Japanese word

膳

Pronunciation

Romajizen

Meaning

  • nounserving tray

Example

客は料理を膳に載せます。kyaku wa ryō ri o zen ni no se ma su

The guest puts the food on the serving tray.

Illustration for 膳 (serving tray)

More examples

食事が終わると、店員が膳を下げます。shoku ji ga o wa ru to ten in ga zen o sa ge ma su

When the meal is over, the server clears the serving tray.

Core concept

Describes a low platform prepared for serving food, ranging from a handheld tray to a small table.

Common phrases

  • 膳を下げるzen o sa ge ru

    clear the serving tray

  • 膳を運ぶzen o hako bu

    carry the serving tray

Similar words

お膳ozen: A respectful term for a low platform or tray prepared for one person's meal.
盆bon: A portable flat container used to carry dishes or serve food.
折敷oshiki: A flat, shallow serving tray arranged with dishes for a meal.

Definition in Japanese

料理を載せて食事を供するための盆や、小型の低い食卓。ryō ri o no se te shoku ji o kyō su ru ta me no bon ya ko gata no hiku i shoku taku

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese noun, 膳 (zen, "a meal setting") comes from the Chinese character 膳, which refers to food prepared for a meal; Japanese extended this sense to the stand or tray holding it.

Usage tips

  • A 膳 (zen, "serving tray") often refers to the low individual table used in traditional Japanese meals, rather than to a large shared dining table.

Other meanings

  • small dining tablenoun

Word lists with this word