1.
one serving; one portion (for one person)
Used when ordering or describing food quantities.
ラーメン一人前ください。
One serving of ramen, please.
料理は二人前頼みましょう。
Let's order two servings of the dish.
一人前の量が多すぎて食べきれなかった。
One serving was too much and I couldn't finish it.
そばを三人前注文した。
I ordered three servings of soba.
この店は一人前の量がとても多いので、二人で一人前を分けて食べた。
This restaurant's servings are very large, so two of us split one serving.
2.
full-fledged; fully qualified; independent adult
Describes someone who has become competent or grown into a capable adult.
一人前になりたい。
I want to become a full-fledged adult.
やっと一人前の社会人になれた。
I've finally become a full-fledged member of society.
まだ半人前だけど、いつか一人前の職人になりたい。
I'm still only half-qualified, but someday I want to become a fully-fledged craftsman.
子どものくせに一人前の口を利くな。
Don't talk like a grown-up when you're just a child.
一人前の口を利く is a set expression meaning to speak as if one were a competent adult.
十年修行して、やっと一人前と認められた。
After ten years of training, I was finally recognized as fully qualified.
一人前 has two related meanings.
SENSE 1 - FOOD PORTIONS:
- 一人前 - one serving
- 二人前 - two servings
- 三人前 - three servings
SENSE 2 - FULLY QUALIFIED:
- 一人前になる - to become full-fledged
- 一人前の職人 - a fully qualified craftsman
- まだ半人前 - still only half-qualified
EXPRESSION:
- 一人前の口を利く - to talk like a grown-up