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.
台風の前に、水と食料を買いだめした。
Before the typhoon, I stocked up on water and food.
セール中にトイレットペーパーを買いだめする人が多い。
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.
政府は国民に食料の備蓄を呼びかけている。
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.
コストコでまとめ買いするのが好きです。
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.
彼はお菓子をたくさん買い込んだ。
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).
冬に備えて薪を蓄える。
Stock up on firewood for the winter.
リスは冬のためにドングリを蓄える。
Squirrels stock up on acorns for 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.
To prepare disaster prevention goods. A common phrase in Japan, where earthquake and typhoon preparedness is emphasized.
地震に備えて防災グッズを備えています。
I'm stocking up on emergency supplies for earthquakes.
To prepare emergency food. Very specific to stocking up on food for disasters.
非常食を用意しておくことは大切です。
It's important to stock up on emergency food.
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.
台風が来るから買いだめしよう。
Let's stock up because a typhoon is coming.
今週の特売でまとめ買いした。
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.
嵐の前に食料品を買いだめしないと。
I need to stock up on groceries before the storm.
パンデミック中にマスクを買いだめした。
They stocked up on masks during the pandemic.
She has a habit of stocking up on things she doesn't use.