noun

bento

BEHN-toh

Bento (noun) means a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments. Example: “She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school.”

noun

A Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments.

"She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school."

"The convenience store sells a surprisingly good salmon bento."

In design, a layout made up of cards or sections arranged in an irregular, grid-like pattern, resembling the compartments of a bento box.

"The new homepage uses a bento layout to showcase different features at a glance."

How to use bento

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA compartmentalized Japanese lunchbox meal — or, more recently, a design style that arranges content the same way.

Common pairings

bento box bento layout pack a bento

Word forms

bento plural, bentos plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She packed her daughter a colorful _____ for school.

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese bentō, referring to the traditional lacquered lunchbox.

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for bento

memento pimento Sorrento Sacramento

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Frequently asked questions

What does “bento” mean?

The word “bento” means a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments. In plain terms, a compartmentalized Japanese lunchbox meal — or, more recently, a design style that arranges content the same way.

How do you pronounce “bento”?

“Bento” is pronounced BEHN-toh (/ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “bento” in a sentence?

Here is “bento” used in a sentence: “She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school.”

What part of speech is “bento”?

“Bento” is a noun.

Where does the word “bento” come from?

The word “bento” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese bentō, referring to the traditional lacquered lunchbox.

How many meanings does “bento” have?

“Bento” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments.

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Vocabulary lists that include bento:

Words with Japanese origins