盆(ぼん)

ぼん
noun
tray; Obon festival
1. tray
A flat shallow container for carrying or displaying things.
お茶(ちゃ)を盆(ぼん)に載(の)せて運(はこ)ぶ。
Carry tea on a tray.
盆(ぼん)の上(うえ)にお菓子(かし)を並(なら)べた。
I arranged sweets on the tray.
来客(らいきゃく)に盆(ぼん)でお茶(ちゃ)を出(だ)すのがマナーだ。
It is proper etiquette to serve tea on a tray to guests.
2. Obon, Bon festival
A Japanese Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of ancestors, typically in mid-August.
盆(ぼん)には実家(じっか)に帰(かえ)る。
I go back to my parents' house during Obon.
盆(ぼん)と正月(しょうがつ)が一緒(いっしょ)に来(き)たようだ。
It's like Obon and New Year's came at the same time (extremely busy or happy).
[Note: This is an idiom meaning 'too much of a good thing' or 'extremely busy']
お盆(ぼん)の時期(じき)は飛行機(ひこうき)の値段(ねだん)が高(たか)くなる。
Airfare goes up during the Obon period.

盆(ぼん) has two main meanings: a serving tray and the Obon festival.

OBON FESTIVAL:
お盆(ぼん) (Obon) is held in mid-August (or mid-July in some regions). It's one of Japan's most important holidays when people return to their hometowns to honor ancestors. Many companies close during this time.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • お盆(ぼん) (Obon festival)
  • 盆踊(ぼんおど)り (Bon dance)
  • 盆休(ぼんやす)み (Obon holidays)
  • お盆(ぼん)に載(の)せる (to place on a tray)

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • トレー (tray - loanword)
general
Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.3.2 11:28
03500/03897_bon