小皿(こざら)

こざら
noun
small plate
tool
See also: 大皿(おおざら) (large plate)
1. small plate; small dish
A small plate for an individual portion, a side dish, or soy sauce.
醤油(しょうゆ)を小皿(こざら)に入(い)れた。
I poured soy sauce into a small dish.
取(と)り皿(ざら)として小皿(こざら)を使(つか)ってください。
Please use a small plate as a serving plate.
小皿(こざら)に薬味(やくみ)を盛(も)り付(つ)けた。
I arranged the condiments on a small plate.
刺身(さしみ)を食(た)べるとき、醤油(しょうゆ)を入(い)れる小皿(こざら)がいる。
When eating sashimi, you need a small dish for soy sauce.
小皿(こざら)は場所(ばしょ)を取(と)らないから、たくさん持(も)っていても困(こま)らない。
Small plates don't take up much space, so it's fine to have a lot of them.

小皿(こざら) are small dishes used for serving condiments, sauces, and small portions of food. They are essential in Japanese table settings.

Common uses

  • 醤油皿(しょうゆざら) (for soy sauce)
  • 取(と)り皿(ざら) (individual serving plate)
  • 薬味(やくみ)皿(ざら) (for condiments like ginger or wasabi)

Size note: 小皿(こざら) are typically 6-12cm in diameter. Slightly larger plates (12-18cm) are called 中皿(ちゅうざら).

Related Words

Related: 皿(さら) (plate (general))
Related: お皿(さら) (plate (polite prefix form))
Related: けん玉(だま) (kendama, cup-and-ball toy)
core
Added 2026.1.15 3:53 · Revised 2026.10.11 9:21
04000/04476_kozara