1.
prepared side dishes; ready-made dishes; deli food
Pre-cooked dishes sold at supermarkets, department store basements, or specialty shops, meant to be taken home and eaten. Includes items like fried chicken, salads, simmered vegetables, and other everyday dishes.
お惣菜を買って帰った。
I bought some deli food on my way home.
スーパーのお惣菜コーナーは夕方になると混む。
The deli section of the supermarket gets crowded in the evening.
忙しい日はお惣菜に頼ることが多いが、栄養バランスには気をつけている。
On busy days I often rely on prepared dishes, but I try to be mindful of nutritional balance.
WRITING: The お prefix is a polite/beautifying prefix. The base form 惣菜 is also used, especially in compound words and on product labels.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お惣菜コーナー: deli section (of a store)
- お惣菜を買う: to buy prepared dishes
- 手作りのお惣菜: homemade side dishes
- デパ地下のお惣菜: department store basement deli food
CULTURE: お惣菜 is a major part of Japanese food culture. Supermarkets and convenience stores offer a wide variety, and department store basements (デパ地下) are famous for high-end prepared foods. Many stores discount お惣菜 in the evening before closing.