1.
ready-made meals eaten at home; takeout food; prepared food purchased for eating at home
Food that is purchased already prepared — such as takeout, deli items, bento boxes, or prepared foods from convenience stores and supermarkets — and eaten at home rather than at a restaurant.
中食市場が拡大している。
The ready-made food market is expanding.
忙しい日はコンビニの中食に頼ることが多い。
On busy days, I often rely on convenience store ready-made meals.
共働きの家庭では、中食を利用する頻度が高くなっている。
In dual-income households, the frequency of using ready-made meals has been increasing.
A relatively recent term positioned between 内食 (home-cooked meals) and 外食 (eating out). The 中 literally means "middle" — eating at home but with food prepared outside. This category has grown significantly in Japan with the expansion of convenience store bento, supermarket deli sections, and delivery services.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 中食市場: ready-made food market
- 中食産業: ready-made food industry
- 中食を利用する: to use ready-made meals
- 中食需要: demand for ready-made meals
RELATED TERMS:
- 外食: eating out — dining at restaurants
- 内食: home cooking — preparing meals at home from ingredients
- 弁当: boxed lunch — a specific type of prepared meal