你知道吗？“便当”一词实际上源于中国！

2022-09-01 15:44 作者:翻译技术点津 0人读过 | 我要投稿

本文转自：翻译天堂公众号

便当的起源

一提到便当，可能很多人都会联想到日本，殊不知，便当一词其实源自中国。

Bento Box

便当一词早在中国南宋时期就出现了，本意是“便利的东西、方便、顺利”，传入日本后，曾被称为“便道”、“辨道”、“辨当”等，后反传入中国，现在更多翻译成了Bento。
便当在大陆大部分地区习惯称为“盒饭”，即盒装餐食。在台湾地区一般称为便当，通常用于午餐、外卖、工作餐等场合。不论是便当还是盒饭，中国人早在距今两千多年的战国时期就已经用上了“便当盒”，一起来看看古人的食盒都长什么样子吧！

古人的食盒

古时候的“便当盒”，就是“食盒”，是盛装食物用的竹木结构器具，有底有盖，且内部最少有一层以上。古代食盒的规制很多，按照使用方式大致可以分成提盒（food boxes with handle）、捧盒（food boxes for holding）、攒盒三种（multi-grid food boxes）。

图源：环球信息网

提盒

提盒是古代送外卖时最常用的食盒，它有着对称的提梁托着盒子，虽然体型较大，但材质较轻，一只手就可以拎着带走。The first kind was the most common one. With relatively larger size, the containers had symmetrical hoop handles and a light weight, so people could carry them with one hand only while walking.
提盒出现得较早，最初的提盒不过两根提梁，加几层格子，材质不是白木涂漆，就是竹编而成，都比较粗糙。直到宋代，一些文人对提盒产生了兴趣，也参与设计，于是提盒便成了一种透着文雅之气的厨房用具。Food boxes with handle were coarse at first, until some literati participated in their design and changed them into "elegant" kitchen utensils in the Song Dynasty.

图源：环球信息网

捧盒

清代是食盒发展史上的高峰，这一时期还盛行一种捧盒。捧盒，顾名思义，就是捧着使用的，其造型有扁圆形、方形、钟形、六角形、八角形、桃形、荷叶形、牡丹形等，这些形状便于捧持，且具有一定的礼仪功能。Besides those with handles, food boxes for holding also became prevalent in the Qing Dynasty. In multifarious shapes, like square, hexagon, octagon, lotus leaf and peach, they were easy to hold and served a part of some sort of social etiquette.

捧盒的材质多为瓷、漆、木，偶有珐琅和金属，这些材料隔热、保温效果好，又因为制作工艺特殊，所以不会特别沉。Most of these boxes were made of porcelain, lacquer, wood, occasionally enamel or metal, for thermal insulation and heat preservation purposes. They were not that heavy thanks to the peculiar workmanship.

图源：环球信息网

攒盒

与提盒、捧盒相比，攒盒就显得比较“随意”了。它的材质以纸胎、木胎漆盒为主，特点是轻便，保温效果不是很突出，所以多用于装冷食。Multi-grid food boxes, on the other hand, were not that intricate albeit with elaborate design. They were light with little effect of heat preservation, making them proper containers for cold food.

古人的食盒一点也不输现在的便当哦！

不过不论是现代人还是古代人，

都充分享受到了便当带来的便利，

看看都有哪些便利让你受益了？

便当的便利

What are some benefits of using a bento box?

There are many benefits of bento box use, such as:

1. Environmentally FriendlyA bento box is a sustainable feature because you can use it over and over again. Each compartment is designed to hold different ingredient amounts. There is no need to use disposable plastic bags because small items such as crackers or raisins can be stowed in a small lidded container that fits inside the larger box. Upon returning home, each container can be washed and reused the following day. 2. Keep Foods FreshEach bento box container is lidded and seals tightly; this helps keep food fresh and tasty. Depending on what types of food you’re packing for the day, you may wish to include a small ice pack in your bag to keep food cool, especially during the summer months.
3. Easy to CleanMany of today’s bento boxes and their containers are easy to clean and even dishwasher safe. If you don’t prefer to hand wash them, you can generally place them on the top rack of your dishwasher for cleaning. Of course, always check each box to ensure it can be cleaned in the dishwasher first.
4. Leak-ProofSince each bento box container comes with a tight-fitting lid, they are conveniently leak-proof. So, there’s no fear that items like applesauce, yogurt, or dipping sauces will leak out and soil the bento box, briefcase, school bag, etc. The leak-proof design allows people to carry sauces and liquids that they might otherwise have avoided because of the inconvenience. The bento box makes it a breeze to carry just about any ingredient with no hassle.
5. Promote Portion ControlEach container in a bento box affords just enough room for a single serving of items. This helps prevent people from over-eating. Using a bento box allows you to limit amounts to ‘just the right amount easily.’ Portion control is essential for both kids and adults, particularly as obesity rates among both demographics are increasing. Bento boxes promote healthful eating even as they allow for a terrific variety of ingredients.
6. Economical If you want to save money on lunch, carrying a bento box is a great way to do so. It’s much cheaper to pack your own ingredients from home than to purchase lunch at a restaurant. You can pack leftovers from your evening meal or inexpensive lunch items that you have on hand.
7. Easy to TransportEven though they come in many designs today, manufacturers still produce easy-to-carry styles. A bento box is compact and usually fits in larger handbags and briefcases, school bags, or backpacks.

便当的诱惑

便当的便利如此之多，真的忍不住想自己制作一份了，可是从何下手呢？