Translation guide
How to express 'refrigerate' in Japanese, from everyday instructions to formal labels.
Please refrigerate this.
The most common, everyday way to say 'refrigerate' — to put something in the refrigerator or keep it cold.
The standard, natural way to say 'put (something) in the fridge'. Used in daily conversation and simple instructions.
Please put the leftover food in the fridge.
Keep this cake in the fridge, okay?
Means 'to cool/chill' something. Can be used for refrigerating, but is broader (e.g., cooling with ice). Often used for drinks.
Formal, technical term for 'refrigerate'. Used on food labels, in manuals, or official contexts. Not used in casual speech.
Refrigerate after opening.
Expressing that something requires refrigeration, often seen on packaging or in instructions.
Describing the state of being kept in the refrigerator, often for storage instructions.
冷蔵庫に入れる is the everyday 'put in the fridge'. 冷やす is 'chill/cool' and can be done with ice or a fridge. 冷蔵する is formal 'refrigerate' used on labels and in writing.
put wine in the fridge
冷蔵する sounds overly formal or technical in everyday conversation. Use 冷蔵庫に入れる instead.
ビールを冷やしておいて。
Chill the beer (in advance).
Means 'refrigerated storage'. Used in instructions or on labels, slightly more formal than 要冷蔵.
It will keep for a week if refrigerated.
I'll use it tomorrow, so put it in the fridge (and leave it there).