bento

noun

UK /ˈbɛntəʊ/

US /ˈbɛntoʊ/

A bento is a small box lunch from Japan with rice, meat, and vegetables packed neatly inside.

Mom packed a bento with rice balls and tiny sausages for my school trip.

SYNONYMS

lunchbox packed lunch meal box bento box

RELATED WORDS

sushi onigiri obento bento box Japanese food

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A style of Japanese food presentation where many small dishes are arranged in a compartmentalized box.

The restaurant serves a beautiful bento with pickles, fish, and rice.

3. A container with separate sections used for holding a packed meal.

She bought a cute bento with little compartments for each food.

4. A meal served in a single portable box, often eaten away from home.

We ate our bento on the train to Kyoto.