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Noun referring to a small table, tray, or a served meal. Often used in contexts like 『お膳』 (o-zen, 'meal tray') or as a counter for meals. Example: 『一膳のご飯』 (ichizen no gohan, 'a bowl of rice').
Theme

At a traditional Japanese restaurant, User and their friend Haruka are discussing the meal setup before ordering.

ぜん

small table, tray, meal

Everyday Life & SurvivalHome & Objects

Memory Hook

Imagine a 'zen' garden with a small table for tea — but here, it's a 'zen' tray for meals! 'Zen' sounds like 膳 (zen, 'tray / Table'), helping you remember it's for serving food.

Cultural Note

In traditional Japanese dining, 『膳』 (zen, 'tray / Table') often refers to a small individual tray used to serve meals, especially in formal settings like 『会席料理』 (kaiseki ryouri, 'multi-course meal'). It reflects the cultural emphasis on presentation and individual portions.

Forms

Base: 膳Noun referring to a small table, tray, or a served meal. Often used in contexts like 『お膳』 (o-zen, 'meal tray') or as a counter for meals. Example: 『一膳のご飯』 (ichizen no gohan, 'a bowl of rice').