English Reference

Word

ramen

Phoneticsra·men

US/ˈɹɑmən/

UK/ɹˈeɪmɛn/

Definition

n. a Japanese dish consisting of thin wheat noodles served in a salty soup. It usually includes toppings like sliced pork, dried seaweed, and green onions.

n. a Japanese noodle soup dish consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth. Often flavoured with soy sauce or miso and garnished with various toppings.

Examples

“I love eating hot ramen on a cold winter day.”

“The small shop in Tokyo is famous for its spicy ramen topped with a perfectly soft-boiled egg.”

“While originally a humble street food, ramen has evolved into a complex culinary art form with regional variations that differ significantly in broth density and noodle texture.”

Examples

simple

“I love eating hot ramen on a cold winter day.”

contextual

“The small shop in Tokyo is famous for its spicy ramen topped with a perfectly soft-boiled egg.”

complex

“While originally a humble street food, ramen has evolved into a complex culinary art form with regional variations that differ significantly in broth density and noodle texture.”

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the food in general; countable when referring to specific bowls or varieties.

Real-World Examples

“Classic shoyu ramen for the traditionalists and a spicy miso ramen for those who like a kick.”
The Verge · 18 Jan 2024
“In the UK, ramen has become so ubiquitous that it is available from Shetland to the Channel Islands, with toppings ranging Hebran m to Corn crab.”
The Guardian · 1 Jun 2022
“Ivan Orkin, the American ramen expert, has his menu of four appetizers, including his lip-smacking pickles, and six ramens ready for pickup and delivery.”
The New York Times · 7 Apr 2020
“Many people mistakenly believe that ramen solely refers to the noodles, but they are merely one part of the overall ramen experience.”
The New York Times · 14 Jul 2004

Etymology

From Japanese ラーメン (rāmen), borrowed from Mandarin 拉麵 (lāmiàn, "pulled noodles"). Doublet of laghman, lamian, and ramyeon.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Cooking

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Updated

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English Reference