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商人 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
商人shāngrénmerchantHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #4757, Hard
商人shāngrénbusinessmanHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #4757, Hard
shāngrén(shang1ren2)shang ren T1
  1. 1merchant
  2. 2businessman
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March 24, 2026

商人shāngrén(shang1ren2)

The term '商人' (shāngrén) refers to a merchant or businessman, someone engaged in trade or commerce. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe individuals involved in selling goods or services, and can encompass a wide range of professions from small shop owners to large-scale entrepreneurs.

Strokes13Frequency#4757DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, the role of '商人' has historical significance, especially in the context of trade routes like the Silk Road, where merchants were vital for cultural exchange and economic development.

Memory Tip

Think of '商' (shāng), which looks like a person (人) standing behind a shop counter, selling goods. The pronunciation 'shang' sounds like 'shine'—imagine a shiny product being sold by a merchant.

Meanings of 商人

shāngrén(shang1ren2)
1merchant
2businessman
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 商人

商人Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

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Podcast: 商人

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AI Study Notes for 商人

Quick Contrast

买家 (mǎijiā, buyer) — 商人 refers to someone who sells goods or services, while 买家 specifically refers to someone who purchases them.

Usage Notes

'商人' is typically used in a neutral context, but can imply different scales of business, so be mindful of the context. Common mistakes include confusing it with '商店' (shāngdiàn), which means 'store.' Remember that '商人' is singular, while '商人们' (shāngrénmen) is the plural form.

HSK Study Tips

While '商人' is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners around HSK 3-4, as it builds on knowledge of commerce-related terms. Focus on recognizing the individual characters and their meanings to enhance vocabulary related to business.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use '商人' in contexts where '商店' should be used, such as saying '我是一家商人' instead of '我是一家商店的老板' (I am the owner of a store). Always ensure you're referring to the person versus the place.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 商人

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Component Characters

商Shāngthe Shang dynasty, 16th to 11th century BC
HSK 711 strokes口
View full entry
人rénman
HSK 12 strokes人
View full entry

How to say merchant in Chinese

“merchant” in Chinese is商人shāngrén

The term '商人' (shāngrén) refers to a merchant or businessman, someone engaged in trade or commerce. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe individuals involved in selling goods or services, and can encompass a wide range of professions from small shop owners to large-scale entrepreneurs.

When to use 商人

'商人' is typically used in a neutral context, but can imply different scales of business, so be mindful of the context. Common mistakes include confusing it with '商店' (shāngdiàn), which means 'store.' Remember that '商人' is singular, while '商人们' (shāngrénmen) is the plural form.

商人 or something close to it

买家 (mǎijiā, buyer) — 商人 refers to someone who sells goods or services, while 买家 specifically refers to someone who purchases them.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use '商人' in contexts where '商店' should be used, such as saying '我是一家商人' instead of '我是一家商店的老板' (I am the owner of a store). Always ensure you're referring to the person versus the place.

Write 商人

商
人

Practice writing 商人 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 商人

'商人' refers to merchants in general and can be used for both male and female businesspeople.

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