先行販売

• Reading: せんこうはんばい
• Romaji: senkou hanbai
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (sen) — ahead; 行 (kou) — go; 販 (han) — sell; 売 (bai) — sell
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.koː.haɴ.baː.i/

Meaning

Pre-order; presale; advance sale. Selling products before the official release date.

A compound noun combining 先行 (advance/preceding) and 販売 (sales). Refers to the practice of selling limited quantities of a product before its general release. Common in the entertainment industry for concert tickets, albums, and merchandise, as well as in retail for new product launches.

Examples

1. ファンクラブ会員向けの先行販売が始まった。 Advance sales for fan club members have started.
2. 新作ゲームの先行販売に長い列ができていた。 There was a long line for the presale of the new video game.
3. 先行販売で買ったチケットは良い席が多い。 Tickets bought through presale tend to have better seats.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, retail, marketing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A modern compound of 先行 (senkou, preceding) + 販売 (hanbai, sales). Created to describe the commercial practice of advance selling, which became widespread with the growth of fan culture and online retail.

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: Young adults to middle-aged

Social background: Universal