(めんるい)

めんるい
noun
noodles; noodle dishes
1. noodles; noodle dishes
A collective term for all types of noodles and noodle-based dishes, including udon, soba, ramen, and pasta.
(ひる)麺類(めんるい)にしよう。
Let's have noodles for lunch.
このレストランは麺類(めんるい)豊富(ほうふ)だ。
This restaurant has a wide variety of noodle dishes.
日本(にほん)麺類(めんるい)にはうどん、そば、ラーメンなど様々(さまざま)種類(しゅるい)がある。
Japanese noodle dishes include various types such as udon, soba, and ramen.

麺類(めんるい) is a categorical term that covers all types of noodles. The suffix (るい) means "kind" or "category," so 麺類(めんるい) literally means "the noodle category."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 麺類(めんるい)()き (to like noodles)
  • 麺類(めんるい)()でる (to boil noodles)
  • 麺類(めんるい)のメニュー (the noodle menu)

USAGE NOTES:
This word appears frequently on menus and in food-related contexts. It is a useful category word when talking about food preferences. The (るい) suffix is productive in Japanese and appears in other food categories like 魚類(ぎょるい) (fish), 肉類(にくるい) (meats), and 穀類(こくるい) (grains).