场 (shāng chǎng)、商量 (shāng liang)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "commerce"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "commerce", including 商 (shāng), 贸 (mào). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "commerce" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 商 (shāng), 贸 (mào) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shāng, mào — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 商 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 商 shāngcommerce; consultUseful words: 商店, 商场
- 贸 màocommerce; tradeUseful words: 贸易, 外贸
Common words for these 2 "commerce" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 商 (shāng) — so "commerce" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "commerce".
贸 mào — commerce; trade
这两个国家之间有很多贸易往来。Zhè liǎng ge guó jiā zhī jiān yǒu hěn duō mào yì wǎng lái.There is a lot of trade between these two countries.
Common words: 贸易 (mào yì)、外贸 (wài mào)、经贸 (jīng mào)
All 2 characters
Open 商、贸 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.