期 限(きげん)

きげん

noun

deadline, time limit, expiration date

See also: 紀元(きげん) (era, epoch), 機嫌(きげん) (mood, humor)

1. deadline, time limit

A set point in time by which something must be completed or submitted.

提出(ていしゅつ)期限(きげん)は金曜日(きんようび)です。

The submission deadline is Friday.

期限(きげん)までに書類(しょるい)を出(だ)してください。

Please submit the documents by the deadline.

申(もう)し込(こ)みの期限(きげん)が過(す)ぎてしまったので、来年(らいねん)まで待(ま)つしかない。

The application deadline has passed, so there is no choice but to wait until next year.

2. expiration date, validity period

The date after which something is no longer valid or usable, such as a product's shelf life or a document's validity.

この牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)は期限(きげん)が切(き)れている。

This milk is past its expiration date.

パスポートの有効(ゆうこう)期限(きげん)を確認(かくにん)してください。

Please check the expiration date of your passport.

賞味(しょうみ)期限(きげん)が近(ちか)い商品(しょうひん)は割引(わりびき)されていることが多(おお)い。

Products nearing their best-before date are often discounted.

Usage

A versatile noun used in both administrative and everyday contexts. As a deadline (sense 1), it pairs with 提出(ていしゅつ) (submission), 申(もう)し込(こ)み (application), and 支払(しはら)い (payment). As an expiration date (sense 2), it pairs with 賞味(しょうみ) (best-before), 消費(しょうひ) (use-by), and 有効(ゆうこう) (validity).

Common collocations

期限(きげん)を守(まも)る: to meet a deadline
期限(きげん)が切(き)れる: to expire
期限(きげん)を延長(えんちょう)する: to extend a deadline
有効(ゆうこう)期限(きげん): validity period, expiration date
賞味(しょうみ)期限(きげん): best-before date
提出(ていしゅつ)期限(きげん): submission deadline

Similar words

締(し)め切(き)り: deadline (more casual, used for work and projects)
納期(のうき): delivery deadline (business term)

Related Words

Synonym: 締(し)め切(き)り (deadline (more colloquial))

Related: 期間(きかん) (period, duration)

Compare: 納期(のうき) (delivery deadline)

Compare: 締切日(しめきりび) (deadline)

Compare: 時間制限(じかんせいげん) (time limit)

Compare: 制限時間(せいげんじかん) (time limit)

general

Added 2026.2.22 21:38 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

12500/12861_kigen