膳
Meanings
1
small individual dining table; legged serving tray
A low, single-person table or a tray with legs used for serving meals, often in traditional settings.
At the inn, a small dining table was brought to the room.
3
bowlful of rice (counter)
Used as a counter for servings of rice in a bowl.
Two bowls of rice, please.
4
pair of chopsticks (counter)
Used as a counter for pairs of chopsticks.
Please take one pair of chopsticks.
Usage patterns
- 〈数〉膳のご飯... bowl(s) of rice
I ate a bowl of rice.
- 箸を〈数〉膳... pair(s) of chopsticks
Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
- 膳を整えるto prepare a meal (set the tray/table)
Every evening, mother prepares the meal for the family.
- 膳に着くto sit down to a meal
The guest sat down to the meal.
- 膳を下げるto clear away the tray/dishes
Since the meal was finished, we cleared the tray.
Expressions
- 四の膳fourth tray (of food)
- 据え膳食わぬshameful to reject a woman's advances
- 据え膳食わぬは男の恥it is shameful to reject a woman's advances; a man who spurns a woman's invitation is shameful