also: めんつ
noun
round wooden box for serving individual portions of rice
A traditional lidded container used to measure and serve rice, often seen in communal dining or temple settings. The term is somewhat specialized and may not be widely known outside culinary or historical contexts.
精進料理では、面桶に一人前のご飯を盛りつける。
In Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, individual servings of rice are placed in a men-tsuu.
この古い面桶は、江戸時代の旅籠で使われていたものだ。
This old men-tsuu was used at an Edo-period inn.
Shortened reading; common in everyday speech.
The kanji 面 (mask, surface) and 桶 (tub, bucket) combine to describe a round, lidded container. The reading めんつう is the standard on'yomi, while めんつ is a common contraction. The exact historical origin of the term is uncertain, but it is associated with traditional Japanese food service.