Japanese Conversation · Level 35
90 words
Japanese word
お弁当
Pronunciation
Romajiobentō
Meaning
- nounpacked lunch
Example
私は毎日お弁当を食べます。watashi wa mai nichi o ben tō o ta be ma su
I eat a packed lunch every day.
More examples
遠足の日は、母が早起きしてお弁当を作ってくれます。en soku no hi wa haha ga haya o ki shi te o ben tō o tsuku tte ku re ma su
On days when I go on a field trip, my mother gets up early and makes me a packed lunch.
Core concept
Refers to a complete meal arranged in a container so it can be carried and eaten elsewhere.
Common phrases
お弁当を作るo ben tō o tsuku ru
make a packed lunch
お弁当を持っていくo ben tō o mo tte i ku
take a packed lunch
お弁当を買うo ben tō o ka u
buy a packed lunch
Similar words
弁当bentō: A neutral noun for a complete meal prepared in a container for eating away from home.
Definition in Japanese
食べるための料理や飯を容器に詰め、持ち運べるようにしたもの。ta be ru ta me no ryō ri ya meshi o yō ki ni tsu me mo chi hako be ru yō ni shi ta mo no
Word origin
The word combines お (o, "honorific") with 弁当 (bentō, "packed meal"), a Japanese borrowing from Chinese 便當 (biàndāng, "convenient").
Usage tips
- In English, a bento box usually means a container with several sections for carrying a packed meal, while bento can refer to the meal itself.
Other meanings
- lunch boxnoun