품절
pumjeol[ˈpʰu(ː)md͡ʑʌ̹ɭ]
The English phrase "sold out" is translated into Korean as 품절 (pumjeol).
품절 is an adjective meaning completely sold. In retail and e-commerce, you may see the phrase 품절 임박 to indicate that an item is almost sold out or that a sell-out is imminent.
Meaning: completely sold (adj)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between 품절 and 매진. While 품절 is used for general products or goods, 매진 is used specifically for tickets, such as for movies or concerts or when a specific quantity of stock is exhausted.
How do you pronounce it?
pumjeol
Did you know?
- The term 품절 is often used jokingly in dating contexts to describe someone who is 'taken' or married. A person who is no longer available is described as 품절남 for a man or 품절녀 for a woman.
- The word 품절 is a Sino-Korean formation where the first character 품 (品) refers to 'goods' or 'articles' and the second character 절 (切) means 'to cut' or 'to sever'.
- When a product is so popular that it is constantly 품절, Koreans may describe it as having a 'open run' 오픈런. This refers to people lining up before a store opens to avoid the 'sold out' sign.
Examples in context
- 매진되었습니다. 이 자리는 더 이상 구매하실 수 없습니다.Sold out. You can no longer purchase seats here.
- 원하는 제품이 이미 품절되었습니다.The item you want is already sold out.
- 아이폰은 다 팔렸어, 다른 핸드폰은 어때?The iPhones are sold out, how about other smartphones?
- 이 제품은 이미 품절이에요.i jepumeun imi pumjeolieyo.This product is already sold out.
- 재고가 없어서 품절이에요.jaegoga eopseoseo pumjeolieyo.It is sold out because there is no stock.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Hyunwoo are looking at an online shopping mall.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 이 운동화 있어요?Hyunwoo ssi, i undonghwa isseoyo?Hyunwoo, do they have these sneakers?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니요, 지금은 품절이에요.aniyo, jigeumeun pumjeolieyo.No, they are sold out right now.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 아쉽네요.jeongmal aswipneyo.That's such a shame.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo다시 들어오면 알려줄게요.dasi deureoomyeon allyeojulgeyo.I will let you know when they are back in stock.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sold out” translations and entries 품절, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 품절, CC BY-SA 4.0.
