遠慮の塊 (Enryonokatamari): ‘A Last Piece of a Shared Dish’ in Kansai Dialect

Pronunciation

Definition

In the Kansai dialect, 遠慮のかたまり (えんりょのかたまり, enryonokatamari) indicates a last piece of food on a shared plate by multiple people. In other words, it is the last portion on a plate that people are hesitant to reach for because they don’t want to be viewed as an ignorant glutton (e.g.) a last slice of pizza on a plate.

Word Structure

遠慮のかたまり consists of the two words  ‘遠慮 (えんりょ)’ and ‘かたまり’ with a particle ‘の’ in between them. The first word is often used as ‘遠慮する’, and that means ‘hold back or refrain from doing something out of consideration for others’, as explained in the other article. For instance, when your boss says he/she will treat you at a restaurant, you might 遠慮する (hold back/try not to get carried away) and order the cheapest one on a menu. The second word かたまり usually means ‘lump’ or ‘mass’. Therefore, 遠慮のかたまり indicates a last piece of food which people hold back reaching for due to their consideration for the others.

Example Sentences

じゃあ、僕ぼくがこの遠慮のかたまり食たべちゃいますね。

OK then, I’ll have this 遠慮の塊 (last piece of food on the plate) if that’s fine.

Ex2

もうここ出でるから、この遠慮のかたまり誰だれか食たべちゃって

We’re leaving here soon, so please anyone finish these 遠慮のかたまり (leftovers)

Synonyms

Synonyms: None

Synonyms in English: a last piece of food on a shared plate

Related words and phrases: 遠慮えんりょ (holding back out of consideration for others), かたまり (lump; mass)

See also

1. Meaning of “遠慮する”

“Read the Air and Hold Back”: Japanese Words Mirroring Japanese Mindsets

2. Other Vocabularies in the Kansai Dialect

Essential Vocabulary in Kansai Dialect (関西弁, Kansaiben)