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Recently, I came across this word: 正規品{せいきひん}

None of online dictionaries that I know had registered the term at all. I
could not find such word in [search result of
jisho.org](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%AD%A3%E8%A6%8F%E5%93%81) or [search
result of
dictionary.goo.nee.jp](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/srch/all/%E6%AD%A3%E8%A6%8F%E5%93%81/m6u/),
for example. Also, none of physical dictionaries that I have had anything to
do with the term.

I found [this Windows support page in
Japanese](https://support.microsoft.com/ja-jp/help/940084) that contain the
term (in bold):

> Windows の使用中に「 **正規品** ではありません」のメッセージが表示される場合の対処方法

That is similar to [this Windows support page in
English](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2008385/windows-7-displays-
windows-is-not-genuine-with-an-error-code-of-0x8007) that describes the well
known message "Windows is not Genuine". Based on this, I am aware that 正規品
could mean 'genuine'.

But when I reverse look up the word 'genuine' in English-Japanese dictionary,
the term 正規品 was not suggested. Without notable reference, this definition is
not trustworthy.

Another clue I have is that the Japanese input method (Mozc) that I am using,
was able to suggest 正規品 when I start typing せいき, despite there are many words
that begin with 正規, which mostly translates to 'regular' or 'normal'. That has
nothing to do with 'genuine'.

So what does 正規品 mean, really?

I am looking for an answer that can explain the meaning, as well as the usage
of this word i.e. whether 正規品 is a technical term in some fields, abbreviation
of a more complete term, or something else that I may have missed.
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2018-01-29T17:54:13.810
56285
2020-01-04T06:06:48.993
question
words definitions terminology
What does 正規品 mean?
Based on this Q&A:

<https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1312139638>

正規品 is another way of saying 本物. If you look at the Jisho definition of 正規,
you'll see that one of the meanings is "legitimate." So 正規品 are legitimate
goods, rather than a knockoff or a pirated copy. "Genuine" is another
reasonable definition.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T19:45:27.740
56286
2018-01-29T19:45:27.740
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answer
Two years later, looking back at my own question and the comment by @kuchitsu,
I may have understood why I thought 正規品 means different from the given
example.

> comment: some info and examples:
> ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%AD%A3%E8%A6%8F%E5%93%81 – kuchitsu Jan 29 '18 at
> 18:24

As per referenced comment, [正規品 on
Weblio](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%AD%A3%E8%A6%8F%E5%93%81) hinted
that the word does not simply mean 'genuine products' or 'real products' by
default. Other translated meanings found in the list: correct parts, official
products, box, retail.

> [There] are many words that begin with 正規, which mostly translates to
> 'regular' or 'normal'. That has nothing to do with 'genuine'.

Such varying translations may suggest that some retail products--notably [OEM
(manufacturing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equipment_manufacturer)--can
be considered as 正規品 in appropriate context. OEM products should be understood
as "products that comply with certain specifications" rather than "products
that have been made exclusively by the rightful owner".

That might explain why 正規品 is mostly translated as 'regular' or 'normal'
rather than 'genuine' as noted in the question.

> So what does 正規品 mean, really?

The included word 正規 might further explain why there are varied meanings as
discovered above. From [正規 on
Weblio](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%AD%A3%E8%A6%8F), the word has
mainly two branches of meaning: 正式の (regular, formal, proper) and 合法的な
(legitimate, legal).

The given example of "Windows is not Genuine" was translated from the latter
branch of meaning, which is 合法的な (legitimate, legal). Therefore 正規品 can be
translated as "genuine product" in this context; however this should not be
taken literally as the translation may vary by context.

Another word usage may be found in some product reviews. For example, a retail
plastic model kit usually consists of molded parts surrounded by the frame
that is known as "runner" (see [Plastic
model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_model) and
[プラモデル](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB)
on Wikipedia). Such unassembled parts in the retail product can be referred as
正規品 also.

The later example of "runner" was translated from the former branch of
meaning, which is 正式の (regular, formal, proper). Therefore 正規品 can be
translated as "regular parts" in this context, which differs from and not
really "genuine products" that otherwise understood in the previous example.

> I am looking for an answer that can explain the meaning, as well as the
> usage of this word i.e. whether 正規品 is a technical term in some fields,
> abbreviation of a more complete term, or something else that I may have
> missed.

The given example is likely intended to show some research effort; however
that might also have caused people to answer solely based on the given example
and disregard the context, unfortunately.

Hence the two branches of meaning may give different meanings as above. If one
must have a generic translation for that, then 正規品 may be translated as
"standard products". That seems close enough to contain both meanings with
given context.
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2020-01-04T06:06:48.993
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answer