弁当箱
bentōbako[bẽ̞nto̞ːba̠ko̞]
The Japanese phrase for bento box is 弁当箱 (bentōbako). Wiktionary also lists お弁当箱 (obentōbako).
Meaning: partitioned lunchbox in which a bento is served (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 弁当箱 | bentōbako | [bẽ̞nto̞ːba̠ko̞] (narrow) |
| お弁当箱 | obentōbako |
A bento box is a partitioned lunchbox used to serve a bento. While 弁当箱 specifically refers to the physical container or box itself, the word 弁当 is the general term used to refer to a bento box.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the meal and the container: bentō refers to the meal itself, whereas bentōbako refers specifically to the physical box or container. Additionally, お弁当 is a more polite and respectful term for a bento box.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the honorific prefix o- to 弁当箱 to create お弁当箱 makes the expression more polite or softens the tone of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
bentōbako
Did you know?
- Some people use kyaraben, short for character bento, to create bento box meals that look like animals or pop culture characters using food dyes and molds.
- The ekiben is a specific type of bento box sold at railway stations that serves as a culinary map, showcasing the unique local ingredients of that specific region.
- Some historical bentōbako were actually made of wood and designed to be soaked in water before use to prevent the rice from sticking.
Examples in context
- すみません、お弁当を一つください。Excuse me, please give me one bento box.
- ねえ、今日のべんと、すごく美味しそうだったよ！Hey, today's bento looked really delicious!
- 新しい弁当箱を買いました。Atarashii bento bako o kaimashita.I bought a new bento box.
- この弁当箱はとても大きいです。Kono bento bako wa totemo ookii desu.This bento box is very large.
- 可愛い弁当箱をプレゼントします。Kawaii bento bako o purezento shimasu.I will give you a cute bento box as a gift.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about lunch at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yuiその弁当箱、すごくおしゃれだね！Sono bento bako, sugoku oshare dane!That bento box is so stylish!
- 蓮 Renありがとう。お気に入りなんだ。Arigatou. Oki ni iri nanda.Thanks. It's my favorite.
- 結衣 Yui中身は何が入っているの？Nakami wa nani ga haitte iru no?What is inside it?
- 蓮 Ren卵焼きと唐揚げだよ。Tamagoyaki to karaage dayo.It's rolled omelet and fried chicken.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bento box” translations and entries 弁当箱, お弁当箱, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
