1.
food stall, street vendor cart
A small movable stall or cart set up outdoors to sell food and drinks, commonly seen at festivals and in entertainment districts.
屋台でラーメンを食べた。
I ate ramen at a food stall.
祭りの屋台で焼きそばを買った。
I bought yakisoba at a festival stall.
福岡の中洲には屋台がたくさん並んでいて、観光客に人気がある。
Nakasu in Fukuoka is lined with food stalls and popular with tourists.
2.
festival float
A large decorated float or portable stage pulled through streets during festivals.
豪華な屋台が通りを進む。
An ornate festival float parades down the street.
秋祭りでは地区ごとに屋台を出す。
Each district brings out its own festival float for the autumn festival.
子供たちは屋台の上で太鼓を叩きながら町を練り歩いた。
The children paraded through town beating drums atop the festival float.
KANJI:
屋 (roof/shop) + 台 (stand/platform).
SENSE 1 — FOOD STALLS:
屋台 food stalls are a major part of Japanese street food culture. Fukuoka's 中洲 district is especially famous for its 屋台 serving ramen, 焼き鳥, and おでん. Festival 屋台 sell items like 焼きそば, たこ焼き, 綿菓子, and りんご飴.
SENSE 2 — FESTIVAL FLOATS:
In festivals like the 高山祭り and 秩父夜祭, 屋台 refers to large ornate floats pulled through the streets.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 屋台を出す: to set up a stall / bring out a float
- 屋台で食べる: to eat at a stall
- 屋台村: a cluster of food stalls