Meaning
商品 refers to products or goods that are bought and sold in commercial transactions. It emphasizes the commercial nature of items—things produced for exchange in the market rather than for personal use. The term is widely used in economics, business, and everyday shopping contexts.
Usage
This is a formal yet common term used in both spoken and written Chinese. It appears frequently in business contexts, news, economics discussions, and retail settings. Native speakers use it when discussing products in stores, online shopping, market economics, or any commercial exchange. It's more formal than 东西 (things) but less technical than 产品 (manufactured products).
Examples
- 01这家超市的商品种类很丰富。.This supermarket has a wide variety of goods.
- 02网上购物时要注意商品质量。.When shopping online, you need to pay attention to the quality of the products.
Characters
Measure words
- 件一件商品
- 种各种商品
- 批一批商品
Common collocations
- 商品经济commodity economy
- 商品质量quality of goods
- 假冒商品counterfeit goods
- 畅销商品hot-selling product
Origin
商 originally meant 'to discuss' or 'to consult' and evolved to mean 'commerce' or 'merchant,' while 品 represents multiple items (three口characters stacked) suggesting various goods or articles. Together they form 'commercial goods.'