盛る

もる

to serve (food)

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 盛る (もる) primarily means "to serve food by putting it onto a plate or bowl." It is commonly used in everyday situations like serving rice, salad, or other dishes.

Extended Meaning

Besides the literal meaning, 盛る can also mean "to exaggerate" or "to embellish" a story or information. This figurative use is common in casual conversation when someone is suspected of making things sound more impressive or dramatic than they really are.

Common Collocations

  • ご飯を盛る: to serve rice
  • 料理を盛る: to serve dishes
  • 話を盛る: to exaggerate a story

Usage Notes

盛る is a casual to neutral verb and is appropriate in both spoken and written Japanese. When used in the context of exaggeration, it often implies a playful or critical tone depending on context. Learners should not confuse 盛る with 盛り上げる (もりあげる), which means "to liven up" or "to raise the mood."

Example Sentences

おさらにごはんをもってください。

Please serve rice on the plate.

かれははなしをもっているようだ。

It seems he is exaggerating the story.

サラダにたくさんやさいをもった。

I piled a lot of vegetables on the salad.