廃品置き場
haihin'okiba
The English word junkyard is 廃品置き場 (haihin'okiba) in Japanese.
廃品置き場 is used to describe a location where discarded items or scrap metal are stored or sold.
Meaning: a business that sells used metal or items (noun)
Which one should you use?
The loanword phrase スクラップ置き場 (scrap okiba) is also commonly used, specifically when referring to a scrap metal yard.
Did you know?
- In Japan, the concept of a 'junkyard' is often associated with リサイクルショップ (recycle shop), which are polished retail stores rather than gritty scrap yards.
- The word 廃 (hai) in 廃品置き場 is also used in 廃墟 (haikyo), a term for ruins that has inspired a massive 'ruin exploration' subculture in Japan.
- While a 'junkyard' in English often implies a place to find rare car parts, Japanese car enthusiasts use the term 部品取り車 (buhindori-sha), meaning 'parts-taking car', to describe the vehicles found there.
Examples in context
- 失礼ですが、一番近いごみ処分場はどこですか？Excuse me, where is the nearest waste disposal site?
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are looking for a spare car part.
- 健太 Kentaいい廃品置き場を知っていますか？Ii haihin okiba o shitte imasu ka?Do you know a good junkyard?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、街の外にありますよ。Hai, machi no soto ni arimasu yo.Yes, there is one outside of town.
- 健太 Kentaそこに部品があると思いますか？Soko ni buhin ga aru to omoimasu ka?Do you think they have the part there?
- 結衣 Yuiきっと見つかるはずです。Kitto mitsukaru hazu desu.I'm sure you'll find it.
