Expired Food in a Shared Fridge | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, two adults discuss expired food in a fridge and plan labels, a deadline, and a weekly cleanout..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Expired Food in a Shared Fridge to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

共有の冷蔵庫にまた期限切れの食品があります。

kyoh-yoo-YOO noh ray-ZOH-koh nee MAH-tah kee-gen-GEE-ray noh shoh-KEEN gah ah-ree-MAHS There's expired food in the shared fridge again.
B

そこにもっと長く置かれていると、衛生上の問題になるかもしれません。

soh-koh nee MOHT-toh NAH-gah-koo oh-kah-RAY-teh EE-roo toh, AY-say-joh noh MOHND-eye nee nah-roo kah moh-SHEE-ray-mah-sen It could become a hygiene problem if it sits there much longer.
A

ラベルのない容器もあるので、誰のものか誰にも分かりません。

rah-BEH-roo noh nah-EE yoh-KEE moh AH-roo noh-deh, dah-RAY noh moh-NOH kah dah-RAY nee moh wah-kah-ree-MAH-sen Some containers aren't labeled, so nobody knows who owns them.
B

名前と日付を書いてもらうようにお願いする案内を掲示すべきです。

nah-mah-EH toh hee-ZOO-keh oh ka-EE-teh moh-RAH-oo YOH-nee oh-neh-GAH-ee soo-ROO ahn-NAH-ee oh kay-JEE soo-beh-KEE dess We should post a notice asking people to add their names and dates.
A

1週間を超えたものは捨てますか。

eesh-SHOO-kahn oh koh-EH-tah moh-NOH wah soo-teh-MAHS kah Should we throw away anything older than a week?
B

全員に明確な締め切りを伝えてからにしましょう。

zen-EEN nee may-KAH-koo nah shee-meh-KEE-ree oh tsu-tah-EH-teh kah-RAH nee shee-mah-SHOH Only after we give everyone a clear deadline.
A

グループチャットで、毎週冷蔵庫を片付けることを提案してもよいかもしれません。

goo-ROO-poo chat-toh deh, my-SHOO ray-ZOH-koh oh kah-tsoo-dah-keh-ROO koh-toh oh tay-AHN shee-teh moh YOH-ee kah moh-SHEE-ray-mah-sen Maybe we can suggest a weekly cleanout in the group chat.
B

そうすれば、毎週の片付けが突然ではなく、予測できるものになります。

soh-oo soo-seh-bah, my-SHOO noh kah-tsoo-dah-keh gah too-ZEN deh-WAH nah-koo, yoh-SOH-koo deh-KEE-roo moh-NOH nee nah-ree-MAHS That would make the weekly cleanout predictable instead of sudden.
A

みんなが清掃日の前に自分の棚を片付けられます。

meen-nah gah say-SOH-bee noh mah-EH nee jee-BOON noh tah-NAH oh kah-tsoo-dah-keh-rah-REH-mahs People can clear their shelves before cleaning day.
B

そうすれば、みんなが公平かつ安全に冷蔵庫を使えるようになります。

soh-oo soo-seh-bah, meen-nah gah koh-HAY kah-tsoo ahn-ZEN nee ray-ZOH-koh oh tsoo-kah-EH-roo YOH-oo nee nah-ree-MAHS That should make fridge use fair and safe for everyone.

Word by Word

共有 In 「共有の冷蔵庫」, 共有 means shared by multiple people rather than private. 「共有の」 can modify a place or item used jointly. This is useful when discussing facilities or belongings in a shared home.
の In 「共有の冷蔵庫」, の links the description 共有 to 冷蔵庫 and means that the refrigerator is shared. The reusable pattern is 「AのB」, meaning B associated with or described by A. Use it when one noun modifies another.
冷蔵庫 冷蔵庫 means refrigerator, the place where the food is being kept in this dialogue. It is the location in 「冷蔵庫に」 and the object in 「冷蔵庫を使える」. You can use it when talking about storing or taking food out.
に In 「冷蔵庫にまた期限切れの食品があります」, に marks the location where the food exists. The common pattern is 「場所に物があります」. It is used here to identify the refrigerator as the place containing the food.
また また means again in 「また期限切れの食品があります」. It shows that the same kind of problem has happened before. Use it when an event or situation occurs another time.
期限切れ 期限切れ means expired or past its expiration date in 「期限切れの食品」. It describes the food as no longer within its stated period of use. The pattern 「期限切れの＋noun」 is useful for identifying expired items.
食品 食品 means food product or food item in this dialogue. It refers to the items in the shared refrigerator, specifically the expired ones. This is a useful neutral word when discussing food in storage, labels, or safety.
が In 「期限切れの食品があります」, が marks 期限切れの食品 as the thing that exists. The pattern 「Nがあります」 presents an inanimate item as being present. It is used here to introduce the problem.
あります あります means there is or there are for an inanimate thing, here the expired food in the refrigerator. Its polite form makes the statement suitable for a calm discussion. A common pattern is 「場所にNがあります」.
そこ そこ means there and refers to the place already being discussed in 「そこにもっと長く置かれていると」. It points to a location without repeating it. Use it when both speakers can identify the place from the conversation.
もっと もっと means more or longer here, increasing the length of time in 「もっと長く」. It emphasizes that the food remains there for an additional period. A common pattern is 「もっと＋adjective or adverb」 when asking for or describing a greater degree.
長く 長く means for longer in 「もっと長く置かれている」. This form describes the duration of the food remaining there. It connects naturally with an action or state to express how long something continues.
置かれて 置かれて means being left or placed in 「置かれている」. Together with いる, it describes the food as remaining in a placed or left state. Use 「置かれている」 when an item is still left in a particular location.
いる In 「置かれている」, いる shows that the state of being placed or left continues. It does not refer to a separate person here; it completes the expression for an ongoing state. The pattern 「Vている」 commonly describes an action or resulting state that continues.
と In 「置かれていると」, と introduces the condition that the food remains there longer and leads to the consequence that follows. The pattern 「AとB」 can express what happens when A occurs. It is used here to connect the condition with a possible hygiene problem.
衛生上 衛生上 means from a hygiene standpoint in 「衛生上の問題」. It limits the type of problem being discussed to one concerning hygiene. The pattern 「X上の問題」 can identify an issue from a particular point of view.
問題 問題 means problem or issue in 「衛生上の問題になる」. It names the possible negative result of leaving the food there. The reusable pattern 「問題になる」 means to become a problem.
なる なる means become in 「問題になる」. It shows a change into the condition of being a problem. A common pattern is 「Nになる」 when something comes to be or is treated as N.
かもしれません The whole expression 「かもしれません」 means might or may possibly and makes the hygiene problem a possibility rather than a certainty. In this expression, かも marks possibility, しれ is the part connected with the idea of knowing, and ません gives the expression its polite negative form. Use 「かもしれません」 when giving a cautious prediction or warning.
ラベル ラベル means label in 「ラベルのない容器」. It refers to the identifying information that some containers lack. You can use it when talking about marking food, boxes, or other stored items.
ない In 「ラベルのない容器」, ない means not having or without and describes containers that have no label. The pattern 「Nのない＋noun」 identifies something lacking N. It is useful for describing missing information or equipment.
容器 容器 means container in this dialogue, referring to the containers holding food in the refrigerator. It is the noun modified by 「ラベルのない」. Use it when discussing a box, vessel, or other item used to hold something.
も In 「ラベルのない容器もある」, も adds the unlabelled containers to the situation already being discussed, meaning there are such containers as well. It has an inclusive meaning here. The pattern 「Nもある」 can add another item that exists.
ある ある means there is or there are for an inanimate thing in 「ラベルのない容器もあるので」. It appears before ので to give the reason for the following statement. A common pattern is 「Nがある」 when an object or situation exists.
ので ので means because or since in 「容器もあるので」. It gives the reason nobody knows who owns the containers. The pattern 「理由ので、結果」 is useful for explaining a situation in a relatively soft, matter-of-fact way.
誰 誰 means who in 「誰のものか」. Here it asks which person the container belongs to. The pattern 「誰の＋noun」 asks whose something is.
もの In 「誰のものか」, もの means a belonging or thing that belongs to someone, not just a general physical object. Together with 誰の, it forms the question of ownership. Use 「Aのもの」 to say that something belongs to A.
か In 「誰のものか誰にも分かりません」, か marks 「誰のもの」 as an embedded question: who it belongs to. It is not a simple question at the end of the sentence. A common pattern is 「疑問詞＋か分かりません」 for saying that the answer is unknown.
分かりません 分かりません means do not know or cannot tell in 「誰のものか誰にも分かりません」. Its polite form states that the ownership is unknown. The reusable pattern is 「Nが分かりません」 or 「疑問文＋分かりません」.
名前 名前 means name in 「名前と日付」. It is information people are asked to write on their containers. Use it when identifying a person or labeling a personal item.
日付 日付 means date in 「名前と日付」. Here it identifies the date that should be written on a container. It is useful for tracking when something was stored or needs attention.
を In 「名前と日付を書いて」, を marks 名前と日付 as the things to be written. The common pattern is 「objectをverb」. It identifies what the action is performed on.
書いて 書いて means write in 「名前と日付を書いてもらう」. Its connective form links the writing action to もらう, creating the meaning of having people write the information. Use 「Nを書いて」 when connecting writing to another action or expression.
もらう In 「書いてもらう」, もらう means have someone do something for the speaker or group, rather than simply receive a physical item. It shows that other people are expected to write their names and dates. The reusable pattern is 「Vて＋もらう」.
よう In 「書いてもらうようにお願いする」, よう helps express the requested action or intended manner: asking people to write the information. The whole pattern 「Vるようにお願いする」 is used to ask someone to do something. Here it connects the requested action with お願いする.
お願い お願い means request in 「お願いする」. In this dialogue, it refers to asking people to add their names and dates. The pattern 「お願いする」 is useful when making a request politely.
する In 「お願いする」, する means do and combines with お願い to mean make a request or ask. It turns the request idea into an action. The pattern 「noun＋する」 is common for actions based on nouns.
案内 案内 means a notice or information message in 「お願いする案内」. It refers to the message that will ask people to label their containers. Use it for information intended to guide or inform people.
掲示 掲示 means posting or displaying in 「案内を掲示すべきです」. It describes putting the notice where people can see it. The pattern 「案内を掲示する」 is useful for public or shared-space notices.
すべき すべき means should or ought to in 「掲示すべきです」. It presents posting the notice as the appropriate action. The pattern 「Vすべきです」 gives a recommendation or says that an action is expected.
です In 「掲示すべきです」, です gives the statement a polite ending. It makes the recommendation suitable for a respectful discussion. Here it completes the polite expression for what should be done.
週間 週間 means a period of weeks in 「1週間」. With the number 1, 「1週間」 means one week, which is the limit being discussed. The pattern 「number＋週間」 expresses a duration in weeks.
超えた 超えた means went beyond or exceeded in 「1週間を超えたもの」. It describes items whose age has gone past the one-week limit. The pattern 「limitを超えた＋noun」 identifies something beyond a stated limit.
捨てます 捨てます means throw away in 「ものは捨てますか」. Its polite form is used in the question about disposing of older food. A common pattern is 「Nを捨てます」 when asking or stating that something will be discarded.
全員 全員 means everyone or all members of the group in 「全員に」. It identifies every person who uses the shared refrigerator as someone who must receive the deadline. Use it when the entire relevant group is included.
明確 明確 means clear or definite in 「明確な締め切り」. It describes a deadline whose timing or limit is not ambiguous. It is useful when setting rules, instructions, or schedules.
な In 「明確な締め切り」, な links 明確 to the noun 締め切り and lets it describe the deadline. The pattern 「な-adjective＋な＋noun」 is used when this kind of description comes before a noun.
締め切り 締め切り means deadline in 「明確な締め切り」. It is the time limit that must be communicated before anything is thrown away. The pattern 「締め切りを伝える」 is useful when informing people of a final date or time.
伝えて 伝えて means tell or communicate in 「締め切りを伝えてから」. It connects the act of informing everyone to the next decision. A useful pattern is 「人に情報を伝える」.
から In 「伝えてから」, から means after, marking the action that must happen first. The pattern 「Vてから」 means after doing V. It is used here to require informing everyone before disposal.
しましょう しましょう means let us do it or let us proceed in 「伝えてからにしましょう」. It presents the proposed decision as a joint agreement. Use it when suggesting a course of action to another person or group.
グループチャット グループチャット means group chat, the communication channel in which the weekly cleanout is suggested. It is the place where several people can receive the proposal. Use it when discussing shared plans in a chat for a group.
で In 「グループチャットで」, で marks the means or setting used for communication. It shows that the suggestion will be made through the group chat. The pattern 「communication methodで伝える」 identifies how a message is delivered.
毎週 毎週 means every week in 「毎週冷蔵庫を片付ける」. It makes the cleanout a regular weekly activity. Use it before an action to describe something that happens once each week.
片付ける 片付ける means clean up or put away in 「冷蔵庫を片付ける」. Here it refers to organizing and removing unwanted food from the refrigerator. The common pattern is 「場所や物を片付ける」.
こと In 「冷蔵庫を片付けること」, こと turns the action of cleaning the refrigerator into a thing or activity that can be suggested. The pattern 「Vること」 lets a verb phrase function as a noun. It is used here as the object of 提案する.
提案 提案 means suggestion or proposal in 「片付けることを提案して」. It names the idea of having a weekly refrigerator cleanout. The common pattern is 「案を提案する」 or 「Vることを提案する」.
して In 「提案してもよい」, して is the connective form of する and links the suggestion to the expression of acceptability. It contributes the action of making the proposal. The pattern 「Vてもよい」 can ask or state whether an action is acceptable.
よい In 「提案してもよい」, よい means acceptable or okay. Together with ても, it allows the speaker to say that making the suggestion may be acceptable. Use 「Vてもよい」 when granting or asking for permission.
そう そう means so or that way in 「そうすれば」. It refers back to the proposed weekly cleanout rather than naming it again. Use it to connect a previously mentioned plan with its expected result.
すれば In 「そうすれば」, すれば expresses the condition if that is done. The whole expression means if we do that and introduces the benefit that follows. Use it when explaining the result of an earlier proposal or action.
片付け 片付け means cleanout or tidying in 「毎週の片付け」. Here it is the regular activity of organizing the refrigerator and dealing with old food. The pattern 「毎週の片付け」 treats the activity as a scheduled event.
突然 突然 means suddenly or unexpectedly in 「突然ではなく」. It describes a cleanout that happens without advance notice. Use it when contrasting an unexpected event with a planned one.
は In 「突然ではなく」, は marks 突然 as the point of contrast. It helps set up the difference between a sudden cleanout and one that can be predicted. This use is common when contrasting two descriptions.
なく In 「突然ではなく、予測できるもの」, なく means not being or not characterized as. It connects the negative description of suddenness to the positive description of predictability. The pattern 「AではなくB」 contrasts A with B.
予測 予測 means prediction or forecast in 「予測できる」. It describes whether people can know in advance when the cleanout will happen. It is useful when discussing schedules, outcomes, or events that can be anticipated.
できる In 「予測できる」, できる means can or be possible, so the cleanout is something people can predict. It expresses possibility or ability connected with 予測. The pattern 「Nができる」 can describe something that is possible, while 「Vできる」 can express being able to do an action.
なります なります means becomes or comes to be in 「予測できるものになります」. It describes the change from a sudden cleanout to one that is predictable. Its polite form is useful in explanations about how a plan will affect a situation.
みんな みんな means everyone or everybody in 「みんなが」. It refers informally to all the people using the shared refrigerator. Use it in everyday conversation when speaking about the whole group.
清掃日 清掃日 means cleaning day in 「清掃日の前」. It is the scheduled day on which the shared cleaning takes place. The pattern 「清掃日の前」 identifies the time before that day.
前 In 「清掃日の前に」, 前 means before rather than in front of. The pattern 「Nの前に」 places an action before a time, event, or place. Here people clear their shelves before cleaning day.
自分 In 「自分の棚」, 自分 means one's own or oneself. It identifies each person's own shelf rather than someone else's shelf. The pattern 「自分の＋noun」 is useful when referring to something belonging to the person concerned.
棚 棚 means shelf in 「自分の棚」. It refers to the individual storage space in the refrigerator that each person should clear. Use it when talking about storing or organizing items on a shelf.
片付けられます 片付けられます means can clear or put away in 「棚を片付けられます」. It says that people have the ability or opportunity to finish this action before cleaning day. The pattern 「Nを片付けられます」 describes being able to put a place or item in order.
公平 公平 means fair or equitable in 「公平かつ安全に」. It describes refrigerator use that gives everyone a fair arrangement. Use it when discussing shared rules, access, or treatment.
かつ かつ means and also or as well as in 「公平かつ安全に」. It formally joins the two qualities 公平 and 安全. Use 「AかつB」 when describing something that has both characteristics.
安全 安全 means safe or safety in 「安全に冷蔵庫を使える」. It describes using the refrigerator without the hygiene or organization risks discussed earlier. It can be used before に to describe using something safely.
使える In 「冷蔵庫を使える」, 使える means can use or be able to use. It says that everyone will be able to use the refrigerator fairly and safely. The pattern 「Nを使える」 is useful for expressing the ability or opportunity to use something.

Grammar Points

〜べきです

名前と日付を掲示すべきです。

nah-mah-EH toh hee-ZOO-keh oh kay-JEE soo-beh-KEE dess

You should post the name and date.

「〜べきです」expresses what someone should do or what is considered the right action.

〜られている

食品が冷蔵庫に置かれている。

oh-kah-RAY-teh EE-roo

Food has been placed in the refrigerator.

「置かれている」describes something that has been placed and remains in that state.

Japanese Vocabulary

また adv
MAH-tah again
ラベル noun
rah-BEH-roo label
衛生上の問題 phrase
AY-say-joh noh MOHND-eye hygiene problem
期限切れ noun
kee-gen-GEE-ray expired; past its expiration date
共有 noun
kyoh-yoo-YOO shared use; sharing
食品 noun
shoh-KEEN food; food product
誰のもの phrase
dah-RAY noh moh-NOH whose thing; who owns it
置く verb
oh-KOO to put; to leave 置かれている
分かる verb
wah-kah-ROO to understand; to know 分かりません
名前 noun
nah-mah-EH name
容器 noun
yoh-KEE container
冷蔵庫 noun
ray-ZOH-koh refrigerator; fridge

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to put; to leave

Show Answer置かれている

expired; past its expiration date

Show Answer期限切れ

hygiene problem

Show Answer衛生上の問題

to understand; to know

Show Answer分かりません