値崩れ

• Reading: ねくずれ
• Romaji: nekuzure
• Kanji breakdown: 値 (ne) — price, value; 崩 (kuzu) — to collapse, crumble
• Pronunciation: /ne.kɯ.zɯ.ɾe/

Meaning

Price collapse; sharp drop in prices. A sudden and severe decline in market prices, often caused by oversupply or panic selling.

A noun combining 値 (price) and 崩れ (collapse, crumbling). Describes a rapid and often disorderly fall in prices resulting from excess supply, loss of consumer demand, or market panic. Common in agricultural markets (seasonal gluts), commodity markets, and real estate. 値崩れを防ぐ (nekuzure wo fusegu) means 'to prevent a price collapse,' often through supply management.

Examples

1. 豊作が続いたため野菜の値崩れが起き、農家の収入が激減した。 Successive bumper harvests caused vegetable prices to collapse, drastically reducing farmers' incomes.
2. 競合品の登場で主力商品の値崩れが始まり、対策が急務となった。 The arrival of a competing product triggered a price collapse in the flagship line, making countermeasures urgent.
3. 需要の急減による値崩れを防ぐため、生産量を絞る方針を打ち出した。 To prevent a price collapse caused by a sudden drop in demand, a policy of cutting production volume was announced.

Usage Guide

Context: agricultural markets, commodities, retail pricing

Tone: concerned

Origin & History

From 値 (ne/chi) meaning 'price, value' and 崩れ (kuzure) meaning 'collapse, crumbling.' The metaphor of a price structure physically crumbling evokes the severity and suddenness of the decline.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Producers, traders