dish

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 皿 has 5 strokes and means a plate for serving food.
• Basic usage: 皿 is read さら, and 小皿 is read こざら.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Size and a sound change
  • The 皿 in 小皿 is read ざら.
  • 白い皿 means a white plate.
  • 青い小皿 means a small blue plate.
  • 小皿を五枚重ねて means stacking five small plates. 枚 is used to count plates.