Meaning and Usage
"締切" (しめきり) means "deadline" or "cutoff date". It is commonly used in work, school, and application contexts to indicate the last date or time by which something must be submitted or completed.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "締切" when talking about report submissions, job applications, event registrations, or project completions. It implies a strict time limit that cannot be extended easily.
Collocations and Patterns
- 締切を守る: to meet the deadline
- 締切を過ぎる: to miss the deadline
- 締切間近: approaching the deadline These phrases help express urgency or punctuality related to deadlines.
Register and Nuance
"締切" is a neutral, standard word used in both formal and informal situations. It is polite enough for business emails but also common in casual conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "締切" with "期限" (きげん), which also means deadline but can be broader, including expiration dates. "締切" specifically emphasizes the final cutoff point for submissions or actions.