Translation guide
The act of buying or gathering a large supply of something, often in preparation for future need. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific verbs and phrases depending on what is being stocked up and the context.
To buy or gather a large amount of something for future use, often in anticipation of shortage or convenience.
The most common and versatile phrase for stocking up by purchasing. Literally 'buy and store up'. Used for everyday items like food, toilet paper, etc.
Before the typhoon, I stocked up on water and food.
Many people stock up on toilet paper during sales.
Formal term for stockpiling, often used for emergency supplies or strategic reserves. Common in news and official contexts.
The government is urging citizens to stockpile food.
Buying in bulk or buying a lot at once, often to save money or time. Emphasizes the quantity purchased in one go.
I like stocking up at Costco.
To buy up a lot of something, often with a nuance of hoarding or buying excessively. Can be used for stocking up but may imply overdoing it.
He stocked up on a ton of snacks.
To gather or accumulate items without buying, such as collecting firewood or storing homemade goods.
To store up, save, or lay in a supply. Can be used for both tangible items (food, money) and intangible things (energy, knowledge).
Stock up on firewood for the winter.
To accumulate or hoard, often with a negative connotation of keeping too much. Used for both physical items and abstract things like stress.
Specifically preparing supplies for disasters or emergencies.
買いだめ implies storing up for future use, often due to anticipated need or shortage. まとめ買い focuses on buying in bulk at one time, usually for economic reasons or convenience, without necessarily implying long-term storage.
Let's stock up because a typhoon is coming.
I bought in bulk at this week's special sale.
The English phrase 'stock up' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Using a literal translation like 在庫を上げる would be unnatural. Choose the appropriate verb based on context.
I need to stock up on groceries before the storm.
They stocked up on masks during the pandemic.
Squirrels stock up on acorns for winter.
彼女は使わない物をため込む癖がある。
She has a habit of stocking up on things she doesn't use.
It's important to stock up on emergency food.