直販店
chokuhanten
The English word 'outlet' can be translated into Japanese as either 直販店 (chokuhanten) or アウトレット.
Meaning: shop (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 直販店 | chokuhanten | |
| アウトレット | autoretto | [a̠ɯ̟to̞ɾe̞t̚to̞] (narrow) |
Both terms relate to the concept of an outlet, but they describe different types of retail. 直販店 is used to describe a shop that sells products directly from the manufacturer to the consumer. The loanword アウトレット is used when referring to stores that sell discounted goods from previous seasons or specifically to an outlet mall.
Which one should you use?
While 直販店 (chokuhanten) refers specifically to a manufacturer's direct-sales shop, アウトレット (autoretto) is the term used for stores selling discounted items from past seasons. Furthermore, the term アウトレットモール (autoretto mōru) is frequently used in Japan to describe large outdoor shopping complexes that house multiple brand-name outlet stores.
How do you pronounce it?
chokuhanten
Did you know?
- While アウトレット means a discount store in Japan, the word for an electrical 'outlet' is コンセント, which comes from the English phrase 'connection socket'.
- In Japan, アウトレットモール are often built as destination resorts with faux-European architecture and gardens to make shopping feel like a vacation.
- The term 直販店 is frequently used by traditional Japanese craft producers, such as sake breweries or textile mills, to sell their wares without wholesalers.
Examples in context
- このメーカーの直販店はどこですか？Kono mēkā no chokuhanten wa doko desu ka?Where is this manufacturer's outlet shop?
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about shopping for clothes.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、一緒に直販店に行きませんか？Kenta-san, issho ni chokuhanten ni ikimasen ka?Kenta, do you want to go to the outlet store together?
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。何を買うつもりですか？Ii desu ne. Nani o kau tsumori desu ka?That sounds good. What are you planning to buy?
- 結衣 Yui冬用のコートを探しています。Fuyu-yō no kōto o sagashite imasu.I'm looking for a winter coat.
- 健太 Kentaいいコートが見つかるといいですね。Ii kōto ga mitsukaru to ii desu ne.I hope you find a nice coat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “outlet” translations and entries アウトレット, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
