1.
bargain; lucky find; unexpected treasure
A valuable item found at a surprisingly low price, or something unexpectedly good discovered among ordinary things. Often used when shopping at flea markets, thrift stores, or used goods shops.
フリーマーケットで掘り出し物を見つけた。
I found a bargain at the flea market.
この花瓶は掘り出し物だった。100円で買ったのに本物だ。
This vase was a real find. I bought it for 100 yen, and it's the real thing.
中古ショップを回れば、掘り出し物に出会えることがある。
If you visit secondhand shops, you can sometimes come across real bargains.
Literally "a dug-out thing" — like digging up buried treasure. The word conveys the excitement of finding something valuable that others overlooked.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 掘り出し物を見つける (to find a bargain)
- 掘り出し物に出会う (to come across a treasure)
- 思わぬ掘り出し物 (an unexpected find)
Often used at: フリーマーケット (flea markets), 骨董市 (antique fairs), 古本市 (used book fairs), リサイクルショップ (thrift shops).