Preview（腕試し）

A lunch box is a box that holds food. If we use "box" as a verb and change it into a past participle, what could we call a lunch that has been put into a box?

A. a lunched box

B. a boxy lunch

C. a boxed lunch

D. a boxing lunch

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

verb = 動詞

past participle = 過去分詞

container = 容器

Examples（例文）

This isn't Japanese-English (I think), but I'm including it here because it is a common problem of translation. What should we call a Japanese bentou?

In English, a lunch box is a usually metal or plastic container in which your lunch is put. If you say, "I ate a lunch box," it sounds as if you ate the container for your lunch. (Note that this is acceptable usage if you are Godzilla.)

There are several things you can call the bentou:

• a boxed lunch
• a box lunch
• a Japanese-style boxed lunch

I like the last one--I think it's helpful to add the words "Japanese-style" if you are talking with people who are not familiar with Japan or Japanese culture. Also, it helps distinguish the Japanese bentou from other kinds of boxed lunches.

Exercises （練習）Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

1. Every weekday you can see office workers in my neighborhood buying ____________ at the local convenience store or at roadside stands.

A. boxed lunches

B. lunch boxes

C. lunched boxes

D. boxes

　

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2. Children in the U.S. usually carry their lunch to school in either a brown paper bag or a ____________ .

A. a boxed lunch

B. a lunch box

C. a lunched box

D. a box