メインディッシュ
mein disshu
The English phrase 'main dish' is translated into Japanese as メインディッシュ (mein disshu).
This term refers to the main course of a meal. It is a loanword adaptation of the English term used typically when dining on Western-style food.
Meaning: main course in a meal (noun)
Which one should you use?
While メインディッシュ is a direct loanword from English used in Western-style dining contexts, the term 主菜 is used when discussing Japanese-style meals or dietary balance.
How do you pronounce it?
mein disshu
Did you know?
- In Japanese home cooking, the 'main dish' is frequently a protein like grilled fish or simmered meat, while the 'main' staple of the entire meal is actually the bowl of rice.
- Japanese has a specific word, おかず, for any dish eaten to accompany rice, effectively treating the 'main dish' and 'side dishes' as one category of food paired with a staple.
- The term メインディッシュ is written in katakana, a script used for foreign words, which signals to the diner that the menu is offering a Western-style course rather than a traditional set meal.
Examples in context
- 小さなフォークはサラダ用、大きなフォークはメインディッシュ用です。The small fork is for the salad and the large fork is for the main dish.This sentence is useful for identifying which fork is used for the メインディッシュ.Tatoeba #882421 by thyc244, translation #12755757 by CK
- 今日のメインディッシュは何ですか？Kyō no mein disshu wa nan desu ka?What is today's main dish?
- メインディッシュを二つ注文しましょう。Mein disshu o futatsu chūmon shimashō.Let's order two main dishes.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking at a menu at a restaurant.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、メインディッシュは何にする？Yui, mein dish wa nani ni suru?Yui, what are you having for the main dish?
- 結衣 Yui私はパスタにしようかな。Watashi wa pasuta ni shiyō kana.I think I'll go with the pasta.
- 陽太 Yotaいい考えだね。僕は魚にするよ。Ii kangae da ne. Boku wa sakana ni suru yo.That's a good idea. I'll have the fish.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、一緒に注文しよう。Jaa, issho ni chūmon shiyō.Then, let's order together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
