Japanese word

椀

Pronunciation

Romajiwan

Meaning

  • nounbowl

Example

木の椀で味噌汁を飲みます。ki no wan de mi so shiru o no mi ma su

I drink miso soup from a wooden bowl.

Illustration for 椀 (bowl)

More examples

熱い汁を椀によそって、家族に配ります。atsu i shiru o wan ni yo so tte ka zoku ni kuba ri ma su

I ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve it to my family.

Core concept

Describes a bowl-shaped container that presents food or drink in a simple, rounded form.

Common phrases

  • 椀に汁をよそうwan ni shiru o yo sō

    ladle soup into a bowl

  • 椀を並べるwan o nara be ru

    line up bowls

  • 椀を片付けるwan o kata zu ke ru

    put away a bowl

Similar words

鉢hachi: A bowl used to serve food or liquid, often with a wide opening and substantial depth.
どんぶりdonburi: A large, deep bowl used for serving rice, noodles, or other foods.
器utsuwa: A vessel used to hold, serve, or present food and drink.

Definition in Japanese

汁や飯などを入れる、口が広く底が深い器。shiru ya meshi na do o i re ru kuchi ga hiro ku soko ga fuka i utsuwa

Word origin

The noun 椀 (wan, "bowl") is written with 木 (moku, "wood") as its meaning element and 宛 (en, "bent") as its historical sound element, giving the character its form and reading.

Usage tips

  • A 椀 (wan) in a Japanese meal is commonly associated with soup and traditional lacquerware, giving the word a more specific cultural feel than the broad English word bowl.

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