So what's that thing called?

crazydiamond · Post by **crazydiamond** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 3:53 pm

(I guess this goes here...) What's that little lunchbox that anime characters carry around...a bento box? Is that the REAL name for it? Or is it just "bento" or something else? I know there's "bento" envolved, but it seems odd that it would be called a "bento box" half japanese, half english like that.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:21 pm

It's just called "bento" (or, technically, "bentô" or "bentou"), which means "box(ed) lunch".

Post by **Tiff** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:21 pm

o bento/obento (i'm not sure if it's one word or two) is what it's called. They don't say "Bento Box". "Box" is just used to translate what it is: a small lunch box

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:29 pm

Whoops...I forgot about the "o-" honorific in front. I thought it sounded weird ^^;;

shansen · Post by **shansen** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 4:10 am

I found something interesting about this when I tried looking it up in a Japanese-English dictionary:

bentou = "box lunch"
bentoubako = "lunch box"

The word "bako" is used in a lot of other words for boxes, as in "gomibako" (garbage box/can) or "kibako" (wooden box).

(By the way, the site I used was http://www.solon.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dict ).

So, it appears as though "bentoubako" can be used, but I have no idea how common it is (I would guess it's not that popular, but I could be wrong about that).

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:11 am

Well, consider that they're not always in "boxes", per se, since they're usually carried around in a napkin/kerchief. The "box" in the "box lunch" translation probably comes from it being boxed/packaged, and that it's in a nice, sturdy container (the one with the partitions in it...don't know what that's called ^^;; )

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 12:17 pm

shansen wrote:
bentou = "box lunch"
bentoubako = "lunch box"

The word "bako" is used in a lot of other words for boxes, as in "gomibako" (garbage box/can) or "kibako" (wooden box).

(By the way, the site I used was http://www.solon.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dict ).

So, it appears as though "bentoubako" can be used, but I have no idea how common it is (I would guess it's not that popular, but I could be wrong about that).

That's interesting. I've honestly never heard the word "Bentoubako" used in anime or by anyone japanese, though. Maybe it's uncommon? And as Starscream said...the boxes and packaging are usually different...
I just think they're the cutest things, though. I want one ^^;

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:50 pm

I love bento boxes (american terminalogy, sorry). I live in Brandon FL and there is a wonderfull little place in Valrico called "ChinaFuji" that has delicious bento's. I sugest anybody who live's near enough to go, try it, it's so good and the owners are a real trip!

crazydiamond · Post by **crazydiamond** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:10 pm

so you need the "o" in front of it if you want to be all proper and stuff? Like, if I wanted to say it, out loud, and not sound like a moron, I'd say "obento" right? "That guy has an (a?) obento, and I want it." yeah?