買い占める
かいしめる
verb (ichidan)
to buy up; to corner the market; to hoard
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 買い占める | 買い占めない |
| Present polite | 買い占めます | 買い占めません |
| Past | 買い占めた | 買い占めなかった |
| Past polite | 買い占めました | 買い占めませんでした |
| て form | 買い占めて | 買い占めなくて |
| ている present | 買い占めている | 買い占めていない |
| ている polite | 買い占めています | 買い占めていません |
| ている past | 買い占めていた | 買い占めていなかった |
| ている past polite | 買い占めていました | 買い占めていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 買い占めれば | 買い占めなければ |
| Conditional たら | 買い占めたら | 買い占めなかったら |
| Volitional | 買い占めよう | — |
| Volitional polite | 買い占めましょう | — |
| Potential | 買い占められる | 買い占められない |
| Passive | 買い占められる | 買い占められない |
| Causative | 買い占めさせる | 買い占めさせない |
| Imperative | 買い占めろ | 買い占めるな |
1.
to buy up; to corner the market; to hoard
To purchase all or most of a particular product, either to monopolize supply or out of panic. Often used negatively to describe hoarding behavior during shortages or speculative buying.
マスクが買い占められた。
Masks were bought up completely.
転売目的で限定品を買い占める人がいる。
There are people who buy up limited-edition items to resell them.
災害の前に水や食料を買い占めるのはやめてほしい。
I wish people would stop hoarding water and food before disasters.
USAGE:
買い占める carries a negative connotation, implying selfish or excessive purchasing that deprives others of access. It became especially common during pandemic-related shortages.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ～を買い占める (to buy up ~)
- 買い占め (名詞 form — hoarding, buying up)
- 買い占め行為 (hoarding behavior)
SIMILAR WORDS:
まとめ買い (buying in bulk) is neutral — simply purchasing a large quantity. 買い占める implies buying everything available, leaving none for others. 買いだめ (stockpiling) implies buying extra for personal reserves.