Important : I strongly recommend that you review all the vocabulary on the names of shops and stores seen throughout this second season, whether in lessons and exercises.
Also review the vocabulary course titled : 飲食店など - Places to eat and others
We are almost at the end of season two and before starting the following classes which focus on Japanese first and last names, I would like to take this opportunity to come back together on a whole series of words that I gave you to learn as you go.
These include the names of shops and stores and all have in common that they end with the kanji 屋 or 店.
We are going to take this opportunity to review the different names of shops and stores while analyzing their etymologies. It will be a very simple course which will also be a good opportunity to give you some mnemonic methods to memorize vocabulary more easily.
I give you again below the purely and Sino-Japanese pronunciations of these two kanji (although you should already know them) :
屋 .
や .
オク
店 .
みせ, たな
テン
That being done, you also know that in Japanese it is quite common for words to have at least one English equivalent that ends up being katakanized. This is especially true for shops and stores names. You have often had the opportunity to see this in the vocabulary lessons, grammar lessons and exercises that I have given you so far.
Since this course is intended for English speakers, I would like to present a rather interesting parallel between the construction of certain words in English versus Japanese.
Many shops and stores names in English follow a similar etymological construction. You take a word, for example « flower », and you add the word « shop » or « store » to it, which gives us :
Flower + shop = Flower shop
Flower + store = Flower store
There are of course other terms like « Floral shop » or even « Floristry ».
In Japanese, we have seen that the word « the flower shop » can be said 花屋 . はなや in purely Japanese. If we observe the etymology of the word correctly, if we observe how the word was constructed, we have, in their purely Japanese pronunciations, the following kanji :
花 . はな
+ 屋 . や
= 花屋 . はなや
And if we take into account the equivalents of this word from English, we have :
Flower shop : フラワーショップ
Flower store : フラワーストア
Maybe I told you this before but katakanized English words are mostly used to help tourists. If you want to speak fluent Japanese, you should try to memorize typically Japanese words.
With that introduction done, I give you below a whole series of vocabulary words that we have seen throughout this second season. You are supposed to know them all already.
There are a few brand-new words that I will point out to you. Learn them by heart, you may find them in the exercises to come.
花 . はな
+ 屋 . や
= 花屋 . はなや . the flower shop, the flower store
音楽 . オンガク
+ 屋 . や
= 音楽屋 . オンガクや . the music shop, the music store
音楽 . オンガク
+ 店 . テン
= 音楽店 . オンガテンや . the music shop, the music store (new word)
楽器 . ガッキ
+ 店 . テン
= 楽器店 . ガッキテンや . the music shop, the music store (new word)
玩具 . おもちゃ
+ 屋 . や
= 玩具屋 . おもちゃや . the toy shop, the toy store
玩具 . ガング
+ 店 . テン
= 玩具店 . ガングテンや . the toy shop, the toy store (new word)
電気 . デンキ
+ 屋 . や
= 電気屋 . デンキや . the appliance shop, the appliance store
土産 . みやげ
+ 屋 . や
= 土産屋 . みやげや . the souvenir shop, the souvenir store
土産 . みやげ
+ 店 . テン
= 土産店 . みやげテン . the souvenir shop, the souvenir store (new word)
弁当 . ベントウ
+ 屋 . や
= 弁当屋 . ベントウや . the bento store
弁当 . ベントウ
+ 店 . テン
= 弁当店 . ベントウテン . the bento store (new word)
菓子 . かし
+ 屋 . や
= 菓子屋 . かしや . the confectionery store
菓子 . かし
+ 店 . テン
= 菓子店 . かしテン . the confectionery store (new word)
洋 . ヨウ
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 屋 . や
= 洋菓子屋 . ヨウかしや . the western confectionery store (new word)
洋 . ヨウ
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 店 . テン
= 洋菓子店 . ヨウかしテン . the western confectionery store (new word)
パン
+ 屋 . や
= パン屋 . パンや . the bakery
ラーメン
+ 屋 . や
= ラーメン屋 . ラーメンや . the ramen restaurant
ケーキ
+ 屋 . や
= ケーキ屋 . ケーキや . the pastry
魚 . さかな
+ 屋 . や
= 魚屋 . さかなや . the fish shop
魚 . ウオ
+ 店 . ダナ
= 魚店 . ウオダナ . the fish shop
肉 . ニク
+ 屋 . や
= 肉屋 . ニクや . the butchery
牛 . ギュウ
+ 肉 . ニク
+ 屋 . や
= 牛肉屋 . ニクや . the butchery
ティー
+ 屋 . や
= ティー屋 . ティーや . the tea shop
フード
+ 屋 . や
= フード屋 . フードや . the food shop
フード
+ 店 . テン
= フード店 . フードテン . the food shop
料理 . リョウリ
+ 屋 . や
= 料理屋 . リョウリや . the restaurant
料理 . リョウリ
+ 店 . テン
= 料理店 . リョウリ テン . the restaurant
帽子 . ボウシ
+ 屋 . や
= 帽子屋 . ボウシ や . the hat shop, the hat store
服 . ふく
+ 屋 . や
= 服屋 . ふくや . the clothing store
洋 . ヨウ
+ 服 . ふく
+ 屋 . や
= 洋服屋 . ヨウふくや . the western clothing store (new word)
服 . ふく
+ 店 . テン
= 服店 . ふく テン . the clothing store (new word)
洋 . ヨウ
+ 服 . ふく
+ 店 . テン
= 洋服店 . ヨウふく テン . the western clothing store (new word)
ホットドッグ
+ 屋 . や
= ホットドッグ屋 . ホットドッグや . the hot dog shop, the hot dog stand
チーズ
+ 屋 . や
= チーズ屋 . チーズや . the cheese shop (new word)
Well, you remember that in the course on honorary suffixes, I explained to you that the suffix さん can also be put after the names of shops and stores. This is how we can also directly name a person by their profession. I quickly gave you an example.
Now, we are going to take all the words seen previously and add the honorary suffix さん to them to see what that gives. And since we are there, we are also going to give them the honorary prefix 御 .お, to be used when we want to address the person directly. I will put it in orange to distinguish it from other elements like this : (お).
Pay attention to the translation of certain words. You will find that most do not have a strict equivalent in English, especially when it comes to addressing the person directly. In this case, we will simply translate as « Mister / Sir », « Madam » or « Miss ».
For example, if we are in a music store and we want to address the salesperson directly, we will say in Japanese :
(お)音楽屋さん. Mister / Sir / Mrs from the music store
Well, in English, of course, we do not say « Mister / Sir / Mrs from the music store » if we are addressing the person concerned directly. In English, it sounds a bit heavy so we will simply say « Mister / Sir » or « Madam » or even « Miss ».
On the other hand, if I mean a sentence like :
He’s the guy from the music store right next to me.
I can say :
彼は私の隣の音楽屋さんです。
Note the use of です, polite form of だ. Since I am talking about the music store salesperson in a polite manner using the honorary suffix さん, I end my sentence with です.
(お)
+ 花 . はな
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)花屋さん .
(お)はなやさん . Mister the florist / Madam the florist / Miss the florist
(お)
+ 音楽 . オンガク
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)音楽屋さん .
(お)オンガクやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the music store
(お)
+ 音楽 . オンガク
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)音楽店さん .
(お)オンガテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the music store (new word)
(お)
+ 楽器 . ガッキ
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)楽器店さん .
(お)ガッキテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the music store (new word)
(お)
+ 玩具 . おもちゃ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)玩具屋さん .
(お)おもちゃやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the toy store
(お)
+ 玩具 . ガング
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)玩具店さん .
(お)ガングテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the toy store (new word)
(お)
+ 電気 . デンキ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)電気屋さん .
(お)デンキやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the appliance store
(お)
+ 土産 . みやげ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)土産屋さん .
(お)みやげやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the souvenir shop
(お)
+ 土産 . みやげ
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)土産店さん .
(お)みやげテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the souvenir shop (new word)
(お)
+ 弁当 . ベントウ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)弁当屋さん .
(お)ベントウやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the bento store
(お)
+ 弁当 . ベントウ
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)弁当店さん .
(お)ベントウテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the bento store (new word)
(お)
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)菓子屋さん .
(お)かしやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the confectionery store
Note : we can also say « Mr. the confectioner / Mrs. the confectioner / Miss the confectioner ».
(お)
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)菓子店さん .
(お)かしテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the confectionery store (new word)
Note : we can also say « Mr. the confectioner / Mrs. the confectioner / Miss the confectioner ».
(お)
+ 洋 . ヨウ
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)洋菓子屋さん .
(お)ヨウかしやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the western confectionery store (new word)
Note : we can also say « Mr. the confectioner / Mrs. the confectioner / Miss the confectioner ».
(お)
+ 洋 . ヨウ
+ 菓子 . かし
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)洋菓子店さん .
(お)ヨウかしテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the western confectionery store (new word)
Note : we can also say « Mr. the confectioner / Mrs. the confectioner / Miss the confectioner ».
(お)
+ パン
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)パン屋さん .
(お)パンやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the baker
(お)
+ ラーメン
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)ラーメン屋さん .
(お)ラーメンやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the ramen restaurant
(お)
+ ケーキ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)ケーキ屋さん .
(お)ケーキやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the pastry chef
(お)
+ 魚 . さかな
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)魚屋さん .
(お)さかなやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the fishmonger
(お)
+ 魚 . ウオ
+ 店 . ダナ
+ さん
= (お)魚店さん .
(お)ウオダナさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the fishmonger
(お)
+ 肉 . ニク
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)肉屋さん .
(お)ニクやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the butcher
(お)
+ 牛 . ギュウ
+ 肉 . ニク
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)肉屋さん .
(お)ニクやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the butcher
(お)
+ ティー
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)ティー屋さん .
(お)ティーやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the tea shop
(お)
+ フード
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)フード屋さん .
(お)フードやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the food shop
(お)
+ フード
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)フード店さん .
(お)フードテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the food shop
(お)
+ 料理 . リョウリ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)料理屋さん .
(お)リョウリやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the restaurateur
(お)
+ 料理 . リョウリ
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)料理店さん .
(お)リョウリテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the restaurateur
(お)
+ 帽子 . ボウシ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)帽子屋さん .
(お)ボウシやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss the hat seller
(お)
+ 服 . ふく
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)服屋さん .
(お)ふくやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the clothing store
(お)
+ 洋 . ヨウ
+ 服 . ふく
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)洋服屋さん .
(お)ヨウふくやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the western clothing store (new word)
(お)
+ 服 . ふく
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)服店さん .
(お)ふくテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the clothing store (new word)
(お)
+ 洋 . ヨウ
+ 服 . ふく
+ 店 . テン
+ さん
= (お)洋服店さん .
(お)ヨウふくテンさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the western clothing store (new word)
(お)
+ ホットドッグ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)ホットドッグ屋さん .
(お)ホットドッグやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the hot-dog stand
(お)
+ チーズ
+ 屋 . や
+ さん
= (お)チーズ屋さん .
(お)チーズやさん . Mr. / Mrs. / Miss from the cheese maker, the cheese seller (new word)
Now that you have understood how these words are constructed, I am going to ask you for a little reflection work. In your opinion, how do you say « the sports shop » in Japanese ? If we take into account the katakanized English words and the two kanji seen at the very beginning of the course, 屋 and 店, there are at least four different words to say « the sports shop ».
Before you read further, think about it... Is it okay ? You found ? So, read on.
I recall the small etymological construction in English, this time taking the word « sport ». I add the word « shop » or « store » to it, which gives us :
Sport + shop = Sport shop
Sport + store = Sport store
In katakana, this gives us :
スポーツショップ (sport shop)
スポーツストア (sport store)
And with the kanji 屋 and 店, this gives us :
スポーツ屋スポーツや
スポーツ店スポーツテン
Now, if we mean « the bookstore », that is to say the place where one sells books, comics, manga, cookbooks, dictionaries, atlases... anything that can be qualified as a book in the broad sense. How do you say « the bookstore » in Japanese ?
We follow exactly the same reasoning as before, which gives us :
ブックショップ (book shop)
ブックストア (book store)
本屋 .
ホンや
書店 .
ショテン
And above you can note that the last word, 書店 . ショテン, is quite different. Indeed, the word 本店 . ホンテン means « the head office » and refers to the main office of a merchant under Japanese law, which therefore has nothing to do with the word « bookstore ». You can memorize this vocabulary word if you want.
That being done, I do not think it necessary to give you these words that we have just seen with the honorary suffix さん and the honorary prefix (お). You already know how it all works.
All these vocabulary words are not difficult to memorize once you understand how they are constructed. Of course, practicing writing them also makes memorization easier.
Before I leave you, I’ll give you two more new vocabulary words, one for « the salesman » and the other for « the saleswoman ». Observe below :
店員 .
テンイン .
the salesman, the saleswoman
女店員 .
ジョテンイン .
the saleswoman
So, yes, you already know, the Japanese language does not distinguish between masculine and feminine. The fact remains that there are a few words that are meant to be very precise to designate the genre. Thus, the word 店員 . テンイン can be translated as « the salesman » or « the saleswoman ». On the other hand, the word 女店員 . ジョテンイン translates very precisely to « the saleswoman ». The woman’s kanji, 女, indicates that the person we are talking about is very precisely female.
These two words also work with the honorary suffix さん and the honorary prefix (お) as seen previously :
(お)店員さん .
(お)テンインさん.
Mister the salesman / Madam the saleswoman / Miss the saleswoman
(お)女店員さん .
(お)ジョテンインさん.
Madam the saleswoman / Miss the saleswoman
That said, I think the use of the words below is much more common in everyday life :
伯父さん .おじさん → « Mister / Sir » (often written お父さん.)
伯母さん .おばさん → « Madam » (often written お母さん.)
Since we are on the lexicon of shops, stores and restaurants, I present to you a new non-honorary title : 店長 . テンチョウ, which will translate to « the manager » (of a store, a shop, a restaurant, any kind of businesses like what we saw above).
Remember that the non-honorary title can be used after a name and also alone but when it is alone it itself needs an honorary suffix or an honorary title.
So, if you add the suffix さん for example, that gives us :
店長さん . テンチョウさん . Mr. manager / Madam manager / Miss manager.
We will stop there.
Even today you have discovered a few new words. What if I told you that there are still many synonyms for all these words that we have seen ? You haven’t seen everything from that side yet, but don’t worry, you have plenty to designate a wide range of places, shops and businesses. If you happen to come across a synonymous word, don’t hesitate to learn it, it will do you the greatest good. I hope this course has helped you further in your learning. I take this opportunity to thank you for following me so far because well, I just want to say thank you !
And of course, you have exercises to do. Since everything we saw that was new today was mostly vocabulary, I’ll give you some theme and version as usual. You will especially find new vocabulary seen in this course. The sentences to be translated will call on grammatical notions seen previously – possession, end of sentence particles, adverbial particles… – you will see what awaits you.
See you very soon !
Introduction