盘子
plate; dish
pánzi
What does 盘子 mean?
盘子 (pánzi) is the noun for a plate or shallow dish, the kind used to serve food on a dinner table. The 子 is a noun-forming suffix with no separate meaning. Two things English speakers should note: first, 盘子 can also serve as a measure word for a dish of food — 一盘子菜 ('a plate of food') — though 一盘菜 (dropping 子) is more common in that measure usage.
Second, Chinese kitchens distinguish 盘子 (flat plate, for stir-fries and main dishes) from 碗 (wǎn, bowl, for rice and soup) and 碟子 (diézi, small saucer for sauces and snacks). When ordering at a restaurant, dishes come on 盘子; rice comes in 碗. Common phrase: 洗盘子 ('wash the dishes').
Character breakdown
tray; plate; dish
noun suffix (no independent meaning here)
Memory hook: 盘 already means plate; 子 just makes it a standalone noun, like '-ie' on cookie.
Measure word for 盘子
Example sentences
桌子上有一个盘子。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yí ge pánzi.
There's a plate on the table.
spoken
今天晚上我洗盘子。
Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xǐ pánzi.
I'll wash the dishes tonight.
spoken
请把鱼放在大盘子里。
Qǐng bǎ yú fàng zài dà pánzi lǐ.
Please put the fish on the big plate.
neutral
这个盘子太小了。
Zhège pánzi tài xiǎo le.
This plate is too small.
spoken
妈妈买了五个新盘子。
Māma mǎi le wǔ ge xīn pánzi.
Mom bought five new plates.
neutral
Common phrases with 盘子
Synonyms
碟子 is a small saucer — for soy sauce, snacks, or side dishes. 盘子 is a regular dinner plate. A pickle dish is 碟子; the main course goes on 盘子.
盘 without 子 functions as a measure word (一盘菜 = a plate of food) or appears in compounds (棋盘 = chessboard, 算盘 = abacus). For the standalone object 'a plate', use 盘子.
Don't confuse 盘子 with
FAQ
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