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一汁一菜 (いちじゅういっさい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
simple one-soup-one-dish meal ; frugal meal
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Refers to a traditional Japanese meal consisting of one soup and one side dish, often associated with simplicity, austerity, or mindful eating. Can be used literally or figuratively.
節せつ 約やく の ため に 、 夕ゆう 食しょく は 一いち 汁じゅう 一いっ 菜さい に し て いる 。
To save money, I keep dinner to a simple one-soup-one-dish meal.
Kanji 菜 vegetable, side dish, greens Similar words 粗そ 食しょく 粗食 refers to plain or coarse food in general, while 一汁一菜 specifically describes the traditional meal format of one soup and one dish.
質しっ 素そ 質素 is an adjective meaning 'simple' or 'frugal' in lifestyle, whereas 一汁一菜 is a concrete noun for a meal style.
Etymology A yojijukugo combining 一 (one), 汁 (soup), 一 (one), and 菜 (side dish). The phrase originates from traditional Japanese dining customs emphasizing simplicity.