盆
Meanings
tray; serving tray
A flat tray used for carrying or serving cups, dishes, and similar items. In everyday speech this is often said as お盆.
I put the teacups on a tray and carried them.
Rare or limited use for a family or household; in modern Japanese, 家族 or 世帯 is normally used instead.
In this old example, bon refers to a single household.
Obon; Bon Festival; Festival of the Dead
Shortened from 盂蘭盆; refers to the Japanese Buddhist summer festival period when families honor ancestral spirits. お盆 is very common in conversation.
See also: 盂蘭盆
Relatives gather at Obon.
gambler's den
Slang use for a place where gambling takes place; 賭場 is the more direct standard word.
In slang, bon can refer to a place where gambling is done.
Usage patterns
- お盆に〈物〉を乗せるto place something on a tray
She brought tea and snacks on a tray.
- お盆休みを取るto take time off during the Obon holiday
Every year I take Obon holiday and go back to my parents' house.
- お盆に帰省するto return to one's hometown during Obon
I went back to my hometown for Obon and visited the family grave.
Expressions
- ぼんのくぼhollow at the nape of the neck · toddler's shaved hairstyle with a tuft at the nape (Edo period)
- 盆と正月the Bon Festival and New Year · two great things at once; double delight
- 覆水盆に返らずwhat's done is done; no use crying over spilt milk
- 盆と正月が一緒に来たようas if two great things happened at once; as if Christmas and one's birthday came together