Nov 2, 2004 16:11
19 yrs ago
14 viewers *
German term
bei +7 C mindestens haltbar bis
German to English
Other
Food & Drink
From a food label.
I'm sure there's a standard formulaic way of saying the above in English but I just can't think what it is. The standard translation of "mindestens haltbar" is, of course, "best before", but you can't combine that with "bei +7C" unless you split the sentence into two ("Store at 7C. Best before...) and then you change the meaning of the sentence in any case. Any ideas?
I'm sure there's a standard formulaic way of saying the above in English but I just can't think what it is. The standard translation of "mindestens haltbar" is, of course, "best before", but you can't combine that with "bei +7C" unless you split the sentence into two ("Store at 7C. Best before...) and then you change the meaning of the sentence in any case. Any ideas?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +6 | Best before ... when stored at 7 C. |
njbeckett
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| 4 +5 | Store at 7°C and use by.... |
David Moore (X)
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| 5 +1 | Best before ... if stored at 7C |
Nesrin
|
| 4 | Keep refrigerated. Best before... |
Andras Malatinszky
|
Proposed translations
+6
8 mins
Selected
Best before ... when stored at 7 C.
Sounds ok to me.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks."
11 mins
Andras Malatinszky
Native in: Hungarian 
Works in: Hungarian to English, English to Hungarian, German to English, and 2 more.
Keep refrigerated. Best before...
I quickly went through my fridge (located in the USA) and here's what I found:
- Labels don't mention temperature, but simply say "keep refrigerated". Using that phrase nicely takes care of the Celsius/Fahrenheit issue as well.
- Labels typically use two sentences/lines to express the meaning of the phrase you are looking to translate, so you shouldn't be afraid to break up your sentence either.
- Labels don't mention temperature, but simply say "keep refrigerated". Using that phrase nicely takes care of the Celsius/Fahrenheit issue as well.
- Labels typically use two sentences/lines to express the meaning of the phrase you are looking to translate, so you shouldn't be afraid to break up your sentence either.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Robert Schlarb
: That would be a paraphrase (excluding information considered important enough to be included in labelling laws)
2 hrs
|
+5
32 mins
Store at 7°C and use by....
is another way of putting it. Terse and to the point, it's true, but who really cares? If you look at most food packing, there is a lead-in which says: "Best before: see (bottom of jar; neck of bottle, etc.)", and on the bottom of jar or neck of bottle, these words may well appear.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Armorel Young
: Definitely best. If you say "best before xx if stored at y deg." it simply invites the question of how long you've got if you store it at a different temperature.
7 mins
|
| agree |
Carolyn Fox
22 mins
|
| agree |
Julie Draper-Duruz
28 mins
|
| agree |
Susan Geiblinger
44 mins
|
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Nesrin
: I don't disagree, but your suggestion does not express the (hidden) conditionality contained in the German sentence. I think the use of "if" or "when" is appropriate. (Expiry date conditional upon proper storage)
2 hrs
|
+1
6 mins
Best before ... if stored at 7C
:-)
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-11-02 16:20:44 GMT)
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http://www.gm-global.com/CONSUMER/CC-HEALTH/CCY-ZELLOGEN/ccy... :
Best before,.see seal on top of package if stored at + 4° - + 20° C
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 49 mins (2004-11-02 20:01:43 GMT)
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To Robert: The first conditional (if you insist on the use of proper grammmatical terms) does NOT imply any doubts: \"If you come to my party, you will have fun.\" This is just a condition - not meant as an expression of doubt. The SECOND conditional, however, is used to express something improbable: If you CAME to my party, you WOULD have fun. Check this http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm
This is what I meant when I said \"an ordinary conditional phrase\" which offended you so much.
The German phrase \"bei +7 C mindestens haltbar bis\" IMPLIES conditionality. Das Produkt ist haltbar bis... WENN/FALLS es bei dieser Temperatur gehalten wird.
I hope you get my point.
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-11-02 16:20:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.gm-global.com/CONSUMER/CC-HEALTH/CCY-ZELLOGEN/ccy... :
Best before,.see seal on top of package if stored at + 4° - + 20° C
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 49 mins (2004-11-02 20:01:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To Robert: The first conditional (if you insist on the use of proper grammmatical terms) does NOT imply any doubts: \"If you come to my party, you will have fun.\" This is just a condition - not meant as an expression of doubt. The SECOND conditional, however, is used to express something improbable: If you CAME to my party, you WOULD have fun. Check this http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm
This is what I meant when I said \"an ordinary conditional phrase\" which offended you so much.
The German phrase \"bei +7 C mindestens haltbar bis\" IMPLIES conditionality. Das Produkt ist haltbar bis... WENN/FALLS es bei dieser Temperatur gehalten wird.
I hope you get my point.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Robin Ward
7 mins
|
| neutral |
Robert Schlarb
: "if"? Raises a doubt whether consumes would adhere to the recommendation; What do you mean by "ordinary" conditional? Different types of conditionals exist in English, but that is not one of them. Or do you say: "If you wake up tomorrow...?"
2 hrs
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It's just an ordinary conditional phrase. If stored appropriately, it can be used for that amount of time. Very matter of fact, in my opinion, no expression of doubts intended. (PLEASE CHECK MY ADDED NOTE)
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