便當 的英文怎麼說?

[1] bento (box)[2] box lunch
  boxed lunch[3] boxed meal[4] takeout[5] a bag lunch

「我自己帶便當」的最簡單正確的英文就是 I bring my own lunch (from home). 跟 I bring my own box lunch (from home).

另外，美國的便當通常都是放在紙袋裡，裡面有主食、水果、甜點等，英文叫 bag lunch。

bento 一開始是指日式便當, 現在可以用在任何樣式的外面販賣的便當. I brought my own lunch. 或 I brought my own bento box. 或 I brought a bento. 就代表我中午自己帶便當的意思。

而 I brought my own lunch box. 比較不適合，因為 lunch box 常常指便當盒，雖然外國人會聽的懂你是指便當裡的食物。

bento 可指自己做的便當也可指外面買的便當。

壽司便當 = sushi bento
午餐便當 = lunch = bento lunch = bento lunch box = bento box lunch = box lunch = boxed lunch (較不常用) = bento box for lunch = home-packed lunch = packed lunch (英式說法)
任何時間吃的便當 = bento box
家裡準備的便當 = home-packed meal
外帶或外送的食物，可以是便當的形式也可以是速食 = takeout

基本上，只要有 bento 這個字，box 可加可不加都表示裝了飯菜的便當的意思。

如果別人問你剛吃了什麼你想說「我在餐廳吃了便當」可以說 I had a bento at the restaurant. 也可以詳細說明是什麼樣子的便當.

我每天中午都吃自己帶的便當 = I eat home-packed lunch every day. = I have home-packed lunch every day.

在外面餐廳吃的便當 = I had a bento for lunch today. = I had a bento box for lunch today.

我們晚上叫便當吃 = We order bentos for dinner. = We order bento boxes for dinner.

注意：lunch box 可能指便當盒也可能指便當，但 bento box 可以指便當或便當盒。