Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "売ります", "うる", "売れる", "販売する"
All represent the core concept "sell", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
売ります
うります (urimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
うる
うる (uru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
売れる
うれる (ureru)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
販売する
はんばいする (hanbai suru)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "sell" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "売ります", "うる", "売れる", "販売する" based on context.
- 売ります (うります (urimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to sell" and is used when Polite form of 売る.
- うる (うる (uru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to sell" and is used when Transitive verb meaning 'to sell'. Used for commercial transactions. The opposite is 買う.
- 売れる (うれる (ureru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to sell (intransitive), to be sold, to be popular" and is used when 自動詞。商品などが「売られる」状態や「人気がある」状態を表す。.
- 販売する (はんばいする (hanbai suru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to sell; to market" and is used when To sell products or services, often in a commercial context. More formal than 売る.
Context for "売ります"
この店は古い本を売っています。
This store sells old books.
Context for "うる"
この店は色々なパンを売っています。
This shop sells various kinds of bread.
Context for "売れる"
この商品は最近とてもよく売れています。
This product has been selling very well recently.
Context for "販売する"
この商品はインターネットでのみ販売されています。
This product is sold only on the internet.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この店は古い本を売っています。" (Meaning: "This store sells old books.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "売ります" is correct here because it represents "to sell" in the context: "This store sells old books.".