在庫

• Reading: ざいこ
• Romaji: zaiko
• Kanji breakdown: 在 (zai) — exist, be present, be at; 庫 (ko) — warehouse, storehouse, treasury
• Pronunciation: /zai.ko/

Meaning

Inventory; stock; goods held in storage awaiting sale or use.

A fundamental noun in retail, manufacturing, and logistics referring to the quantity of goods a business holds at any given time. 在庫管理 (inventory management) and 在庫調整 (inventory adjustment) are common business terms. 在庫切れ means out of stock. Companies balance maintaining sufficient stock to meet demand against the carrying costs of holding excess inventory. Also used informally to mean something available on hand.

Examples

1. 在庫管理を徹底することで、機会損失と廃棄ロスの両方を防げる。 By thoroughly managing inventory, both lost sales opportunities and waste from disposal can be prevented.
2. 需要予測が外れて在庫が積み上がり、値引き販売を余儀なくされた。 Demand forecasts were off, causing inventory to pile up and forcing discounted sales.
3. 人気商品は入荷後すぐに売り切れ、在庫切れの状態が続いている。 Popular products sell out immediately after restocking, and the out-of-stock situation continues.

Usage Guide

Context: retail, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 在 (zai, to exist/to be present at a place) and 庫 (ko, warehouse/storehouse). Together they literally mean goods existing in the warehouse — a straightforward description of inventory.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Business/General