Better to say 床屋 or 散髪屋?


Every time I walk by a barbershop (not a 美容院), I think of the words 散髪屋 and
床屋. Which word is correct, or sounds better, more interesting, for a non-
native speaker to use in a conversation?

And, after either, is it possible to add "さん"? Such as 散髪屋さん and 床屋さん?

By adding, "さん" what nuance does it add?




It is not that one of the two is any more correct than the other; Both are
"correct". Certainly, neither one sounds better or more interesting.

「散髪屋{さんぱつや}」, however, is mainly used in Kansai as explained in [this
dictionary of Osaka
dialect](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E6%95%A3%E9%AB%AA%E5%B1%8B?dictCode=OSAKA).

Around Tokyo (or eastern half of the country in general), it would be safe to
say 「床屋{とこや}」 is **far** more common.

In either case, the more formal term is 「理容店{りようてん}」 or 「理髪店{りはつてん}」, but
those are not too often used in our informal, everyday conversations as they
sound fairly technical.

Regarding attaching a 「さん」, it adds an amount of politeness and a sense of
affinity. Quite a few native speakers will use it when talking about a
barber's shop with others. 「床屋/散髪屋」 with or without a 「さん」 can refer to either
the shop or the owner.




It is not that one of the two is any more correct than the other; Both are
"correct". Certainly, neither one sounds better or more interesting.

「散髪屋{さんぱつや}」, however, is mainly used in Kansai as explained in [this
dictionary of Osaka
dialect](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E6%95%A3%E9%AB%AA%E5%B1%8B?dictCode=OSAKA).

Around Tokyo (or eastern half of the country in general), it would be safe to
say 「床屋{とこや}」 is **far** more common.

In either case, the more formal term is 「理容店{りようてん}」 or 「理髪店{りはつてん}」, but
those are not too often used in our informal, everyday conversations as they
sound fairly technical.

Regarding attaching a 「さん」, it adds an amount of politeness and a sense of
affinity. Quite a few native speakers will use it when talking about a
barber's shop with others. 「床屋/散髪屋」 with or without a 「さん」 can refer to either
the shop or the owner.

