Japanese word

碗

Pronunciation

Romajiwan

Meaning

  • nounbowl

Example

母は白い碗を使います。haha wa shiro i wan o tsuka i ma su

My mother uses a white bowl.

Illustration for 碗 (bowl)

More examples

食事の後で、使った碗を台所へ運びます。shoku ji no ato de tsuka tta wan o dai dokoro e hako bi ma su

After the meal, I carry the bowl I used to the kitchen.

Core concept

Describes a container whose open, hollow shape makes it suitable for serving food or liquids.

Common phrases

  • 碗を持つwan o mo tsu

    hold a bowl

  • 碗を手に取るwan o te ni to ru

    pick up a bowl

Similar words

お椀owan: A bowl, often made of wood or covered with lacquer, used for soup and other dishes.
茶碗chawan: A small bowl used for drinking tea or serving rice.
どんぶりdonburi: A large, deep bowl used for serving rice dishes, noodles, and other meals.
鉢hachi: A wide, deep bowl used to hold food, especially when a large serving is needed.

Definition in Japanese

飯や汁などを盛る、口が広く開いた深さのある器。meshi ya shiru na do o mo ru kuchi ga hiro ku hira i ta fuka sa no a ru utsuwa

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 碗 (wan, "bowl") is borrowed from Chinese 碗 (wǎn, "bowl") and combines 石 (seki, "stone") as its meaning-bearing radical with 宛 (en) as its sound-bearing element.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 茶碗 (chawan) can mean either a tea bowl or a rice bowl, so the surrounding context identifies its use.

Word lists with this word