What does 비빔밥 (bibimbap) mean?
- 비빔밥bibimbap
Mixed rice bowl
Fine in most situations
비빔밥 (bibimbap) is a Korean dish of rice topped with seasoned vegetables, often meat and a fried egg, and spicy gochujang sauce, all mixed together before eating.
Where it comes from
It comes from 비빔, from 비비다 ("to mix"), and 밥 ("rice"), so it literally means "mixed rice".
How to use 비빔밥
The key step is mixing: stir everything together with your spoon until the sauce coats the rice. Koreans usually eat it with a spoon rather than chopsticks.
돌솥비빔밥 is served in a hot stone bowl, so the rice at the bottom turns crispy. The city of Jeonju is especially famous for bibimbap.
At home, people often make a quick bibimbap by mixing leftover banchan with rice, gochujang and sesame oil.
Examples
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Ordering for two at a restaurant
Showing a visitor how to eat it
Telling a friend what you ate
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 돌솥비빔밥 | Stone-pot bibimbap | Served in a hot stone bowl. |
| 비벼 먹다 | To mix and eat | How you eat bibimbap. |
| 전주비빔밥 | Jeonju bibimbap | The famous regional style. |
Questions learners ask
What does bibimbap mean?
It means "mixed rice". 비빔 comes from 비비다 (to mix) and 밥 means rice.
Do you have to mix bibimbap?
Yes, that is the point of the dish. Mix it well so every bite has rice, vegetables and sauce.
Is bibimbap spicy?
It depends on how much gochujang you add. You can ask for the sauce on the side and add a little at a time.