商人

person of the Shang dynasty

Attested earliest in Book of Documents:

• 自古商人亦越我周文王立政，立事、牧夫、準人，則克宅之，克由繹之，茲乃俾乂。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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  自古商人亦越我周文王立政，立事、牧夫、准人，则克宅之，克由绎之，兹乃俾乂。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

  From: The Book of Documents, circa 7^th – 4^th centuries BCE

  Zìgǔ Shāngrén yì yuè wǒ Zhōu Wénwáng lìzhèng, lìshì, mùfū, zhǔnrén, zé kè zhái zhī, kè yóu yì zhī, zī nǎi bǐ yì.

  From ancient times the men of Shang, as also our King Wen of the Zhou dynasty, in establishing government and settling affairs, (appointed) superintendents and comptrollers, whom they established in office, and were able to cultivate their good qualities, and thus arrange the government (of the country).

merchant, trader

From Zuozhuan ("Xi 33" & "Zhao 16" )

商人

1. merchant; businessperson

   印度商人  ―  Yìndù shāngrén  ―  Indian merchants

   • 其商人通賈，倍道兼行，夜以續日，千里而不遠者，利在前也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     其商人通贾，倍道兼行，夜以续日，千里而不远者，利在前也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Guanzi, 5^th century BCE to 220 CE

     Qí shāngrén tōnggǔ, bèidào jiānxíng, yè yǐ xù rì, qiānlǐ ér bùyuǎn zhě, lì zài qián yě.

     When the merchant engages in trade and travels twice the ordinary distance in a day, uses the night to extend the day, and covers a thousand li without considering it too far, it is because profits lies ahead.

2. person of the Shang dynasty

   • 故商者，五帝之遺聲也。商人識之，故謂之商。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     故商者，五帝之遗声也。商人识之，故谓之商。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Gù shāng zhě, wǔdì zhī yíshēng yě. Shāngrén shí zhī, gù wèi zhī shāng.

     What are called the Shang were the airs and words transmitted from the five Thearchs; and having been remembered by the people of Shang, we call them the Shang.

• (merchant):

From Middle Chinese 商人 (MC syang nyin).

• (Tokyo) しょーにん (Atamadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

商(しょう)人(にん) • (shōnin) ^{←しやうにん (syaunin)?}

1. trader, shopkeeper, merchant

Shift from あきびと (akibito).

• (Tokyo) あきんど (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

商(あき)人(んど) • (akindo) 

1. trader, tradesperson, merchant

Shift from あきびと (akibito).

• (Tokyo) あきゅうど (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

商人(あきゅうど) • (akyūdo) ^{←あきうど (akiudo)?}

1. trader, tradesperson, merchant

Superficially あき (aki, “trade”) +‎ ひと (hito, “person”). Possibly Old Japanese.

Aki can also be found as the root of あきなう (akinau, “to trade”).

商(あき)人(びと) • (akibito) 

1. trader, tradesperson, merchant

商人 • (sang'in) (hangeul 상인)

1. hanja form^? of 상인 (“trader, merchant”)

商人

1. chữ Hán form of thương nhân (“businessman; merchant; trader”).