Translation guide
A sale where items are sold at a loss or very low price, often to clear stock or attract customers. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with terms meaning 'loss-leader sale' or 'clearance sale', and the concept of 'sacrifice' is often conveyed through words like 出血 (bleeding) or 捨て値 (throwaway price).
A sale where items are sold below cost to attract customers who will buy other items.
Selling off inventory at prices below cost, often to make room for new stock or due to financial distress.
Literally 'bleeding big service', this is a common retail phrase for a sale where the seller is taking a loss. It vividly conveys the idea of sacrifice.
閉店セールで出血大サービス中！
Going-out-of-business sale — everything at a sacrifice!
In English, 'sacrifice sale' often implies a deliberate loss to gain future benefits. In Japanese, 出血大サービス is the closest in spirit, while 見切り品 simply means clearance without the strategic nuance. Use 目玉商品 for a planned loss-leader.
これは出血大サービスです。
This is a real sacrifice sale.
Do not translate 'sacrifice sale' directly as 犠牲セール (gisei sēru); it sounds unnatural and is not used in Japanese retail.
Literally 'eyeball product', this refers to a featured bargain item used to draw customers into a store. It is the most common way to express the concept of a loss-leader in retail.
この目玉商品は原価割れです。
This loss-leader is priced below cost.
Literally 'decoy product', this term is used in marketing to describe a bait item that lures customers. It can carry a slightly negative nuance of trickery.
あの店のおとり商品に引っかかった。
I fell for that store's bait-and-switch item.
Literally 'customer-drawing product', this is a straightforward term for an item used to attract shoppers.
この安さは客寄せ商品だからです。
This low price is because it's a loss-leader.
Literally 'throwaway price', meaning a dirt-cheap price, often below cost. It emphasizes the idea of sacrificing value.
在庫を捨て値で売り払った。
We sold off the inventory at sacrifice prices.
A more technical term meaning 'selling below cost'. It is neutral and factual, used in business contexts.
この商品は原価割れ販売しています。
We are selling this item below cost.
Refers to items that have been marked down for quick sale, often because they are seasonal, damaged, or nearing expiration. It implies a sacrifice to clear them out.
見切り品コーナーで半額だった。
It was half-price in the clearance section.