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商 is of unclear origin, but it is traditionally analyzed as a combination of 辛 'chisel' and 丙 'pedestal', with 口 added later as a distinguishing component for the name of an ancient kingdom. It originally referred to the Shang Dynasty, China's second historical dynasty. After the dynasty fell, the character took on the meanings of commerce, trade, or merchant, because the displaced Shang people traveled widely to trade goods. This commercial sense later expanded to include consultation, discussion, and the mathematical quotient, all deriving from the communicative exchange central to business.
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Example Sentences Hide
我去商店买东西。
我爸爸是个商人。
我们商量一下。
这些商品很便宜。
商业活动很频繁。
这个商场有很多店铺。
他们正在商谈合作事宜。
商务旅行需要提前准备。
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