Container
Bowl, Capacity
noun
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
器 refers to a container or a bowl and is often used in culinary contexts. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone's capacity for certain things. For instance, when someone has a small 器, it means they have a limited capacity to handle pressure, stress, or difficulties.
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun'yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn't learn that reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you with this word:
You have this container. It's upside down with a stick holding it up and a string on the stick. You're going to catch some U2s (like, the band). You put some food under it and wait. Then, out of the bushes comes Bono. He sniffs around for a bit and then goes under the container. You pull! U2 walked (うつわ) right into the trap! Haha!
器を使う
to use a container
器を作る
to create a container
器を持つ
to hold a container
器にもる
to serve food in a bowl
器に入れる
to put into a container
器に入る
to fit in a container
器が大きい
one’s capacity is large, the container is large
器が小さい
one’s capacity is small, the container is small
器がある
there is a container
この器は母のです。
This bowl is my mom's.
どうしよう？これって、コウイチが大切にしていたフグの器だよね？
What shall we do? This is Koichi's cherished blowfish bowl, right?
あの人ってホント器が大きいよね。
That person really has a big heart, don't they?