お椀(わん)

おわん

noun

soup bowl

1. soup bowl, lacquered wooden bowl

A small bowl, typically made of lacquered wood, used for serving miso soup and other Japanese soups. Features a lid to keep the soup warm.

お椀(わん)に味噌汁(みそしる)をよそう。

Ladle miso soup into the bowl.

漆(うるし)塗(ぬ)りのお椀(わん)は手入(てい)れが大切(たいせつ)だ。

Lacquered soup bowls require careful maintenance.

お椀(わん)の蓋(ふた)を取(と)ると湯気(ゆげ)が立(た)った。

Steam rose when I removed the lid of the soup bowl.

祖母(そぼ)からもらった漆(うるし)塗(ぬ)りのお椀(わん)を大切(たいせつ)に使(つか)っている。

I carefully use the lacquered soup bowl I received from my grandmother.

和食(わしょく)ではお椀(わん)を手(て)に持(も)って口(くち)をつけて飲(の)むのがマナーだ。

In Japanese cuisine, it is proper etiquette to hold the soup bowl in your hand and drink from it directly.

Materials and types

漆(うるし)塗(ぬ)りのお椀(わん) (lacquered soup bowl) - traditional, higher quality
木製(もくせい)のお椀(わん) (wooden soup bowl)
プラスチックのお椀(わん) (plastic soup bowl) - common in casual settings

Vs other bowls

お椀(わん) - specifically for soup, usually with a lid
茶碗(ちゃわん) - rice bowl (or tea cup in tea ceremony)
丼(どんぶり) - larger bowl for donburi dishes
鉢(はち) - general bowl, often deeper

Usage in japanese dining: お椀(わん) is part of a traditional Japanese meal setting. It's held in the left hand while eating, and the lid is placed inverted on the table. At the end of the meal, replace the lid.

Common collocations

お椀(わん)に盛(も)る (to serve in a bowl)
お椀(わん)の蓋(ふた) (lid of the soup bowl)
塗(ぬ)りのお椀(わん) (lacquered soup bowl)

Related Words

Compare: 茶碗(ちゃわん) (rice bowl)

Compare: 丼(どんぶり) (larger bowl for donburi dishes)

Compare: 鉢(はち) (general bowl, often deeper)

Related: 飯椀(めしわん) (rice bowl)

core

Added 2026.1.18 5:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

06500/06507_owan