Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of an auction is most commonly expressed with the loanword オークション. There are also native terms for specific types of auctions, such as 競売 for legal or forced auctions, and 競り for traditional market-style bidding.
Refers to a public sale where goods or property are sold to the highest bidder, including online auctions.
The most common and versatile word for any kind of auction, including online platforms like eBay. It is a loanword from English and widely understood.
この絵はオークションで買いました。
I bought this painting at an auction.
ネットオークションで古いカメラを落札した。
I won an old camera in an online auction.
Refers specifically to a formal or legal auction, often used for court-ordered sales or property foreclosures. It carries a more official tone than オークション.
その土地は競売にかけられた。
The land was put up for auction.
Refers to a traditional auction, often used for fish or produce markets where buyers call out bids. It emphasizes the competitive bidding process.
魚市場の競りは朝早く始まる。
The fish market auction starts early in the morning.
Specifically refers to auctions conducted over the internet, such as on eBay or Yahoo! Auctions.
The standard term for online auctions. Often abbreviated as ネットオークション or simply オークション when context is clear.
ネットオークションで中古のスマホを売った。
I sold a used smartphone on an online auction.
The action of selling something at an auction.
Means 'to put up for auction' or 'to auction off'. The verb かける is used to indicate subjecting something to an auction.
祖母の宝石をオークションにかけることにした。
I decided to put my grandmother's jewelry up for auction.
The formal equivalent of 'to auction off', used in legal or official contexts.
差し押さえられた家が競売にかけられた。
The foreclosed house was auctioned off.
オークション is the general term for any auction, including online. 競売 is used for formal, often court-ordered auctions. 競り refers to traditional bidding in markets like fish or flower auctions.
オークションで落札した。
I won the bid at the auction.
競売物件を調べる。
Research auction properties (foreclosures).
競り人が値段を叫ぶ。
The auctioneer calls out prices.