How to Say "Second Hand" in Japanese

中古

chūko[t͡ɕɨːko̞]

In Japanese, the English phrase "second hand" is expressed as 中古 (chūko).

The term 中古 is used to describe an item that has been owned and used by someone else before.

What does it mean word for word?

The word 中古 is composed of the kanji 中 (middle/during) and 古 (old).

While 中古 is the general term, you can use the suffix 品 to create 中古品, which specifically refers to second-hand goods or articles.

When used as an adjective to modify a noun, the particle の is typically added after 中古, forming 中古の〜.

chūko

The term リサイクル is frequently used in Japanese stores to mean 'second hand', even if the item was never actually melted down or processed to be recycled.
Buyers of 中古 luxury goods in Japan frequently rely on a 鑑定書, a professional certificate of authenticity that is more prevalent than in Western markets.
The term 中古 is also used in the context of the 'Chūko' period in history, though it refers to a specific era rather than the concept of being used.

トムの仕事は中古車の販売です。
Tom's work is selling second-hand cars.
This sentence shows how to use 中古 to describe cars.
Tatoeba #2075399 by bunbuku, translation #1023824 by CK
古い中古のダイヤモンドでもないよりはましよ。
It is better to have old second-hand diamonds than none at all.
This sentence uses 中古 to describe diamonds.
Tatoeba #11518338 by small_snow, translation #667953 by CK
すいません、中古で10万以下の原付バイクが欲しいんですけど、ありますか？
Excuse me, I'm looking for a second-hand moped that costs less than 100,000 yen, do you have any?
This sentence uses 中古 to describe a moped.
Tatoeba #8811292 by bunbuku, translation #10124108 by tsp_2
中古の車
Second-hand car
7 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are talking about buying a camera.

大翔 Hiroto

新しいカメラは高いから、中古を探しているんだ。
Atarashii kamera wa takai kara, chūko o sagashite iru n da.
New cameras are expensive, so I am looking for a second hand one.
陽葵 Himari

中古なら、いいお店があるよ。
Chūko nara, ii omise ga aru yo.
If it's second hand, I know a good shop.
大翔 Hiroto

本当？教えてくれる？
Hontō? Oshiete kureru?
Really? Can you tell me?
陽葵 Himari

もちろん。今度一緒に行こう！
Mochiron. Kondo issho ni ikō!
Of course. Let's go together next time!

Sources

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