売れる

うれる

to be sold

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 売れる (うれる) means "to be sold" or "to sell well." It is used when something is popular and successfully purchased by many people. This verb is intransitive, so it focuses on the item or person being sold or becoming popular, not the act of selling by a seller.

Common Contexts

You will often see 売れる used with products like books, games, or music to describe good sales. It can also describe people, especially entertainers or artists, who become popular or successful in their field.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 売れる 本 (うれる ほん): a book that sells well
  • 売れる ために (うれる ために): to become popular or successful
  • すぐに 売れる (すぐに うれる): to sell quickly

Nuances and Tips

When using 売れる, the focus is on the success or popularity of the item or person, not the seller's action. Avoid confusing it with 売る (うる), which means "to sell" and is transitive. For example, "本を売る" means "to sell a book," while "本が売れる" means "the book sells well."

This verb is common in everyday conversation about sales, entertainment, and marketing.

Example Sentences

このほんはきょねんたくさんうれました。

This book sold a lot last year.

あたらしいゲームがすぐにうれるとおもいます。

I think the new game will sell quickly.

かれはかしゅとしてうれるためにどりょくしています。

He is working hard to become a popular singer.