まかない
まかない
noun
staff meal, employee meal
1.
staff meal, employee meal
A meal provided to employees, especially at restaurants or inns, often made from leftover or available ingredients.
まかないを食べた。
I ate the staff meal.
今日のまかないは何かな。
I wonder what today's staff meal is.
シェフの作るまかないはとても美味しい。
The staff meals the chef makes are very delicious.
まかない comes from the verb 賄う (to provide food/manage expenses). It's particularly associated with restaurant and hospitality industry culture in Japan.
USAGE:
- Usually written in hiragana, though 賄い is also seen
- Also called まかない飯 or まかない料理
CULTURE:
- Staff meals in Japanese restaurants are often creative dishes made from available ingredients
- Some restaurants have become famous for their まかない dishes, which are sometimes added to the menu
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- まかないを作る: to make a staff meal
- まかないを食べる: to eat the staff meal
- まかない料理: staff cooking, employee meal