Chinese word

盒饭

Pronunciation

Pinyinhé fàn

Meaning

  • nounbox lunch

Example

我中午吃了盒饭。wǒ zhōng wǔ chī le hé fàn

I had a box lunch at noon.

Illustration for 盒饭 (box lunch)

More examples

我把盒饭带回家加热了。wǒ bǎ hé fàn dài huí jiā jiā rè le

I took the box lunch home and heated it up.

Core concept

One practical meal portion assembled in a box so it travels as a single unit.

Common phrases

  • 点盒饭diǎn hé fàn

    order a box lunch

  • 加热盒饭jiā rè hé fàn

    heat a box lunch

  • 打包盒饭dǎ bāo hé fàn

    pack a box lunch to go

Similar words

外卖wài mài: A meal or other prepared food ordered for collection or delivery.
快餐kuài cān: A general term for meals that are made and served in a short time.
套餐tào cān: A set meal in which several foods or a food and drink are sold together at a fixed price.
饭盒fàn hé: A box designed to hold a meal.

Definition in Chinese

指在外卖、食堂或车站常见的一人份打包饭菜，通常用纸盒或塑料盒分装，便于携带和加热。zhǐ zài wài mài shí táng huò chē zhàn cháng jiàn de yì rén fèn dǎ bāo fàn cài tōng cháng yòng zhǐ hé huò sù liào hé fēn zhuāng biàn yú xié dài hé jiā rè

Word origin

盒 (hé, "box") contributes the container and 饭 (fàn, "cooked rice or meal") contributes the food, forming a transparent compound for a boxed meal.

Usage tips

  • In everyday settings, 盒饭 (héfàn, "box lunch") often means a ready-made serving bought from a canteen, shop, or station rather than a meal packed at home.

Opposites

Word lists with this word