サイレント値上げ
Meaning: A stealth price hike where a product's quantity or size shrinks while the listed price stays the same or barely changes.
サイレント値上げ (also called ステルス値上げ or シュリンクフレーション/shrinkflation) has become a hot-button consumer issue in Japan. As costs rise, companies reduce package sizes, lower filling amounts, or use thinner materials while maintaining the same price. Examples are regularly documented and shared on social media: chocolate bars getting smaller, ice cream cups shrinking, snack bag weights decreasing. It's a source of genuine frustration and viral outrage.
Examples
- このお菓子、サイレント値上げで内容量20g減ってるの気づいた? 你注意到这个零食被隐性涨价了吗?净含量减少了20克。¿Te has dado cuenta de que este snack ha tenido una subida encubierta y le han quitado 20 g de contenido?이 과자, 사일런트 가격 인상으로 내용량이 20g 줄어든 거 알았어?
- サイレント値上げされてるの分かるけど、何も言えない消費者が悔しい。 虽然发现了被隐性涨价,但作为消费者什么也说不了,真不甘心。Sé que están haciendo subidas encubiertas, pero como consumidores no podemos hacer nada y es frustrante.사일런트 가격 인상된 거 알겠는데, 아무 말도 못 하는 소비자로서 분하다.
- 企業のサイレント値上げをまとめたツイートがバズってて、みんな怒ってた。 汇总企业隐性涨价的推文火了,大家都很愤怒。Un tuit recopilando las subidas de precio encubiertas de las empresas se hizo viral y todo el mundo estaba indignado.기업의 사일런트 가격 인상을 정리한 트윗이 화제가 돼서, 다들 분노하고 있었어.
Pronunciation
/sa.i.ɾeɴ.to.ne.a.ɡe/
Usage Guide
Context: social media, consumer discussions, news, daily conversation
Tone: critical, frustrated
✓ Do Say
- またサイレント値上げされてるじゃん、量減ってない? (It got stealth-raised again — didn't the portion shrink?)又被隐性涨价了吧,量是不是变少了?(It got stealth-raised again — didn't the portion shrink?)またサイレント値上げされてるじゃん、量減ってない? (Otra vez han subido el precio a escondidas, ¿no ha menguado la cantidad?)또 사일런트 가격 인상됐잖아, 양 줄어들지 않았어? (또 몰래 올랐네 — 양 줄어들지 않았어?)
- サイレント値上げよりも正直に値上げしてくれた方がまだいい。 (I'd rather they honestly raise the price than do a stealth hike.)比起隐性涨价,坦诚地涨价还更能接受一些。(I'd rather they honestly raise the price than do a stealth hike.)サイレント値上げよりも正直に値上げしてくれた方がまだいい。 (Prefiero que suban el precio abiertamente a que lo hagan a escondidas.)사일런트 가격 인상보다는 솔직하게 가격을 올려 주는 게 차라리 나아. (몰래 올리느니 정직하게 가격을 인상하는 게 아직 낫다.)
✗ Don't Say
- 従業員に「サイレント値上げひどいね」と言っても仕方ない — 決めているのは経営陣 (Complaining about stealth price hikes to store employees is pointless — management makes those decisions)对店员抱怨'隐性涨价太过分了'也没用——做这个决定的是管理层(Complaining about stealth price hikes to store employees is pointless — management makes those decisions)従業員に「サイレント値上げひどいね」と言っても仕方ない — 決めているのは経営陣 (Quejarse de las subidas encubiertas a los empleados de la tienda no sirve de nada — quien toma esas decisiones es la dirección)직원에게 'サイレント値上げひどいね'라고 말해 봐야 소용없다 — 결정하는 건 경영진 (매장 직원에게 사일런트 가격 인상에 대해 불평해 봐야 의미 없다 — 그런 결정은 경영진이 내린다)
Common Mistakes
- Using サイレント値上げ for a standard announced price increase — the term specifically implies the increase is hidden or disguised through quantity reduction
Origin & History
From English 'silent' (サイレント) + 値上げ (price increase; 値 = price + 上げ = raise). Became a widely used consumer term in the 2010s-2020s as inflation-wary Japanese companies chose to shrink products rather than raise prices visibly.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s-2020s, accelerated during post-pandemic inflation
Generation: All ages, especially household shoppers
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Also called ステルス値上げ or the loanword シュリンクフレーション (shrinkflation). Social media accounts dedicated to documenting サイレント値上げ have gained large followings.
More From This Topic
More from Money & Shopping
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free