shòu qìng: 售罄 - Sold Out, All Gone

• Keywords: 售罄, shòu qìng, sold out in Chinese, how to say sold out in Chinese, Chinese word for sold out, 售罄 meaning, 售罄 vs 卖完, Chinese commerce terms, limited stock Chinese, Taobao shopping terms
• Summary: Learn how to use 售罄 (shòu qìng), the formal Chinese word for “sold out” or “all gone.” This comprehensive guide explains the meaning of 售罄, its use in modern contexts like e-commerce and real estate, and how it differs from the more common “卖完了” (mài wán le). Discover its cultural significance in China's dynamic consumer market and see practical examples to understand why this term is crucial for anyone interested in Chinese business, online shopping, or booking tickets.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shòu qìng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be completely sold out.
• In a Nutshell: 售罄 (shòu qìng) is a formal, written term that means the entire stock of a product, set of tickets, or real estate development has been sold. You won't hear it in casual conversation, but you will see it everywhere online, on posters, and in official announcements. It carries a sense of finality and often implies high demand and rapid sales.

• 售 (shòu): This character means “to sell.” It's the more formal counterpart to 卖 (mài). Think of it as the difference between “to vend” and “to sell.”
• 罄 (qìng): This character means “to exhaust,” “to use up completely,” or “empty.” It is composed of 缶 (fǒu), an ancient clay jar, suggesting the jar's contents have been totally depleted.
• Together, 售罄 (shòu qìng) literally means “sold until empty” or “sold to the point of exhaustion.” The combination creates a powerful and definitive statement about the status of an item for sale.

While “sold out” exists in every culture, 售罄 (shòu qìng) holds a special place in the context of modern China's fast-paced, high-volume consumer market. Seeing “售罄” is more than just an inventory update; it's a powerful social signal. For consumers, it can trigger “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out), making the product seem even more desirable. For brands, a “售罄” announcement is a badge of honor, a testament to a product's popularity and a successful marketing campaign. This is especially true for limited-edition items, new tech releases (like phones), and real estate. The phrase “开盘即售罄” (kāipán jí shòu qìng) — “sold out the moment sales opened” — is a developer's dream and a common headline used to signify overwhelming demand. Compared to the English “sold out,” which can be used casually by a shopkeeper, 售罄 is almost exclusively used in formal, written contexts. It elevates the event from a simple stock issue to a significant commercial milestone. It reflects the intensity of a market with a massive population where popular items can genuinely disappear in seconds.

This term is predominantly used in written Chinese and formal announcements.

• E-commerce: You will frequently see a greyed-out button with the characters 售罄 on product pages on sites like Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo for highly sought-after items.
• Ticketing: For concerts, high-profile sporting events, or holiday train tickets, official websites will update the status to 售罄 to indicate that no seats are left.
• Real Estate: Property developers use 售罄 in advertisements and press releases to announce that all units in a new apartment complex have been sold, boosting the developer's reputation.
• Product Launches: Companies like Xiaomi, Huawei, or Apple will announce that the first batch of a new smartphone has 售罄, often within minutes of release.

Its connotation is neutral but implies a positive outcome for the seller (high demand) and a negative one for the would-be buyer (disappointment).

• Example 1:
  • 抱歉，这款限量版球鞋已经售罄。
  • Pinyin: Bàoqiàn, zhè kuǎn xiànliàng bǎn qiúxié yǐjīng shòu qìng.
  • English: Sorry, this model of limited-edition sneakers is already sold out.
  • Analysis: This is a typical formal notice you would see on a shopping website or a sign in a physical store for a high-demand item.
• Example 2:
  • 周杰伦演唱会的门票在五分钟内全部售罄。
  • Pinyin: Zhōu Jiélún yǎnchànghuì de ménpiào zài wǔ fēnzhōng nèi quánbù shòu qìng.
  • English: The tickets for Jay Chou's concert were completely sold out within five minutes.
  • Analysis: Here, 售罄 emphasizes the speed and overwhelming demand for the tickets.
• Example 3:
  • 这个新楼盘一开盘即售罄，可见其受欢迎程度。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xīn lóupán yī kāipán jí shòu qìng, kějiàn qí shòu huānyíng chéngdù.
  • English: This new real estate development sold out as soon as it opened, which shows its level of popularity.
  • Analysis: A classic example from the real estate industry. “一…即…” (yī…jí…) means “as soon as… then…” and is often paired with 售罄.
• Example 4:
  • 由于需求过大，最新款的手机在预售阶段就已售罄。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú xūqiú guò dà, zuìxīn kuǎn de shǒujī zài yùshòu jiēduàn jiù yǐ shòu qìng.
  • English: Due to excessive demand, the newest model of the phone was already sold out during the pre-sale phase.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in the context of modern tech product launches.
• Example 5:
  • 网站上显示“已售罄”，我只好等下一批发售了。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngzhàn shàng xiǎnshì “yǐ shòu qìng”, wǒ zhǐhǎo děng xià yī pī fāshòu le.
  • English: The website displays “Already Sold Out,” so I have no choice but to wait for the next batch to be released.
  • Analysis: This shows how a user would read the term and react to it. Note that the person *reads* 售罄 but would likely *say* “卖完了 (mài wán le)” when telling a friend.
• Example 6:
  • 春节期间的火车票几乎全部售罄，一票难求。
  • Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān de huǒchē piào jīhū quánbù shòu qìng, yī piào nán qiú.
  • English: During the Spring Festival period, almost all train tickets are sold out; it's incredibly hard to get one.
  • Analysis: The idiom 一票难求 (yī piào nán qiú), “one ticket is hard to seek,” perfectly complements the finality of 售罄.
• Example 7:
  • 这本畅销书的首印版本早已售罄。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn chàngxiāo shū de shǒuyìn bǎnběn zǎoyǐ shòu qìng.
  • English: The first-edition copies of this bestselling book were sold out long ago.
  • Analysis: Used for products where different versions or batches exist, like books or collector's items.
• Example 8:
  • 博物馆的特别展览门票已售罄，请勿前来排队。
  • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn de tèbié zhǎnlǎn ménpiào yǐ shòu qìng, qǐng wù qiánlái páiduì.
  • English: The tickets for the museum's special exhibition are sold out. Please do not come to queue.
  • Analysis: A formal public service announcement, a perfect context for the formal tone of 售罄.
• Example 9:
  • 该产品一经推出，便在各大平台迅速售罄。
  • Pinyin: Gāi chǎnpǐn yī jīng tuīchū, biàn zài gè dà píngtái xùnsù shòu qìng.
  • English: As soon as this product was launched, it quickly sold out on all major platforms.
  • Analysis: “一经…便…” (yī jīng… biàn…) is another formal structure meaning “as soon as… then…”, highlighting an immediate cause-and-effect relationship.
• Example 10:
  • 我们为商品售罄给您带来的不便深表歉意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen wèi shāngpǐn shòu qìng gěi nín dài lái de bùbiàn shēn biǎo qiànyì.
  • English: We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the product being sold out.
  • Analysis: Used in formal customer service language, such as an automated email or a website banner.

• Mistake 1: Using 售罄 in spoken conversation.

This is the most common mistake for learners. It sounds unnatural and overly formal, like saying “The inventory has been completely depleted” when you just mean “We're sold out.”

• Incorrect: (At a bakery) “请问，你们的牛角包售罄了吗？” (Qǐngwèn, nǐmen de niújiǎo bāo shòu qìng le ma?)
• Correct: (At a bakery) “请问，你们的牛角包卖完了吗？” (Qǐngwèn, nǐmen de niújiǎo bāo mài wán le ma?)
• Mistake 2: Confusing 售罄 with 缺货 (quē huò).

售罄 (shòu qìng) means everything was sold. 缺货 (quē huò) means “out of stock,” which is often a temporary situation where the item will be restocked. If an iPhone 15 is sold out for the day but the store will get more tomorrow, it is 缺货. If the entire limited-edition run of a phone is gone forever, it is 售罄.

• The “False Friend” Trap:

While 售罄 translates to “sold out,” it does not share the same wide range of formality as its English counterpart. You can say “We're sold out” in a casual chat, but you can only use 售罄 in a written or formal context. The true conversational equivalent is almost always 卖完了 (mài wán le).

• 卖完 (mài wán) - The direct, common, and spoken equivalent of “sold out.” This is what you use in daily conversation.
• 缺货 (quē huò) - Out of stock. This implies a temporary shortage and that the item will likely be restocked.
• 抢购 (qiǎng gòu) - To rush to purchase; to snatch up. This is the action from the consumers' side that often leads to a product being 售罄.
• 爆款 (bào kuǎn) - An “explosively popular” or “viral” product. A 爆款 is the type of item that is most likely to be 售罄.
• 断货 (duàn huò) - Supply is cut off. This is stronger than 缺货 and suggests a longer-term unavailability.
• 脱销 (tuō xiāo) - A close synonym of 售罄, also meaning “sold out.” It is also formal and written, but 售罄 is slightly more common in modern e-commerce.
• 预售 (yù shòu) - Pre-sale; to sell in advance. Pre-sales often end with a 售罄 announcement.
• 下架 (xià jià) - To be taken off the shelves; delisted. This means the item is no longer for sale, but not necessarily because it was sold out. It could be for seasonal or other reasons.