飯(めし)

めし
noun
meal, cooked rice
1. meal, food
A meal or food in general (casual/masculine speech).
飯(めし)を食(く)おう。
Let's eat. / Let's grab some food.
飯を食う = to eat (casual, masculine)
飯(めし)はもう食(た)べた？
Have you eaten yet?
朝(あさ)飯(めし)を抜(ぬ)いた。
I skipped breakfast.
朝飯 = breakfast (casual)
昼(ひる)飯(めし)にしよう。
Let's have lunch.
晩(ばん)飯(めし)は何(なに)にする？
What should we have for dinner?
2. cooked rice
Steamed white rice (casual term).
飯(めし)をよそう。
To serve rice (into a bowl).
飯(めし)をもう一杯(いっぱい)ください。
Another bowl of rice, please.
飯(めし)が炊(た)けた。
The rice is cooked.
冷(つめ)たい飯(めし)を食(た)べた。
I ate cold rice.
飯(めし)に味噌汁(みそしる)をかける。
To pour miso soup over rice.

USAGE: 飯(めし) is a casual, somewhat masculine word for meals or cooked rice. In polite or formal contexts, use 食事(しょくじ) (meal) or ご飯(ごはん) (rice/meal).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 飯(めし)を食(く)う (to eat - very casual)
  • 朝(あさ)飯(めし) (breakfast - casual)
  • 昼(ひる)飯(めし) (lunch - casual)
  • 晩(ばん)飯(めし)/夕(ゆう)飯(めし) (dinner - casual)
  • 飯(めし)にしよう (let's eat)

REGISTER: Casual/masculine. The polite equivalent is ご飯(はん).

CONTRAST:

  • 飯(めし) - casual, masculine
  • ご飯(はん) - neutral to polite
  • 食事(しょくじ) - formal, neutral

Related Words

Related: ご飯(はん) (polite form)
basic
Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:14
03500/03805_meshi