幕まくの内うち

ま

く

の

う

ち

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

makunouchi bento; box lunch with rice and assorted side dishes

abbreviation

Abbreviation of 幕の内弁当. A classic boxed lunch containing rice and a variety of small side dishes (fish, meat, vegetables).

Kanji

幕curtain, bunting, act of play
内inside, within, between

Don't confuse with

幕まく内うち
幕内 is the standard modern word for the top sumo division, while 幕の内 usually means a boxed lunch (or, less commonly, the same division as an older term), so context decides the meaning.

Word family

幕まくの内うち弁べん当とう
makunouchi bento; traditional boxed lunch

Built from

幕まく+うち

Etymology

Literally 'inside the curtain'. The bento name likely derives from being eaten during intermissions (幕の内) at theaters, later generalized. The sumo term refers to wrestlers who are 'inside the curtain' (the top ranks).