Translation guide
The English word 'inventory' can refer to a list of items, the stock of goods on hand, or the act of counting stock. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Referring to the physical items a business has available for sale or use.
The most common and direct translation for 'inventory' as stock. Used in business contexts.
この商品の在庫はありますか？
Do you have this item in stock?
在庫が不足しています。
Inventory is running low.
Loanword from English, often used in retail or casual business settings.
ストックが切れた。
We're out of stock.
Refers to the range or assortment of goods, rather than just quantity.
当店は品揃えが豊富です。
Our store has a wide inventory.
A detailed list or catalog of goods, assets, or contents.
Literally 'inventory list', commonly used in business.
在庫リストを更新してください。
Please update the inventory list.
A catalog or inventory list, often for formal or official purposes.
資産目録を作成する。
Create an inventory of assets.
The process of physically checking and recording the quantity of goods.
The standard term for stocktaking or physical inventory count.
月末に棚卸しを行います。
We conduct an inventory count at the end of the month.
A more general phrase meaning 'to check inventory', not necessarily a full count.
在庫を確認してから注文します。
I'll check the inventory before ordering.
Formal accounting term for physical inventory taking.
実地棚卸は年に一度実施されます。
Physical inventory is conducted once a year.
在庫 (zaiko) refers to the stock itself, while 棚卸し (tanaoroshi) is the act of counting that stock. Don't use 棚卸し to mean 'inventory' as a noun for goods.
在庫が足りないので、棚卸しをして正確な数を把握しよう。
We're low on inventory, so let's do a stocktake and get the exact numbers.
The English word 'inventory' is often translated as 在庫, but in contexts like 'inventory management' it becomes 在庫管理 (zaiko kanri). Directly using インベントリー is not common.
棚卸しをする必要があります。
We need to take inventory.
その店は在庫が豊富です。
The store has a large inventory.
在庫リストを確認してください。
Please check the inventory list.
Specifically a stocktaking sheet used during physical inventory counts.
棚卸表に数量を記入する。
Enter quantities on the inventory sheet.