qīngcāng: 清仓 - Clearance Sale, Stock Clearance

• Keywords: qingcang, 清仓, clearance sale, stock clearance, liquidation sale, Chinese for sale, store closing sale, bargain shopping in China, Chinese retail terms, how to say sale in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese commercial term 清仓 (qīngcāng), which means “clearance sale” or “to clear out inventory.” This page breaks down the meaning of 清 and 仓, explores its cultural significance in China's fast-paced retail environment, and provides numerous practical examples. Understand the difference between a regular discount (打折) and a final clearance (清仓) to become a smarter shopper and a more fluent Chinese speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīngcāng
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (but highly common)
• Concise Definition: To clear out inventory, typically through a large-scale sale.
• In a Nutshell: 清仓 (qīngcāng) is the Chinese equivalent of “Clearance Sale,” “Everything Must Go!,” or “Stock Liquidation.” It's a powerful term in the world of shopping that signals deep discounts and a final opportunity to buy. When you see these two characters on a storefront or a website, it means the business is trying to sell off its remaining products, usually to make space for new ones. For consumers, it's a magic word for finding great bargains.

• 清 (qīng): This character's primary meaning is “clear,” “clean,” or “to clean up.” It contains the water radical (氵), evoking the image of clear, pure water. In this context, it takes on the meaning of “to clear out” or “to make empty.”
• 仓 (cāng): This character means “warehouse,” “storehouse,” or “granary.” The character itself looks like a simple structure with a roof, meant for storage.

When combined, 清仓 (qīngcāng) literally means “to clear the warehouse.” This direct, pictorial meaning makes it very easy to remember: it's all about emptying the storeroom.

In the West, terms like “clearance” or “liquidation sale” often carry a slightly negative connotation, sometimes implying a business is failing or closing down. While 清仓 (qīngcāng) can be used in that context (e.g., 店铺倒闭, 清仓甩卖 - “Store closing, clearance sell-off”), it is far more commonly used as a standard, neutral business practice in China's hyper-competitive retail market. Due to rapid manufacturing cycles, fast-changing fashion trends, and massive e-commerce events like “双十一” (Double 11, or Singles' Day), businesses must constantly clear out old inventory to make way for the new. 清仓 is not a sign of failure but a sign of the season changing or a product line being updated. It is an aggressive and expected part of the retail calendar. For Chinese consumers, 清仓 is a call to action. It implies a sense of urgency and scarcity—these items won't be restocked. It taps into a cultural appreciation for practicality and value (性价比 - xìngjiàbǐ, cost-performance ratio), making a 清仓 sale a highly anticipated event for savvy shoppers.

清仓 is a ubiquitous term in both online and offline retail.

• In Physical Stores: You'll see giant red banners with characters like “清仓大甩卖” (qīngcāng dà shuǎimài - Clearance Grand Sell-off) or “换季清仓” (huànjì qīngcāng - End-of-Season Clearance). The connotation is exciting and attention-grabbing.
• On E-commerce Sites: Platforms like Taobao, Tmall, and JD.com have dedicated “清仓区” (qīngcāng qū - clearance sections). The term is used in product titles and promotional materials to attract bargain hunters.
• As a Verb or Noun: It can be used as a verb (“我们年底要清仓” - We need to have a clearance sale at the end of the year) or as a noun/modifier (“这是一个清仓价” - This is a clearance price).
• Formality: The term itself is neutral in formality and can be used in both casual conversation and formal business reports discussing inventory management.

• Example 1:
  • 换季了，服装店都在搞清仓活动。
  • Pinyin: Huànjì le, fúzhuāngdiàn dōu zài gǎo qīngcāng huódòng.
  • English: The season is changing, so all the clothing stores are having clearance sales.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and neutral observation. “搞…活动” (gǎo…huódòng) means “to hold an event/activity.”
• Example 2:
  • 这家店要关门了，全场清仓，一件不留！
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn yào guānmén le, quánchǎng qīngcāng, yí jiàn bù liú!
  • English: This store is closing down, the whole store is on clearance, not a single item will be left!
  • Analysis: A classic, high-urgency phrase you'll see on signs. “一件不留” (yí jiàn bù liú) literally means “not one piece left,” emphasizing the finality of the sale.
• Example 3:
  • 这些都是清仓商品，所以售出后不退不换。
  • Pinyin: Zhèxiē dōu shì qīngcāng shāngpǐn, suǒyǐ shòuchū hòu bù tuì bù huàn.
  • English: These are all clearance items, so they cannot be returned or exchanged after being sold.
  • Analysis: This is a crucial piece of information for shoppers. “不退不换” (bù tuì bù huàn - no returns, no exchanges) is a common policy for final sale items.
• Example 4:
  • 我等他们清仓的时候才买，能省不少钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děng tāmen qīngcāng de shíhou cái mǎi, néng shěng bùshǎo qián.
  • English: I wait until they have a clearance sale to buy; it can save a lot of money.
  • Analysis: This shows the perspective of a smart shopper. The structure “等…的时候才…” (děng…de shíhou cái…) means “to wait until…to finally…”
• Example 5:
  • 我们必须在月底前清仓，为新货腾出空间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zài yuèdǐ qián qīngcāng, wèi xīn huò téng chū kōngjiān.
  • English: We must clear our stock before the end of the month to make space for new merchandise.
  • Analysis: This is a typical business-side usage of 清仓 as a verb, explaining the reason for the sale. “腾出空间” (téng chū kōngjiān) means “to free up space.”
• Example 6:
  • 淘宝上有一个清仓专区，东西特别便宜。
  • Pinyin: Táobǎo shàng yǒu yí ge qīngcāng zhuānqū, dōngxi tèbié piányi.
  • English: There's a special clearance section on Taobao where things are especially cheap.
  • Analysis: This shows its usage in the context of e-commerce. “专区” (zhuānqū) means a “specialized area” or “dedicated section.”
• Example 7:
  • 这个清仓价真的太划算了！
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge qīngcāng jià zhēn de tài huásuàn le!
  • English: This clearance price is really such a good deal!
  • Analysis: Here, 清仓 acts as an adjective modifying “价” (jià - price). “划算” (huásuàn) is a great word for “good value” or “worth the cost.”
• Example 8:
  • 经理，我们上一季度的库存怎么处理？要清仓吗？
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ, wǒmen shàng yí jìdù de kùcún zěnme chǔlǐ? Yào qīngcāng ma?
  • English: Manager, how should we deal with the inventory from last quarter? Should we put it on clearance?
  • Analysis: A question you might hear in a business meeting. “库存” (kùcún) is “inventory,” and “处理” (chǔlǐ) means “to handle” or “to deal with.”
• Example 9:
  • 他利用清仓的机会，低价买入了很多商品。
  • Pinyin: Tā lìyòng qīngcāng de jīhuì, dījià mǎirù le hěn duō shāngpǐn.
  • English: He used the opportunity of the clearance sale to buy many products at a low price.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 清仓 as a noun, part of the phrase “清仓的机会” (the opportunity of a clearance sale).
• Example 10:
  • 别被“清仓”两个字骗了，有时候价格并没有便宜多少。
  • Pinyin: Bié bèi “qīngcāng” liǎng ge zì piàn le, yǒushíhou jiàgé bìng méiyǒu piányi duōshao.
  • English: Don't be fooled by the two words “clearance”; sometimes the price isn't actually that much cheaper.
  • Analysis: A cynical but practical warning, showing that the term can sometimes be used purely as a marketing gimmick.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 清仓 (qīngcāng) and other words for “sale.”

• 清仓 (qīngcāng) vs. 打折 (dǎzhé):
  • 打折 (dǎzhé) means “to give a discount.” It's a general term. A store can have a 10% discount (打九折 - dǎ jiǔ zhé) on new arrivals. This is a standard promotion.
  • 清仓 (qīngcāng) is a specific, more extreme type of sale. It implies the goal is to get rid of the stock completely, not just to promote it. The discounts are usually much deeper, and the items are often final sale.
  • Incorrect Usage: `这家店在清仓，所有东西打九折。` (This store is having a clearance, everything is 10% off.) This sounds strange. A mere 10% discount doesn't feel like a true “clearance.” You would simply say `这家店所有东西打九折。`
• 清仓 (qīngcāng) vs. 促销 (cùxiāo):
  • 促销 (cùxiāo) is the umbrella term for any “sales promotion.” This can include discounts (打折), buy-one-get-one-free (买一送一), special offers (特价), and, of course, clearance sales (清仓).
  • Think of it this way: 清仓 is one specific strategy that falls under the general category of 促销. All 清仓 sales are a form of 促销, but not all 促销 activities are 清仓 sales.

• 打折 (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. The most general term for a price reduction.
• 甩卖 (shuǎimài) - To sell off (at a reduced price). Literally “to throw-sell.” Very similar to 清仓 and often used together (清仓甩卖). It carries a strong sense of urgency.
• 促销 (cùxiāo) - Sales promotion. The broad, formal term for any activity designed to increase sales.
• 特价 (tèjià) - Special price. Refers to a specific item or group of items on a temporary special offer.
• 库存 (kùcún) - Inventory, stock. This is the noun for the goods that are being cleared out during a 清仓.
• 处理 (chǔlǐ) - To handle, to deal with, to process. In a sales context, it often means “to get rid of,” e.g., “库存处理” (inventory disposal/sale).
• 跳楼价 (tiàolóujià) - “Jump-off-a-building price.” A dramatic, hyperbolic slang term for a rock-bottom price, often used during a frantic 清仓.
• 大减价 (dàjiǎnjià) - Big price reduction; a big sale. A straightforward term for a significant sale event.
• 换季 (huànjì) - To change seasons. This is one of the most common reasons for a 清仓 sale, especially in fashion retail.