Meaning
Trade, exchange, commerce. Often used in the context of international trade and business exchange.
- 貿易 — trade (esp. international)
- 自由貿易 — free trade
- 貿易会社 — trading company
- 貿易赤字 — trade deficit
- 貿易港 — trading port
The kanji 貿 combines the radical 貝 (meaning "shell" or "money") and 卯 (a phonetic element). It originally suggested the act of exchanging valuables. Today, it mainly appears in compound words related to global commerce and trade.
日本は 貿易に 頼っている。
Japan relies on trade.
貿易会社で 働いています。
I work at a trading company.
Most commonly read as ボウ (bou), especially in compound words like 貿易 (ぼうえき). It is not used as a standalone word in daily conversation.