Several parts combine into one character.

Phonetic-semantic compound: 广 (a roof open on one side, like a lean-to or three-walled shed) + 占 (to occupy / claim a spot — providing phonetic value). The encoded scene: a covered space with one wall open, where a merchant has set up shop. The "open one side" architecture is essential — customers must be able to see in, look at goods, and leave easily. Identical across 繁體 / 新字体 / 简体.

Mandarin: diàn, falling 4th tone. 商店 (shāngdiàn, shop / store), 书店 (shūdiàn, bookstore), 饭店 (fàndiàn — has a curious dual meaning: in northern China usually "restaurant", in southern China and Hong Kong "hotel"; learners must read context), 百货店 (bǎihuòdiàn, department store), 网上商店 (wǎngshàng shāngdiàn, online store).

The Mandarin 饭店 ambiguity is one of the most useful pieces of trivia for travelers: 北京饭店 (Beijing Hotel) is a hotel; 中餐饭店 might be a restaurant. Modern Mandarin increasingly uses 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) for "hotel" to disambiguate.

Japanese: on-reading テン (ten) for compounds — 商店 (shōten, shop), 書店 (shoten, bookstore), 支店 (shiten, branch office), 百貨店 (hyakkaten, department store), 商店街 (shōtengai, shopping arcade — the classic Japanese covered shopping street). Kun-reading みせ (mise) is the everyday word — 店 (mise, shop), お店 (omise, polite "shop"), 店員 (ten'in, store clerk).

The 商店街 (shōtengai) — Japan's traditional covered shopping streets — anchor neighborhood life across Japanese cities, particularly outside Tokyo. Each district has its own.

Memory aid: a shed-roof with one open wall — the merchant's spot.