1.
vending machine
A machine that automatically dispenses items such as drinks, food, or tickets after a customer inserts money or uses electronic payment.
Short for 自動販売機 (automatic vending machine). Japan is famous for its high density of vending machines — over 4 million nationwide — selling everything from drinks and snacks to hot meals, flowers, and even official documents.
In everyday speech, 自販機 is the most common shortened form. 販売機 by itself is slightly more formal and appears more in written contexts and compound terms.
Common collocations
- 自動販売機: automatic vending machine (full form)
- 飲料販売機: beverage vending machine
- 食品販売機: food vending machine
- 券売機: ticket vending machine