Translation guide
How to express that food, drink, or other perishable items spoil, rot, or become inedible in Japanese.
The most common meaning: food or drink becomes rotten, stale, or unsafe to eat.
General verb for food rotting or spoiling. Covers meat, vegetables, fruit, etc. Often implies a bad smell.
この肉はもう腐っている。
This meat has already gone bad.
暑いから、食べ物がすぐ腐る。
Because it's hot, food goes bad quickly.
Often used for food that goes bad, especially fruit, vegetables, or prepared dishes. Can imply bruising or spoilage without necessarily a strong smell.
このリンゴは傷んでいる。
This apple is going bad.
冷蔵庫に入れないと、すぐ傷むよ。
If you don't put it in the fridge, it'll go bad quickly.
Literally 'become bad'. A softer, more general expression. Common in everyday speech.
牛乳が悪くなったみたい。
The milk seems to have gone bad.
このヨーグルト、悪くなってない？
Hasn't this yogurt gone bad?
Casual, meaning 'become no good'. Used for food that has spoiled.
冷凍しないとすぐダメになるよ。
If you don't freeze it, it'll go bad right away.
Specifically for milk, cream, or dairy products turning sour or curdling.
Works for dairy as well, though it may sound strong (implies rotting).
牛乳が腐ってるよ。
The milk has gone bad.
Literally 'become sour'. More precise for milk that has soured but may not be completely rotten.
この牛乳、すっぱくなってる。
This milk has gone sour.
Specifically for produce that decays, gets moldy, or becomes mushy.
General term for rotting produce.
トマトが腐ってしまった。
The tomatoes have gone bad.
Often used for fruit/vegetables that are starting to spoil, get bruised, or go soft.
Literally 'mold grows'. Used when food gets moldy.
パンにカビが生えた。
The bread has gone moldy.
For prepared dishes, rice, or leftovers that go off.
Common for cooked food that spoils, especially in summer.
お弁当が傷まないように保冷剤を入れた。
I put an ice pack in so the bento wouldn't go bad.
Also possible, but 傷む is often preferred for prepared food.
For bread, crackers, or pastries that lose freshness and become hard or dry.
Literally 'become hard'. The most natural way to say bread has gone stale.
パンが固くなった。
The bread has gone stale.
Describes bread or rice that has become dry and crumbly.
このクッキー、パサパサになってる。
These cookies have gone stale.
For bread or crackers that have absorbed moisture and become soggy, not exactly stale but 'gone bad' in texture.
For eggs that have spoiled.
Standard for rotten eggs.
卵が腐るとひどい臭いがする。
When eggs go bad, they smell terrible.
Casual alternative.
この卵、もうダメになってるよ。
These eggs have already gone bad.
For food that passes its expiration date or goes off in the package.
Literally 'the best-before date expires'. Used for food that is past its recommended date.
この缶詰、賞味期限が切れてる。
This canned food has expired.
For perishable items with a 'use-by' date.
消費期限が切れた牛乳は飲まないで。
Don't drink milk that's past its use-by date.
腐る (kusaru) strongly implies rotting and bad smell, often used for meat, fish, and dairy. 傷む (itamu) is softer, often used for fruit, vegetables, and prepared food that is starting to spoil. 悪くなる (waruku naru) is a general, mild expression suitable for any food. In casual speech, ダメになる (dame ni naru) is also common.
肉は腐るけど、野菜は傷むことが多い。
Meat rots, but vegetables often just go bad.
For bread that has gone hard or stale, use 固くなる (kataku naru) or パサパサになる (pasapasa ni naru). 腐る would imply moldy, rotten bread, which is a different situation.
パンが固くなった。
The bread has gone stale.
Bananas go bad easily.
The curry might have gone bad.
せんべいがふやけた。
The rice crackers have gone soggy.