A small dining tray or low table (often with short legs) used for one person's meal.
旅館で夕食が膳で出された。
The ryokan served dinner on individual trays.
昔は畳の上に膳を置いて食事をした。
In the past, people placed a tray on the tatami to eat.
A meal; food served (often seen in compounds like 御膳).
忙しくて朝膳を抜いた。
I was busy and skipped breakfast.
お正月にはおせちと御膳が並ぶ。
At New Year, osechi and special meals are laid out.
高齢の祖母に美味しい膳を用意した。
I prepared a tasty meal for my elderly grandmother.
A counter for bowlfuls of rice (one 膳 typically = one bowl).
ご飯を一膳おかわりした。
I had one more bowl of rice.
彼は昼にご飯を二膳食べた。
He ate two bowls of rice at lunch.
A counter for pairs of chopsticks; one 膳 equals one pair of chopsticks.
新しい箸を一膳買ってきた。
I bought a new pair of chopsticks.
結婚祝いに漆の膳を贈った。
I gave a set of lacquered chopsticks as a wedding gift.