Meaning
碟子 refers to a small, shallow plate or dish, typically used for serving small portions of food, appetizers, or as a saucer under a cup. It is smaller and shallower than a regular dinner plate (盘子). The word is commonly used in everyday dining contexts.
Usage
Native speakers use 碟子 to refer to small plates in restaurants and homes, especially for serving side dishes, snacks, or as part of a tea set. It's the standard term for a saucer that goes under a teacup. In restaurants, when ordering small dishes or appetizers, you'll often hear 碟子 used. The word is neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts.
Examples
- 01请给我拿一个干净的碟子。.Please get me a clean saucer.
- 02服务员端上来三碟小菜。.The waiter brought three small dishes of appetizers.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个碟子
- 只两只碟子
Common collocations
- 小碟子small saucer
- 一碟菜a plate of food
- 茶碟子tea saucer
Origin
碟 is the main morpheme meaning small plate, with the stone radical 石 indicating it was originally made from stone or ceramic material. 子 is a common noun suffix in Mandarin that makes the word feel more colloquial and complete.