期限

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 期限 (きげん) is a temporal noun for the final point by which an action must be completed.
• Basic usage: 期限までに提出する marks the limit for completed submission, while 返却期限 forms a compound specifying that the deadline concerns a return.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Endpoint and completion deadline
  • 期限までに requires the submission to be completed by the limit; it does not merely describe an action continuing until then. In 返却期限, the return action specifies the kind of deadline.