膳
ぜん
small dining tray; meal served on a tray; counter for bowls of rice and pairs of chopsticks
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
お膳を運んでください。
おぜんをはこんでください。
Please carry the trays in.
客の前に膳が並べられた。
きゃくのまえにぜんがならべられた。
Trays of food were set out before the guests.
ご飯を三膳もおかわりした。
ごはんをさんぜんもおかわりした。
I had three whole helpings of rice.
Common patterns
- お膳立てをする
- to set the stage; to make all the arrangements
- 膳を運ぶ
- to carry in the trays
- 一膳飯
- a single bowl of rice
Memory tip
The lacquered legged tray each diner gets at a ryokan. Beyond the object it is also a counter for bowls of rice, and it survives in お膳立て, 'to have everything laid out ready for someone'.
Kanji in this word
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What does 膳 mean?