Translation guide
How to express 'refrigerate' in Japanese, from everyday instructions to formal labels.
冷蔵庫に入れてください。
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.
残った料理は冷蔵庫に入れてください。
Please put the leftover food in the fridge.
このケーキは冷蔵庫に入れておいてね。
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.
ビールを冷やしておいて。
Chill the beer (in advance).
Formal, technical term for 'refrigerate'. Used on food labels, in manuals, or official contexts. Not used in casual speech.
開封後は冷蔵してください。
Refrigerate after opening.
Expressing that something requires refrigeration, often seen on packaging or in instructions.
The standard label on food packaging meaning 'keep refrigerated' or 'requires refrigeration'. Very common and concise.
この商品は要冷蔵です。
This product must be kept refrigerated.
Means 'refrigerated storage'. Used in instructions or on labels, slightly more formal than 要冷蔵.
冷蔵保存で一週間もちます。
It will keep for a week if refrigerated.
Describing the state of being kept in the refrigerator, often for storage instructions.
Literally 'store in the refrigerator'. Natural for giving storage instructions.
開封後は冷蔵庫で保存してください。
After opening, please store in the refrigerator.
Means 'put and keep in the fridge'. Emphasizes the action of putting it in and leaving it there. Very natural in spoken Japanese.
明日使うから、冷蔵庫に入れておいて。
I'll use it tomorrow, so put it in the fridge (and leave it there).
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.
ワインを冷やす
chill wine
ワインを冷蔵庫に入れる
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.