Japanese Shopping & Money Kanji: Learn Commerce Words in Japanese
Master Japanese shopping and money kanji: 買 (buy), 売 (sell), 店 (store), 金 (gold/money), 円 (yen), 値 (price), 安 (cheap), 高 (expensive), and more. Each entry includes readings, example sentences, and practical tips for shopping in Japan.
Japanese Shopping Kanji at a Glance
Essential for Travelers
Shopping kanji are among the most practical for visitors to Japan. Signs everywhere use 売 (sale), 安 (cheap), 円 (yen), and 店 (store). Recognizing these characters helps you navigate department stores, convenience stores, and markets with confidence.
Japan's Cash Culture
Despite being high-tech, Japan still uses a lot of cash. The kanji 円 (en) for yen appears on every price tag. Understanding 税 (tax), 割 (discount), and 込 (included) helps you read prices correctly, which is essential for avoiding surprises at the register.
JLPT Relevance
Core shopping kanji like 買 (buy), 売 (sell), 店 (store), and 金 (money) appear at JLPT N5-N4. Commerce kanji like 商 (commerce), 値 (price), and 払 (pay) are common at N3-N2 and appear frequently in everyday Japanese life.
Core Japanese Shopping & Money Kanji
These twenty kanji cover essential shopping and money vocabulary, from buying and selling to prices, currency, and financial transactions.
| Meaning | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy | 買 | かう | kau | N5 |
| Sell | 売 | うる | uru | N4 |
| Store / Shop | 店 | みせ | mise | N4 |
| Gold / Money | 金 | かね | kane | N5 |
| Yen / Circle | 円 | えん | en | N5 |
| Price / Value | 値 | ね | ne | N2 |
| Cheap / Safe | 安 | やすい | yasui | N5 |
| Expensive / Tall | 高 | たかい | takai | N5 |
| Pay | 払 | はらう | harau | N3 |
| Commerce | 商 | しょう | shou | N3 |
| Goods / Items | 品 | しな | shina | N3 |
| Tax | 税 | ぜい | zei | N2 |
| Silver | 銀 | ぎん | gin | N3 |
| Market / City | 市 | いち | ichi | N3 |
| Discount / Divide | 割 | わり | wari | N3 |
| Shop / Roof | 屋 | や | ya | N4 |
| Deliver / Reach | 届 | とどける | todokeru | N3 |
| Coin / Currency | 貨 | か | ka | N2 |
| Save / Store | 貯 | ためる | tameru | N2 |
| Include /込む | 込 | こむ | komu | N3 |
All Japanese Shopping & Money Kanji Explained
Explore each shopping kanji with its readings, origin story, and example sentences used in Japanese.
Example:
新しい本を買いました。
Atarashii hon wo kaimashita.
I bought a new book.
Example:
この店は花を売っています。
Kono mise wa hana wo utte imasu.
This store sells flowers.
Example:
あの店のラーメンは美味しいです。
Ano mise no raamen wa oishii desu.
That store's ramen is delicious.
Example:
お金が足りません。
Okane ga tarimasen.
I don't have enough money.
Example:
これは五百円です。
Kore wa gohyaku en desu.
This is 500 yen.
Example:
この服の値段はいくらですか。
Kono fuku no nedan wa ikura desu ka.
What is the price of this clothing?
Example:
このスーパーは野菜が安いです。
Kono suupaa wa yasai ga yasui desu.
Vegetables are cheap at this supermarket.
Example:
東京のホテルは高いです。
Toukyou no hoteru wa takai desu.
Hotels in Tokyo are expensive.
Example:
カードで払えますか。
Kaado de haraemasu ka.
Can I pay by card?
Example:
商売は順調です。
Shoubai wa junchou desu.
Business is going well.
Example:
この品物はどこで買えますか。
Kono shinamono wa doko de kaemasu ka.
Where can I buy these goods?
Example:
消費税は十パーセントです。
Shouhizei wa juu paasento desu.
The consumption tax is 10 percent.
Example:
銀行でお金を下ろします。
Ginkou de okane wo oroshimasu.
I'll withdraw money at the bank.
Example:
市場で新鮮な魚を買います。
Ichiba de shinsen na sakana wo kaimasu.
I buy fresh fish at the market.
Example:
二割引きのセールがあります。
Niwaribiki no seeru ga arimasu.
There's a 20% discount sale.
Example:
パン屋でパンを買いました。
Panya de pan wo kaimashita.
I bought bread at the bakery.
Example:
荷物が届きました。
Nimotsu ga todokimashita.
The package has been delivered.
Example:
外貨を両替したいです。
Gaika wo ryougae shitai desu.
I want to exchange foreign currency.
Example:
毎月お金を貯めています。
Maitsuki okane wo tamete imasu.
I'm saving money every month.
Example:
税込みで千五百円です。
Zeikomi de sengohyaku en desu.
It's 1,500 yen including tax.
Japanese Shopping Kanji by Category
Japanese shopping vocabulary spans buying and selling, prices and discounts, stores and markets, and financial transactions. These categories help you navigate commerce in Japan.
The two most fundamental shopping kanji are 買 (buy) and 売 (sell). Together they form 売買 (baibai, buying and selling). These appear everywhere from store signs to online shopping. 買い物 (kaimono, shopping) is one of the first compound words learners encounter.
Japan's currency is the 円 (en, yen). The kanji 金 (kin/kane) means both "gold" and "money," reflecting the historical connection. 銀 (gin, silver) appears in 銀行 (ginkou, bank), literally "silver row" from the silver trading houses of old Edo.
Japanese stores are identified by the kanji 店 (mise/ten, store) or 屋 (ya, shop). A bookstore is 本屋 (honya), a flower shop is 花屋 (hanaya). Markets use 市 (ichi, market/city) as in 市場 (ichiba, marketplace). 品 (shina, goods) describes what's sold.
Understanding price kanji is essential for shopping in Japan. 値 (ne, price/value) appears in 値段 (nedan, price). 安 (yasui, cheap) and 高 (takai, expensive) are the key adjectives. During sales, look for 割 (wari, discount) as in 三割引 (sanwaribiki, 30% off).
Essential Kanji for Shopping in Japan
When visiting Japan, you'll see these kanji combinations everywhere: on price tags, store signs, receipts, and shopping bags. Knowing them makes your experience much smoother.
| Where You'll See It | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tags | 税込 | zeikomi | Tax included (what you actually pay) |
| Price tags | 税抜 | zeinuki | Before tax (add 10% for real price) |
| Sale signs | 割引 | waribiki | Discount (e.g., 三割引 = 30% off) |
| Sale signs | 半額 | hangaku | Half price |
| Store fronts | 営業中 | eigyouchuu | Open for business |
| Store fronts | 準備中 | junbichuu | Preparing (not yet open) |
| Receipts | 合計 | goukei | Total amount |
| Receipts | お釣り | otsuri | Change (money back) |
| Product labels | 新品 | shinpin | Brand new item |
| Product labels | 中古 | chuuko | Second-hand/used |
Shopping Compound Words (Jukugo)
These compound words combine shopping kanji to create essential vocabulary for commerce, currency, and everyday transactions in Japanese.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 買い物 | kaimono | Shopping (buy + things) |
| 売買 | baibai | Buying and selling / trade (sell + buy) |
| 商品 | shouhin | Product / merchandise (commerce + goods) |
| 商売 | shoubai | Business / trade (commerce + sell) |
| 値段 | nedan | Price (value + stage) |
| 安売り | yasuuri | Bargain sale (cheap + sell) |
| 金額 | kingaku | Amount of money (money + amount) |
| 銀行 | ginkou | Bank (silver + row) |
| 市場 | ichiba/shijou | Market / marketplace (market + place) |
| 割引 | waribiki | Discount (divide + pull) |
| 貯金 | chokin | Savings / deposit (save + money) |
| 消費税 | shouhizei | Consumption tax (consume + expense + tax) |
Tips for Remembering Japanese Shopping Kanji
The 貝 (Shell) Radical
The radical 貝 (kai, shell) appears in many money-related kanji: 買 (buy), 売 (sell), 貨 (currency), 貯 (save). In ancient China, cowrie shells were used as currency, so kanji with the shell radical almost always relate to money, value, or trade.
Buy vs Sell: 買 and 売
Both 買 (buy) and 売 (sell) contain the 貝 (shell/money) radical at the bottom. The top of 買 has 网 (net): casting a net to catch goods. The top of 売 has 士 (samurai) + 冖: a seller presenting goods from behind a counter. This visual distinction helps you remember which is which.
Visit a Konbini
Japanese convenience stores (コンビニ) are a treasure trove of shopping kanji. Price tags show 円 and 税, shelves display 品 and 商品, and receipts list 合計 (total), 割引 (discount), and お釣り (change). Practice reading these during your next Japan visit or virtual tour.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say money in Japanese kanji?
The most common kanji for money is 金 (kin/kane), which means both "gold" and "money." Japanese people say お金 (okane) for money in everyday speech; the お is a polite prefix. Japan's currency is the 円 (en, yen), and you'll see ¥ or 円 on every price tag. For example, 千円 (sen-en) means 1,000 yen, and 一万円 (ichiman-en) means 10,000 yen.
What is the kanji for buy and sell in Japanese?
Buy is 買 (kau) and sell is 売 (uru). Both contain the ancient 貝 (shell) radical because cowrie shells were once used as money. The top of 買 resembles a net (网), catching goods, while 売 has a different top suggesting display. Together they form 売買 (baibai, trade). The noun for shopping is 買い物 (kaimono, literally "buying things").
What kanji should I know for shopping in Japan?
The essential kanji for shopping in Japan are: 円 (yen, on every price), 税込 (zeikomi, tax included), 税抜 (zeinuki, before tax), 割引 (waribiki, discount), 安 (yasui, cheap), 高 (takai, expensive), 店 (mise, store), 営業中 (eigyouchuu, open), and 売り切れ (urikire, sold out). These appear on price tags, store signs, and receipts everywhere in Japan.
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