Translation guide
In business and retail, 'dead stock' refers to inventory that has not sold and is unlikely to sell, often becoming obsolete or written off. This guide covers how to express this concept naturally in Japanese, from formal business terms to casual expressions.
To refer to merchandise that remains unsold for a long time and is considered a loss.
To describe products that are no longer produced or supported, often remaining as unsold inventory.
Discontinued items. Often used when a product line is terminated and remaining stock becomes dead stock.
廃番品の在庫がまだ残っている。
We still have dead stock of discontinued items.
死に筋 is a retail jargon term focusing on sales performance, while 不良在庫 is an accounting term focusing on financial loss. Use 死に筋 in casual business conversations and 不良在庫 in formal reports.
会議で「死に筋」と言うのは少しカジュアルすぎるかもしれません。
Saying 'shinisuji' in a meeting might be a bit too casual.
Avoid literal translations like 死んだ株 (dead stocks/shares) or 死んだ在庫. These are not used in Japanese business contexts and will cause confusion.
This product has become completely dead stock.
Formal term for 'dead stock' or 'obsolete inventory'. Used in accounting and supply chain contexts.
不良在庫を処分する必要がある。
We need to dispose of the dead stock.
Literally 'stagnant inventory', emphasizing that the stock is sitting idle. Common in logistics and warehousing.
滞留在庫が倉庫のスペースを圧迫している。
Dead stock is taking up warehouse space.
General term for unsold goods, often used in retail. Can imply leftover stock after a sales period.
売れ残りをバーゲンで売る。
We sell dead stock at a bargain sale.
Direct loanword from English. Used in fashion or vintage contexts to mean unsold old stock, sometimes with a positive connotation of rarity.
この店はデッドストックのジーンズを扱っている。
This store deals in dead stock jeans.
Inventory of older models, often unsold after a new version is released.
旧型在庫を値下げして販売する。
We sell off dead stock of older models at a discount.