品切れ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 品切れ is read as しなぎれ and is a noun for an item being sold out or currently out of stock.
• Basic usage: Use 品切れになる for entering that state and 品切れと書かれる for the wording displayed on a sign.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Product and color option
  • As with 人気の色, one particular option can be out of stock even if the broader product still exists.
• Out of stock and discontinued
  • 品切れ states that stock is unavailable now; it does not by itself mean that sales have ended permanently.