Translation guide
To purchase all or most of the available supply of something, often with the intention of controlling the market or preventing others from buying it.
To buy the entire stock or a large portion of something, often quickly or aggressively.
To buy up enough of a commodity or asset to gain control over its price or supply.
買い占める focuses on the result of buying up all or most of something, often with a speculative intent. 買い漁る emphasizes the action of going around and buying up whatever is available, often in a panic or when supplies are limited.
Do not translate 'buy up' as 買い上げる (which means 'to purchase' in a formal sense, often by an organization) or 買い取る (to buy outright, often used for second-hand goods). These do not convey the meaning of buying all available supply.
ダフ屋がチケットを買い占めて高値で転売する。
Scalpers buy up all the tickets and resell them at high prices.
品不足の時、人々は米を買い漁った。
During the shortage, people bought up all the rice.
The most direct equivalent. It means to buy up all or most of something, often with a speculative or hoarding motive. Commonly used for goods, tickets, etc.
彼は発売と同時に新作のゲームを買い占めた。
He bought up all the new games as soon as they went on sale.
転売目的でコンサートのチケットを買い占める人が問題になっている。
People who buy up concert tickets for resale are causing problems.
Literally 'to hunt for and buy'. Implies going around to many places and buying up as much as possible. Often used when supplies are limited.
マスクが品薄になった時、一部の人が買い漁った。
When masks became scarce, some people bought them up.
A simple, colloquial way to say 'buy all of it'. Less formal and less specific than 買い占める, but very common in everyday speech.
このパン、美味しそうだから全部買っちゃおう。
This bread looks delicious, so let's buy it all up.
Means to buy up completely, leaving nothing left. Stronger nuance of exhaustion of supply. Less common than 買い占める.
セール初日に在庫を買い尽くす客もいる。
Some customers buy up all the stock on the first day of the sale.
Also used for market cornering, especially in contexts like stocks or commodities.
投資家が銀を買い占めて価格をつり上げた。
Investors bought up silver and drove up the price.
To buy up gradually or in large quantities, often for the purpose of accumulation. Can imply a strategic buildup.
彼は密かに株を買い集め、会社を乗っ取ろうとした。
He secretly bought up shares and tried to take over the company.