(さっとう)

さっとう
noun, verb (suru)
rush, flood, deluge
1. rush, flood, deluge, inundation
A sudden overwhelming influx of people, orders, inquiries, complaints, or other things arriving all at once.
注文(ちゅうもん)殺到(さっとう)した。
Orders came flooding in.
クレームが殺到(さっとう)して対応(たいおう)()いつかない。
Complaints have poured in and we can't keep up.
セールの初日(しょにち)(きゃく)殺到(さっとう)して、店内(てんない)大混雑(だいこんざつ)だった。
Customers swarmed in on the first day of the sale, and the store was packed.

USAGE: Implies an overwhelming quantity arriving simultaneously. Common in news reports and business contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 注文(ちゅうもん)殺到(さっとう)する: to be flooded with orders
  • ()()わせが殺到(さっとう)する: to be inundated with inquiries
  • クレームが殺到(さっとう)する: to be swamped with complaints
  • 応募(おうぼ)殺到(さっとう)する: to receive an overwhelming number of applications

ETYMOLOGY: Literally (さつ) (kill/rush) + (とう) (arrive), suggesting a forceful rush that arrives all at once.