廛

According to Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字 shuōwén jiězì), 廛 is an ideographic compound combining:

广 (“house, shelter”) — semantic element indicating a building or structure.

里 (“village, neighborhood”) — semantic element indicating settlement.

八 (“eight, to divide”) — semantic element, suggesting division or parcels.

土 (“earth, ground”) — semantic element, meaning land.

Altogether: a piece of land in a settlement for business purposes, i.e., a shop or market stall.

廛市 (전시) — market town

商廛 (상전) — a shop, commercial establishment

酒廛 (주전) — tavern, wine shop

藥廛 (약전) — pharmacy, medicine shop

廛 historically referred not just to a shop, but specifically to a licensed place of business, often regulated by authorities.

In classical Chinese urban planning, 廛 signified plots designated for merchants and artisans, distinguished from residential plots.

In Korea, 廛 was used in historical records to denote government-regulated shops in the capital, especially during the Joseon dynasty.