晩ごはん

• Reading: ばんごはん
• Romaji: bangohan
• Kanji breakdown: 晩 (ban) — evening, night
• Pronunciation: /baɴ.ɡo.haɴ/

Meaning

Dinner; evening meal. The main meal of the day for most Japanese families.

Compound of 晩 (ban, 'evening') and ごはん (gohan, 'meal'). Dinner is typically the largest and most elaborate meal of the day in Japan, often featuring multiple small dishes. Also expressed as 夕ごはん (yuugohan) or the formal 夕食 (yuushoku). Family dinner time is an important daily gathering.

Examples

1. 晩ごはんは七時に食べます。 We eat dinner at seven o'clock.
2. 今日の晩ごはんを作りましょう。 Let's make tonight's dinner.
3. 家族と晩ごはんを食べました。 I had dinner with my family.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, family, meals

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 晩 (ban, 'evening/night') and ごはん (gohan, 'meal'). The kanji 晩 combines 日 (sun) and 免, suggesting the time when the sun disappears.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal