膳 means “meal tray, serving”

ぜん · zen

Also: small low table, tray

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): かしわ, すすめる, そなえる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ゼン, セン

Taught in secondary school · 16 strokes

The story

Flesh and goodness set before you: 膳 is the complete meal presented on a tray, each element in its place. In traditional 一汁三菜 (ichijuu sansai), the 膳 holds one soup and three sides in perfect balance.

Used in 御膳 (gozen, honorable meal) and 一人前 (ichininmae, one serving)

膳 means “meal tray, serving”

The story

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