Word
bento
Phoneticsben·to
/ˈbɛntoʊ/
Definition
n. a Japanese-style meal that is served in a box with different sections for rice, fish or meat, and vegetables. You can buy these to eat for lunch at work, school, or while traveling.
n. a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine, traditionally served in a tray or box with internal compartments. Typically consists of a balanced arrangement of rice, protein, and pickled or cooked vegetables.
Examples
“I bought a delicious salmon bento for my lunch today.”
“Many commuters in Japan pick up a fresh bento at the train station before starting a long journey.”
“The art of the bento lies in the aesthetic arrangement of colors and textures, ensuring that the meal is as visually appealing as it is nutritionally balanced.”
Examples
simple
“I bought a delicious salmon bento for my lunch today.”
contextual
“Many commuters in Japan pick up a fresh bento at the train station before starting a long journey.”
complex
“The art of the bento lies in the aesthetic arrangement of colors and textures, ensuring that the meal is as visually appealing as it is nutritionally balanced.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'bento box'.
Real-World Examples
“However, on long-distance trains like the Shinkansen (high-speed train), eating is perfectly acceptable; bento (partitioned lunch boxes) are even designed for the journey.” “Known both in Japan and abroad as bento boxes, they’re the famous, compartmentalised containers filled with rice, vegetables, meat and more, eaten by kids and grownups alike.” “The country's ancient emphasis on food presentation has been transformed into a trend for character bento - packed lunches made to look like pandas, teddy bears or even real people.” “At Taiwan Bear House, each bento is priced under $10, providing hearty sustenance for the day (in Taiwan, it would cost less than $3).” Etymology
From Japanese 弁当 (bentō), borrowed into English in the late twentieth century as the compact, compartmentalised meal box gained currency outside Japan. The word has a doublet in biandang, a southern Chinese term for the same object, both descending from the same southern Min origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bento