Japanese Grammar In Its Natural Habitat
Wild Nihongo!
や (Store Name)

や (Store Name)

や (Store Name) Japanese Grammar Lesson

Grammar Type: Suffix

Essential Meaning: X Store / X Shop

Construction: Noun + や

Notes:

  • や (屋や in kanji) is a very common suffix that attaches that indicates a type of store (e.g. 花屋はなや [Flower shop], パン屋や [Bakery], 肉屋にくや [Butcher shop]) as well as the individuals who work at these stores (e.g. 花屋はなやさん [Florist]. パン屋やさん [Baker], 肉屋にくやさん [Butcher]). さん is typically attached to individuals who work at these stores to distinguish them from the shops themselves.
    • E.g. 本屋ほんや [Book store]
    • E.g. 本屋ほんやさん [Book store owner]
    • E.g. 薬屋くすりや [Drug store]
    • E.g. 薬屋くすりやさん [Drug store owner]
    • E.g. パチンコ屋や [Pachinko parlor]
    • E.g. パチンコ屋やさん [Pachinko parlor owner]
    • E.g. 魚屋さかなや [Fish monger shop]
    • E.g. 魚屋さかなやさん [Fish monger]
    • E.g. 酒屋さかや [Liquor shop]
    • E.g. 酒屋さかやさん [Liquor shop owner]
  • Japanese stores or restaurants will often attach 屋や to their names to convey a traditional, homely, or rustic vibe. It is similar to a store calling itself “The X store“, “The X shop“, or “The X restaurant” in English.
    • E.g. 山形屋やまかたや [The Yamagata Store]
    • E.g. 青島屋あおしまや [The Aoshima Store]
  • Occasionally, 屋や can be be used idiomatically to describe a certain “type” of person or to describe a negative stereotype.
    • E.g. 恥はずかしがり屋や [A shy person]
    • E.g. いばり屋や [A haughty person]
    • E.g. きどり屋や [An affected person]
    • E.g 寒さむがり屋や [A person who is susceptible to the cold]

Examples:

酒屋さかやさんに電話でんわしてビールを三さんダース持もってきてもらった。[I called the liquor store owner and had him bring me three dozen beers.]

あの人ひとは政治家せいじかではなくて政治屋せいじやだ。[That person is not a statesman, but a mere politician.]

WILD Examples：

At :018, listen for this line: 寂さみしがりやのミミッキュだよ。[I’m the lonesome (i.e. prone to sadness) Mimikyu!]

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