便當 / 便当
biàndangTaiwan
The English phrase "bento" is translated into Mandarin as 便當 / 便当 (biàndang). Wiktionary also lists 飯盒 / 饭盒 (fànhé) and 盒飯 / 盒饭 (héfàn).
Meaning: Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 便當 / 便当 | biàndang | Taiwan |
| 飯盒 / 饭盒 | fànhé | |
| 盒飯 / 盒饭 | héfàn |
Which one should you use?
While 便當 / 便当 refers to the meal itself, 飯盒 / 饭盒 refers specifically to the physical container used to carry a meal. The term 飯盒 / 饭盒 can be used when referring to any meal packed in a box.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 便當 / 便当 is specifically tagged for use in Taiwan.
How do you pronounce it?
biàndang
Did you know?
- In certain Taiwanese slang contexts, 便當 can be used as a metaphor for a minor character's death in a movie or TV show, meaning they have 'finished their meal' and left the scene.
- While the word 便當 is used in Mandarin today, it actually originated as a Chinese word meaning 'convenient' that was borrowed into Japanese to name the lunch box, then borrowed back into Mandarin.
- In Taiwan, 便當 is used so broadly that it can refer to any quick meal or a simple set lunch, even if it is served on a plate rather than in a box.
Examples in context
- 请给我一个饭盒，打包这些菜好吗？Can you give me a bento box to pack these dishes?
- 昨天我吃了一个很好吃的便当。Yesterday, I had a delicious bento.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bento” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 便當, 飯盒, CC BY-SA 4.0.
