Translation guide
The English word 'canteen' can refer to a cafeteria, a water bottle, or a mess kit. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese word depending on which meaning you intend.
A place in a school, workplace, or facility where meals are served or eaten.
General term for a dining hall or cafeteria, commonly used in schools, companies, and hospitals.
A portable container for carrying water or other drinks, often used outdoors or by soldiers.
A set of cooking and eating utensils used by soldiers or campers.
食堂 (しょくどう) means a dining place, while 水筒 (すいとう) means a water bottle. Using the wrong one can cause confusion.
食堂で水筒を忘れた。
I left my water bottle in the canteen.
学生は食堂で昼食をとった。
The students had lunch in the canteen.
会社の食堂は安くて美味しい。
The company canteen is cheap and delicious.
Specifically a company employee cafeteria.
社員食堂は12時になると混雑する。
The staff canteen gets crowded at noon.
Abbreviation of 学生食堂 (がくせいしょくどう), used for a university or school cafeteria. Casual.
学食のラーメンは人気がある。
The ramen at the school canteen is popular.
Loanword from English, used for self-service style cafeterias, often in modern facilities.
病院のカフェテリアは24時間営業だ。
The hospital canteen is open 24 hours.
General term for a water bottle or canteen, used by hikers, children, and adults.
遠足に水筒を持って行った。
I took a canteen on the school trip.
この水筒は保温性が高い。
This canteen keeps drinks hot.
Literally 'portable water bottle', a more formal or technical term.
軍用の携帯水筒は頑丈にできている。
Military canteens are made to be sturdy.
A traditional mess tin used for cooking rice over a fire, often associated with camping and the military.
飯盒でご飯を炊いた。
I cooked rice in a canteen (mess tin).
Loanword from English 'mess kit', used for modern camping or military sets.
キャンプ用のメスキットを買った。
I bought a camping mess kit.