売却

• Reading: ばいきゃく
• Romaji: baikyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 売 (bai/u) — sell; 却 (kyaku) — remove, dispose of
• Pronunciation: /ba.i.kʲa.kɯ/

Meaning

Sale; disposal; selling off an asset, property, or holding. Implies a deliberate act of divesting something significant.

Used as a する-verb (売却する). Applies to the sale of significant assets such as real estate, shares, subsidiaries, or equipment — not everyday items. Common in corporate restructuring (不採算部門の売却), investment decisions, and asset management. More formal and transactional in nuance than the everyday 売る.

Examples

1. 不採算部門の売却を取締役会で承認した。 The board approved the sale of the unprofitable division.
2. 保有株式を全て売却して資金を調達した。 All shares held were sold off to raise funds.
3. 老朽化した工場を売却し、新設備への投資に充てる予定だ。 The ageing factory is to be sold, with proceeds directed toward investment in new equipment.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, corporate, real estate, asset management

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Compound of 売 (to sell) and 却 (to remove, dispose of). The character 却 reinforces the sense of getting rid of something, giving 売却 a stronger tone of disposal than simply 売る.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Corporate/Finance