The Kanji: 皿 (Sara)
The kanji 皿 means "plate," "dish," or "saucer." It is a pictographic character that visually represents a shallow container with a flat base and raised edges. This character exclusively refers to dishware and related concepts.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 皿 (sara) - Plate
皿に料理を盛る。
"Serve food on a plate."
2. 灰皿 (haizara) - Ashtray
テーブルの上に灰皿がある。
"There is an ashtray on the table."
3. 大皿 (ōzara) - Platter
大皿から料理を取り分ける。
"Serve food from a large platter."
4. 皿洗い (saraarai) - Dishwashing
食後に皿洗いをする。
"Wash dishes after meals."
In summary, 皿 is the fundamental kanji for dishware - from general plates (皿) and specific types (大皿, 灰皿) to the action of cleaning them (皿洗い). It's essential for culinary and household contexts in Japanese.