Translation guide
In economics, 'inferior goods' are products whose demand decreases as consumer income rises. This entry explains how to express this concept naturally in Japanese.
Referring to goods for which demand falls when income increases, as consumers switch to higher-quality substitutes.
Standard economic term for 'inferior goods'. Used in academic and formal contexts.
Alternative term for 'inferior goods', literally 'lower-grade goods'. Less common than 劣等財 but still used in some textbooks.
Means 'shoddy goods' or 'low-quality products'. Not a direct economic term, but can be used loosely to describe inferior merchandise.
This word emphasizes poor quality rather than the economic relationship with income. Avoid using it in formal economic discussions.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely use the economic term '劣等財'. Instead, they might describe the concept by saying something like '収入が増えると買わなくなるもの' (things you stop buying when your income increases).
In economics, goods whose demand decreases as income rises are called inferior goods.
Instant noodles are a typical example of inferior goods.
This store sells nothing but shoddy goods.