Japanese word

賞味期限

Pronunciation

Romajishōmikigen

Meaning

  • nounbest-before date

Example

この食品の賞味期限は来月です。ko no shoku hin no shō mi ki gen wa rai getsu de su

This food's best-before date is next month.

Illustration for 賞味期限 (best-before date)

More examples

購入したら、まず賞味期限を確認して、冷蔵庫に入れます。kō nyū shi ta ra ma zu shō mi ki gen o kaku nin shi te rei zō ko ni i re ma su

After buying it, I first check the best-before date and put it in the refrigerator.

Core concept

Marks a quality boundary rather than an automatic point at which food becomes unsafe to eat.

Common phrases

  • 賞味期限を確かめるshō mi ki gen o tashi ka me ru

    check the best-before date

  • 賞味期限が切れるshō mi ki gen ga ki re ru

    the best-before date expires

  • 賞味期限が近づくshō mi ki gen ga chika zu ku

    the best-before date is nearing

  • 賞味期限を過ぎているshō mi ki gen o su gi te i ru

    be past the best-before date

Similar words

消費期限shōhikigen: The date until which perishable food is expected to remain safe when stored as labeled.

Definition in Japanese

食品を適切に保存したときに、本来の味や品質を保って食べられる期限。shoku hin o teki setsu ni ho zon shi ta to ki ni hon rai no aji ya hin shitsu o tamo tte ta be ra re ru ki gen

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 賞味期限 (shōmi kigen) combines 賞 (shō, "appreciate") and 味 (mi, "taste") with 期 (ki, "period") and 限 (gen, "limit"), meaning a time limit for enjoying taste.

Usage tips

  • Best-before and use-by are useful English contrasts for 賞味期限 (shōmi kigen), but their exact legal meanings depend on the country and its food-labeling system.

Other meanings

  • expiration datenoun

Word lists with this word