pán zi
tray
我正在洗盘子。
wǒ zhèngzài xǐ pánzi.
I am washing the plate.
盘子里有饭。
pánzǐ lǐ yǒu fàn.
There is rice in the plate.
我把盘子放桌子上。
wǒ bǎ pánzi fàng zhuōzi shàng.
I put the plate on the table.
碟子 (diézi)
plate, saucer, dish
托盘 (tuōpán)
tray
碗 (wǎn)
bowl
碟子 (diézi)
plate
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The Chinese word 盘子 (pánzi) for "plate" is composed of two characters: 盘 (pán) and 子 (zi). The character 盘 originally meant "a round, flat object" and was used in ancient times to refer to various objects such as trays, dishes, and plates. The character 子 is a diminutive suffix that indicates a small or young version of something. When combined, the two characters 盘子 (pánzi) specifically refer to a small, round, flat object used for serving or eating food, which is what we commonly know as a plate.
