1.
side dishes; supplementary food items
Foods eaten alongside the staple food (typically rice in Japan). Includes dishes such as fish, meat, vegetables, pickles, and soup that accompany the main grain.
給食の副食品が充実している。
The side dishes in the school lunch are excellent.
副食品の値段が上がっている。
The prices of side dish items are going up.
栄養バランスを考えて、主食と副食品を組み合わせることが大切だ。
It is important to combine staple foods with side dishes while considering nutritional balance.
Composed of 副 (supplementary, secondary) + 食品 (food items). In traditional Japanese meal structure, food is divided into 主食 (staple food, usually rice) and 副食 (everything else). 副食品 is the formal term for these accompanying items.
JAPANESE MEAL STRUCTURE:
- 主食: staple food (rice, noodles, bread)
- 副食/副食品: side dishes (fish, meat, vegetables)
- 汁物: soup (miso soup, clear soup)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 副食品を増やす: to increase the variety of side dishes
- 副食品の栄養: nutrition from side dishes
SIMILAR WORDS:
- おかず: side dishes -- the everyday, casual term
- 副食: side dishes -- slightly shorter form, same meaning
- 惣菜: prepared dishes -- ready-made side dishes sold at stores