Why Is a Hardware Store Called “五金店” in Chinese?

The Origins of "五金" (Five Metals)

In traditional Chinese culture, the term “五金” refers to five essential metals that were widely used in daily life and industry:

1. 金 (Gold)

2. 银 (Silver)

3. 铜 (Copper)

4. 铁 (Iron)

5. 锡 (Tin)

These metals were crucial for making tools, weapons, cooking ware, and various building materials in ancient times.

Over time, “五金” became a general term to refer to metal hardware or durable goods made of metal.

From Ancient Craftsmanship to Modern Retail

As trade and manufacturing evolved, so did the concept of 五金. The term began to encompass a much wider variety of goods beyond just five types of metals. Eventually, a “五金店” came to mean a shop that sells:

• Tools

• Screws, nuts, and bolts

• Pipes and plumbing supplies

• Electrical fittings

• Paint and building materials

Basically, anything you’d find in a modern-day hardware store!

Just like how we still say we "dial" a phone number or "hang up" a call, the term "五金店" is a cultural carry-over. It pays tribute to traditional terminology, even as the scope of goods and services has expanded far beyond five metals.

In Singapore and Malaysia, many locals refer to hardware stores colloquially as “Go Kim Diam” — a Hokkien pronunciation of 五金店!