Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lunch Tray" in Korean
“Lunch Tray” in Korean is 급식 트레이 (pronounced "geubsik teurai").
급식 트레이
geubsik teurai
Usage & Context
A lunch tray is used to carry food in the school cafeteria. Students place their dishes and utensils on the tray before sitting down to eat. It is a practical tool for organizing meals in the cafeteria.
Example Sentence
급식 트레이에 밥과 반찬을 담았어요.
I put rice and side dishes on the lunch tray.
How to use 급식 트레이 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lunch Tray” is 급식 트레이, romanized as geubsik teurai.
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 급식 트레이.
Pronunciation Guide
급식 (geubsik) sounds like "goop-sick," with 'goop' as in 'goop' without the 'p' at the end, and 'sick' as in 'sick'. 트레이 (teurai) sounds like "too-ray," with 'too' having a slight 'r' sound and 'ray' as in 'ray'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
A student waiting in line at the school cafeteria.
급식 트레이를 들고 줄을 섰어요.
I stood in line holding a lunch tray.
A cafeteria worker instructing students on where to return trays.
다 먹은 급식 트레이는 여기에 두세요.
Please put your finished lunch tray here.
A student carrying a tray full of food.
급식 트레이가 너무 무거워서 조심해야 했어요.
The lunch tray was too heavy, so I had to be careful.
Cultural Context
"급식 (geubsik)" refers specifically to school or institutional meals, often served in a cafeteria style. The "트레이 (teurai)" part is a direct loanword from "tray." While the concept of a lunch tray is universal, the term "급식 트레이" is very specific to the Korean school environment, where nearly all students eat "급식" provided by the school. It's a common sight in K-dramas depicting school life.
Editorial note
We review entries like 급식 트레이 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
급식 트레이에 담다
To put food on a lunch tray
급식 트레이를 반납하다
To return a lunch tray
급식 트레이를 들다
To hold a lunch tray
Related Expressions
식판
sikpan
Korean-style divided lunch tray (often metal or plastic, common in schools)
쟁반
jaengban
General term for a tray (e.g., serving tray in a cafe)
급식실
geubsiksil
School cafeteria
점심
jeomsim
Lunch (general term)
More School Life Words
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