Japanese word

絶版

Pronunciation

Romajizeppan

Meaning

  • nounout of print

Example

その本は絶版です。so no hon wa zep pan de su

That book is out of print.

Illustration for 絶版 (out of print)

More examples

探していた辞書は、すでに絶版になっています。saga shi te i ta ji sho wa su de ni zep pan ni na tte i ma su

The dictionary I was looking for has already gone out of print.

Core concept

Describes a work whose publisher has stopped making new copies, even though existing copies may still circulate.

Common phrases

  • 絶版になるzep pan ni na ru

    go out of print

  • 絶版の本zep pan no hon

    out-of-print book

  • 絶版にするzep pan ni su ru

    take out of print

Similar words

廃版haihan: A work whose publication has been officially discontinued by its publisher.
品切れshinagire: A work is temporarily unavailable for purchase because no copies are currently in stock.

Definition in Japanese

出版を打ち切り、現在は新たに印刷・発行されていないこと。shup pan o u chi ki ri gen zai wa ara ta ni in satsu hak kō sa re te i na i ko to

Word origin

絶 (zetsu, "cut off") and 版 (han, "edition") form 絶版 (zeppan), a compound for an edition whose publication has ended.

Usage tips

  • The pattern 絶版にする (zeppan ni suru) presents the publisher as the agent, while 絶版になる (zeppan ni naru) presents the status as occurring.

Word lists with this word