Japanese dictionary
How to say "lunchbox" in Japanese
弁当箱べんとうばこ · bentōbako
A "lunch box" in Japanese is 弁当箱 (bentōbako). The meal inside is お弁当 (o-bentō).
▶ plays native audio. Audio on this site plays when you are logged in to your free japanese.ccn.jp account (the same account as Japanese Talk by CCN).
Ways to say "lunchbox" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 弁当箱べんとうばこ · bentōbako | Lunch box (the container). |
| お弁当おべんとう · o-bentō | Boxed lunch (the meal). |
| 駅弁えきべん · ekiben | Boxed lunch sold at train stations. |
How to use it
Convenience stores sell many kinds of bento, and staff ask 温めますか (Shall I heat it?).
Train station bento are 駅弁 (ekiben), often featuring local food.
Example sentences
- 毎日お弁当を作っています。Mainichi o-bentō o tsukutte imasu.I make a boxed lunch every day.
- 新しい弁当箱を買いました。Atarashii bentōbako o kaimashita.I bought a new lunch box.
- お弁当を温めますか。O-bentō o atatamemasu ka.Would you like your bento heated?
- 新幹線で駅弁を食べました。Shinkansen de ekiben o tabemashita.I ate a station bento on the bullet train.
- 子どもの弁当箱を洗いました。Kodomo no bentōbako o araimashita.I washed my child's lunch box.
- 今日はお弁当を持ってきました。Kyō wa o-bentō o motte kimashita.I brought my lunch today.
Questions
What does 温めますか mean at a convenience store?
It means "Shall I heat it up?" Say はい、お願いします for yes or 大丈夫です for no.
What is 駅弁?
駅弁 (ekiben) is a boxed lunch sold at train stations. Many feature regional specialties.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.