Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lunch Box" in Korean
“Lunch Box” in Korean is 도시락 (pronounced "dosiral").
도시락
dosiral
Usage & Context
A container with home-prepared food brought to school. Some Korean students bring lunch boxes while others eat at the school cafeteria. Lunch boxes often contain rice and side dishes.
Example Sentence
엄마가 도시락을 준비했다.
Mom prepared a lunch box.
How to use 도시락 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lunch Box” is 도시락, romanized as dosiral.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 도시락.
Pronunciation Guide
"도시락" (dosirak) is pronounced like "doh-shee-rak". "도" (do) sounds like "doh" in "doughnut". "시" (si) is like "shee" in "sheet". "락" (rak) is like "rak" in "rack" or "rock" but with a softer 'r' sound, almost like 'l' at the end.
More Example Sentences
Context of an outing.
소풍 갈 때 도시락을 싸갔어요.
I packed a lunch box when I went on a picnic.
Buying pre-made ones.
편의점에서 맛있는 도시락을 팔아요.
They sell delicious lunch boxes at the convenience store.
Showing care and effort.
엄마가 매일 아침 정성껏 도시락을 만들어 주셨어요.
Mom lovingly made me a lunch box every morning.
Cultural Context
"도시락" is a staple in Korean culture, especially for students and workers. While school cafeterias are common, many still bring homemade 도시락, often packed with rice, kimchi, and various side dishes (반찬, banchan). Convenience stores (편의점, pyeonuijeom) and supermarkets also sell a wide variety of pre-made 도시락, which are popular for quick and affordable meals. The act of preparing a 도시락 for someone, especially a child or spouse, is often seen as an expression of love and care.
Editorial note
We review entries like 도시락 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
도시락 싸다
to pack a lunch box
도시락 먹다
to eat a lunch box
단체 도시락
group lunch box/catering
Related Expressions
점심
jeomsim
Lunch
김밥
gimbap
Korean rice rolls (often packed in 도시락)
반찬
banchan
Side dishes
소풍
sopung
Picnic
More School Life Words
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