Yojijukugo
Japanese meaning of 一汁一菜
Voice sample:
いちじゅういっさい (ichijuu issai)
English Translation:
A simple meal
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Literally “one soup, one side dish”; a simple meal of rice, one soup and one side dish.
日本語で読む
ご飯に汁物一品とおかず一品だけの、質素な食事。
Cultural Context:
It was a sign of a frugal life in the past. Today it is also discussed as a simple, healthy way of home cooking.
日本語で読む
昔から質素なくらしを表す言葉。今では、手軽で体にやさしい家庭料理の考え方としても語られる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun; often “一汁一菜の食事” or “一汁一菜で暮らす.”
日本語で読む
•「一汁一菜の食事」「一汁一菜で暮らす」のように使う。
Trap for English Speakers
汁 is read じゅう here, not しる. Rice and pickles are usually not counted as the 菜.
日本語で読む
「汁」はここでは「しる」ではなく「じゅう」と読む。ご飯と漬物はふつう数に入れない。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
忙しい平日は、一汁一菜で十分だと母は言う。
Mom says a simple meal of soup and one side dish is enough on busy weekdays.
Example 2Applied Example
修行中の忍びは、一汁一菜の食事で山にこもった。
During his training, the ninja stayed in the mountains living on simple meals.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「一汁一菜」 mean?