小皿（こざら、kozara）
- small plate

The Japanese word 小皿 （こざら, *kozara*) means "small plate" or "small dish". It refers to a small-sized plate typically used for serving side dishes, snacks, or condiments. These plates are smaller than regular dining plates and are designed for individual portions. They can be made from various materials like ceramic, porcelain, glass, or plastic.

⚫︎ お寿司には醤油を入れる小皿がついてきます。 Translation: Small plates come with the sushi to put soy sauce in. ⚫︎ 食卓には、色とりどりの小皿に盛られたおかずが並んでいます。 Translation: Various side dishes are arranged on colorful small plates on the table. ⚫︎ 友人は、クッキーを小皿にのせてコーヒーと一緒に食べました。 Translation: My friend put the cookies on a small plate and ate them with coffee.

You use 小皿 when referring to a small plate or dish, especially in the context of serving food. ⚫︎ It is appropriate to use in a restaurant, at home, or when discussing food presentation. ⚫︎ It is a common word and can be used in both formal and informal situations.

⚫︎ The word is typically written with the kanji 小 (ko, meaning "small") and the kanji 皿 (sara, meaning "plate" or "dish"). ⚫︎ It can also be written in hiragana こざら. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

There are no perfect synonyms, but some related words include: ⚫︎ 豆皿 (*mamezara*): Literally "bean plate," it refers to a very small decorative plate. ⚫︎ 取り皿 (*torizara*): A plate for taking a portion of food (can be slightly larger than 小皿). ⚫︎ 平皿 (*hirazara*): A flat plate (can be used in various sizes).

There aren't direct antonyms, but words referring to larger plates could be considered opposite: ⚫︎ 大皿 (*oozara*): A large plate. ⚫︎ 大盛り皿(*oomorisara*): A plate for large portions.

夕食には、小皿に冷奴をのせて食べました。 ・Translation: For dinner, I ate cold tofu on a small plate. ・Explanation: This sentence describes serving cold tofu on a 小皿.

パーティーで、さまざまな種類のスナックが小皿で提供されました。 ・Translation: At the party, various types of snacks were served on small plates. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how snacks were served on 小皿 at a party.

The word 小皿 is a combination of two kanji: 小 (ko), meaning "small," and 皿 (sara), meaning "plate" or "dish". The meaning is straightforward: a small plate. The usage has been consistent over a long period.