When you buy food in Japan, you will often see dates printed on the package. But did you know that Japan uses two different terms for expiration dates?

Let’s learn some useful Japanese vocabulary related to food labels!

1. 賞味期限（しょうみきげん）

賞味期限（しょうみきげん） means “best-before date.”

It is the date until which a food is expected to taste its best when it is stored properly.

For example:

このおかしの賞味期限しょうみきげんは10月がつ15日にちです。
The best-before date of this snack is October 15.

Even after the 賞味期限（しょうみきげん） has passed, the food may still be safe to eat if it has been stored correctly. However, its taste or quality may decrease.

🍪 You often see 賞味期限（しょうみきげん） on:

• Snacks
• Cookies
• Instant noodles
• Canned foods
• Bottled drinks

2. 消費期限（しょうひきげん）

消費期限（しょうひきげん） means “use-by date.”

It is the date until which a food should be consumed for safety when it is stored properly.

For example:

このサンドイッチの消費期限しょうひきげんは今日きょうです。
The use-by date of this sandwich is today.

You often see 消費期限（しょうひきげん） on foods that spoil relatively quickly, such as:

🥪 Sandwiches
🍙 Onigiri
🥗 Prepared salads
🍱 Bento
🍰 Some fresh foods

3. 保存方法（ほぞんほうほう）

保存方法（ほぞんほうほう） means “storage instructions.”

Food packages often tell you how the food should be stored.

For example:

要冷蔵ようれいぞう
Keep refrigerated.

直射日光ちょくしゃにっこうを避さけて保存ほぞんしてください。
Store away from direct sunlight.

Knowing the 保存方法（ほぞんほうほう） is important because the 賞味期限（しょうみきげん） or 消費期限（しょうひきげん） assumes the food has been stored correctly.

4. 開封後（かいふうご）

開封後（かいふうご） means “after opening.”

You may see instructions such as:

開封後かいふうごは冷蔵庫れいぞうこで保存ほぞんし、お早はやめにお召めし上あがりください。
After opening, keep refrigerated and consume as soon as possible.

お早めに（おはやめに） means “as soon as possible” or “promptly.”

5. 原材料（げんざいりょう）

原材料（げんざいりょう） means “ingredients.”

If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, this is an important word to know.

For example:

原材料名げんざいりょうめい：小麦こむぎ、卵たまご、牛乳ぎゅうにゅう
Ingredients: wheat, eggs, milk

6. 内容量（ないようりょう）

内容量（ないようりょう） means “net quantity” or “contents.”

It tells you how much food or drink is inside the package.

For example:

内容量ないようりょう：500ml
Contents: 500 ml

内容量ないようりょう：100g
Net weight: 100 g

7. アレルギー表示（ひょうじ）

アレルギー表示（ひょうじ） means “allergen labeling.”

Japanese food packages indicate certain ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.

You may see words such as:

• 卵（たまご）— egg
• 牛乳（ぎゅうにゅう）— milk
• 小麦（こむぎ）— wheat
• そば — buckwheat
• 落花生（らっかせい）— peanut
• えび — shrimp
• かに — crab

⭐ The important difference

Remember this simple rule:

賞味期限（しょうみきげん） → Best before → Quality / taste
消費期限（しょうひきげん） → Use by → Safety

So when you’re shopping in Japan, don’t just look at the date. Check which word is written next to it! 👀

Next time you’re at a Japanese supermarket or convenience store, try finding 賞味期限（しょうみきげん） and 消費期限（しょうひきげん） on the packages around you!

Vocabulary

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