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50. At the Table

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Vocabulary

お皿 (おさら) osara

plate; dish

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

お皿をお願いします
osara wo onegaishimasu — A plate, please
お皿に肉と魚があります
osara ni niku to sakana ga arimasu — There's meat and fish on the plate
大きいお皿を使います
ookii osara wo tsukaimasu — I'll use a big plate
コップ koppu

glass (drinking)

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

水のコップをください
mizu no koppu wo kudasai — A glass of water, please
コップは台所にあります
koppu wa daidokoro ni arimasu — The glasses are in the kitchen
コップを三つお願いします
koppu wo mittsu onegaishimasu — Three glasses, please
カップ kappu

cup

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

コーヒーのカップです
koohii no kappu desu — It's a coffee cup
このカップが好きです
kono kappu ga suki desu — I like this cup
お茶のカップはどこですか
ocha no kappu wa doko desu ka — Where's the tea cup?

Cultural Notes

Chopsticks vs. fork -- which one do you ask for?

In most Japanese restaurants, chopsticks (箸) are already on the table or come with your meal. If you need a fork (フォーク) or spoon (スプーン), you can ask -- nobody will judge you. But at home, a Japanese table setting almost always starts with chopsticks, a rice bowl (茶碗), and small plates (お皿).

コップ vs. カップ -- they are not the same

Both come from English, but they split into different meanings. コップ is for cold drinks -- water, juice, beer. カップ is for hot drinks -- coffee, tea. If someone asks for a コップ, reach for a regular drinking glass. If they ask for a カップ, they want a mug or teacup.

茶碗 is not just for tea

The word 茶碗 literally contains the character for tea, but in everyday life it almost always means a rice bowl. When someone says 茶碗にご飯, they mean rice in a bowl, not tea. You will see 茶碗 on nearly every Japanese dinner table -- it is one of the most basic pieces of tableware.