賞味期限(しょうみきげん)

しょうみきげん
noun
best-before date
food
1. best-before date, best-by date
The date until which a food product is expected to retain its best quality and taste when stored properly. Products may still be safe to eat after this date.
賞味期限(しょうみきげん)を確認(かくにん)してから買(か)う。
I check the best-before date before buying.
賞味期限(しょうみきげん)が切(き)れている。
The best-before date has passed.
Common expression
賞味期限(しょうみきげん)は来月(らいげつ)までです。
The best-before date is until next month.
賞味期限(しょうみきげん)が近(ちか)い商品(しょうひん)は安(やす)くなっている。
Products near their best-before date are discounted.
賞味期限(しょうみきげん)を過(す)ぎても、すぐに食(た)べられなくなるわけではない。
Just because the best-before date has passed doesn't mean the food is immediately inedible.

Compound: 賞味(しょうみ) (appreciation of taste) + 期限(きげん) (time limit)

Common patterns

Distinction: 賞味期限(しょうみきげん) (best-before) refers to quality, while 消費期限(しょうひきげん) (use-by) refers to safety. Products past their 賞味期限(しょうみきげん) may still be safe but may have reduced quality.

Related Words

Compare: 消費期限(しょうひきげん)
Related: 有効期限(ゆうこうきげん) (expiration date)
Related: 加工(かこう)食品(しょくひん) (processed food)
Compare: 使用期限(しようきげん) (use-by date)
Related: 食品保存(しょくひんほぞん) (food preservation)
Related: 原材料名(げんざいりょうめい) (list of ingredients (on a food label))
core
Added 2026.1.17 11:09 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
06000/06076_shoumikigen