1.
prepared side dish; ready-made dish; deli food
Cooked dishes sold ready to eat, typically found at supermarkets, department store basements (depachika), and specialty shops. Includes items like fried chicken, salads, simmered vegetables, and more.
今日は総菜を買って帰ろう。
Let's buy some deli food on the way home today.
スーパーの総菜コーナーは夕方になると安くなる。
The deli section at the supermarket gets cheaper in the evening.
忙しい日は総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 watch the nutritional balance.
USAGE:
A very common word in daily Japanese life. Also written as お惣菜 with the polite prefix お. Supermarkets and department store basements (地下, commonly called デパ地下) have extensive 総菜 sections.
ORTHOGRAPHY:
Also written as 惣菜. Both kanji forms are common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 総菜を買う (to buy prepared food)
- 総菜コーナー (deli section)
- 手作り総菜 (homemade side dishes)