Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

セール (せーる, seeru) Japanese meaning: sale | Kotomora

セール

せ

ー

る

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

Refers to a sales event or discount period, as in a store sale. Not used for the act of selling in general.

デパートで夏なつのセールが始はじまった。

The summer sale has started at the department store.

セール中ちゅうにこのコートを買かった。

I bought this coat during the sale.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉でセールをするto hold a sale at a place
このデパートでは毎まい年とし夏なつにセールをする。
This department store holds a sale every summer.
セールが始はじまるa sale starts
来らい週しゅうから冬ふゆ物もののセールが始はじまる。
The winter clothing sale starts next week.
セールで〈物もの〉を買かうto buy something during a sale
セールでかわいいバッグを買かった。
I bought a cute bag during the sale.
セール中ちゅうduring the sale
セール中ちゅうは店てん内ないがとても混こん雑ざつする。
The store gets very crowded during the sale.

Related words· 8

バーゲンN4
バーゲン and セール both mean a discount sale, but バーゲン often implies an especially good bargain or clearance event.
特とく売ばいN3
特売 is a more formal term for a special sale used in store advertising, while セール is the everyday loanword for the same kind of event.
安やす売うりN1
安売り focuses on selling things cheaply (often as an ongoing practice), whereas セール refers to a specific limited-time sale event.
バザーN1
セール is the general word for any discount sale, while バザー suggests a special event with a market-like or charity atmosphere.

Show 4 more

バーゲンセールN3
セール is a general term for any sale, while バーゲンセール specifically implies steep, bargain-level discounts.
売うり出だしN1
セール is the general loanword for any sale event (seasonal, clearance, etc.), while 売り出し specifically evokes a promotional campaign put on by a shop.
タイムセール
セール is a general sale or discount event, while タイムセール specifically means the discount lasts only for a limited time.
キャンペーンN1
セール usually means a sale or price-discount event, whereas キャンペーン can cover discounts but also broader advertising, awareness, or recruitment drives.

Don't confuse with

セールス
セール means a discount sale event, while セールス refers to sales activity or a salesperson, so the two sound alike but differ in meaning.
セラー
セール means 'sale' (a discount event), which learners can easily confuse with セラー (seller/cellar) due to the similar katakana spelling and sound.

Word family· 20

バーゲンセールN3
bargain sale
プレセール
presale; advance sale
マスセール
mass sale
帰き国こくセール
sayonara sale; pre-departure sale

Etymology

Loanword from English 'sale', adopted into Japanese with the meaning of a discount sales event.

閉へい店てんセール

going-out-of-business sale; closing-down sale

Show 5 more

タイムセール
limited-time sale; timed discount sale; flash sale
バルクセール
bulk sale
ホールセール
wholesale
ワゴンセール
bargain cart sale; clearance cart
オープンセール
opening sale; grand opening sale

See all 20 in Explore →