子こども食しょく堂どう

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ど

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う

Meanings

1

noun

community children's cafeteria; volunteer-run meal service for children

A social initiative in Japan where volunteers provide free or low-cost meals to children, often also welcoming elderly or low-income individuals. The term is widely recognized as a community welfare activity.

地ち域いきのこども食しょく堂どうでボランティアをしています。

I volunteer at a local children's cafeteria.

こども食しょく堂どうは、子こどもの貧ひん困こん対たい策さくとして注ちゅう目もくされている。

Children's cafeterias are attracting attention as a measure against child poverty.

Kanji

食eat, food
堂public chamber, hall
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
供submit, offer, present

Related words

フードバンク
A food bank distributes food supplies, while こども食堂 is a physical place where meals are served, often with a community-building aspect.
子こども宅たく食しょく
A similar support program that delivers food to children's homes, whereas こども食堂 provides a communal dining space.

Written forms

子こ供ども食しょく堂どう
Standard kanji spelling; 子供 is the regular word for 'child'.
こども食しょく堂どう
Kana spelling sometimes used for accessibility or in informal contexts.

Etymology

Compound of こども (child) and 食堂 (cafeteria/dining hall). The term emerged in the 2010s as a grassroots movement to address child poverty and social isolation.