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道Nihongo Path
膳

膳·meal tray, meal, counter for bowls of rice

On-yomi
ゼン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

16 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
お膳おぜんa meal tray, a served meal
配膳はいぜんserving a meal, setting out dishes
食膳しょくぜんthe dining table, a served meal
膳立てぜんだてsetting the table; making arrangements

Example sentences

  1. 旅館ではお膳が部屋に運ばれてきた。

    りょかんではおぜんがへやにはこばれてきた。

    At the inn the meal trays were brought to our room.

  2. 病院では決まった時間に配膳される。

    びょういんではきまったじかんにはいぜんされる。

    In the hospital meals are served at fixed times.

  3. お膳立ては済んでいるので、あとは決めるだけだ。

    おぜんだてはすんでいるので、あとはきめるだけだ。

    The groundwork is all laid; all that's left is to decide.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 配膳 as はいぜんし or はいざん — it is はいぜん
  • お膳立てする means to prepare the ground for something, not literally to lay a table

Memory aid

Picture it

The flesh/meat radical 月 beside 善 (good): good food set out — a tray of dishes ready to eat.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 膳 mean?