メインディッシュ

めいんでぃっしゅ
noun
main dish; main course
1. main dish; main course
The principal course of a meal, typically served after appetizers and before dessert in Western-style dining. In Japan the term is used mainly for Western or restaurant-style meals.
メインディッシュは(にく)にした。
I chose meat for the main dish.
今日(きょう)のメインディッシュは(さかな)のグリルです。
Today's main dish is grilled fish.
このコースは前菜(ぜんさい)、スープ、メインディッシュ、デザートの四品(よんひん)です。
This course consists of four dishes: an appetizer, soup, a main dish, and dessert.

A loanword from English "main dish." Used mostly in Western-style dining contexts, such as French or Italian restaurants and hotel courses. In traditional Japanese meals, the concept is usually expressed as 主菜(しゅさい) (main side) rather than メインディッシュ.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • メインディッシュを(えら)ぶ: to choose the main dish
  • 今日(きょう)のメインディッシュ: today's main dish
  • メインディッシュに肉料理(にくりょうり)(たの)む: to order a meat dish as the main course

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 主菜(しゅさい): main dish — the more traditional Japanese term, used especially in discussions of 和食(わしょく) or nutrition (with 主食(しゅしょく) rice and 副菜(ふくさい) side dishes)
  • メイン: main — a casual shortened form often heard in restaurants, as in 「メインは(なに)にしますか」
  • コース料理(りょうり): course meal — the broader set of which the main dish is one component