Thread: Ширпотреб

Is there any disparaging slang name for mass consumption products?
There is a soviet word ширпотреб in Russian (derived from товары широкого потребления) - usually cheap and of a bad quality. I'm trying to find an equivalent.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Is there any disparaging slang name for mass consumption products?
There is a soviet word ширпотреб in Russian (derived from товары широкого потребления) - usually cheap and of a bad quality. I'm trying to find an equivalent.

Initially ширпотреб was a special out-of-profile part of production of soviet defence(military) industry.

"Tat" is the only word that comes to mind in UK useage. See dictionary link http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define. ... &dict=CALD

"Consumer goods" is a way to say it, but it isn't the most slangish expression... I really don't know of anything on the top of my head...

Chinese junk?

Originally Posted by basurero

Chinese junk?

Indeed, even in Russian there appeared a sort of set expression "китайский ширпотреб". It's not just as negative though.

For cheap imports from Japan the expression was "Jap crаp". You don't hear it anymore because the japanese make pretty good stuff now.

You'd probably have to use a four-letter word.

You don't hear it anymore because the japanese make pretty good stuff now.

Like what? Like talking moose heads?

Hey my hybrid car is Japanese. I am very content with it