商標

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 商標(しょうひょう) means a name or sign used to distinguish goods or services.
• Basic usage: It is used when devising a trademark for a new product or checking for similar trademarks.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Checking whether a similar one exists
  • 似た商標がないか is an indirect question about whether there is a similar trademark.
  • The whole phrase with ないか supplies what is being checked: whether such a trademark exists.