What it means
سینی (sini) means “tray,” a flat or shallow vessel used for carrying and serving food or drinks. The word is borrowed from Arabic صِينِيّ (ṣīniyy), which originally meant “Chinese” or “of China,” a reference to the fine Chinese porcelain and lacquered trays that traveled the old trade routes. In modern Persian, the word has fully generalized to mean any tray, regardless of material. A related item is سبد (sabad), a basket, which carries things in a different way.
How to use it
- چاییها رو بذار رو سینی. (châyi-hâ ro bezâr ru sini.) “Put the teas on the tray.”
- یه سینی بزرگ آورد وسط اتاق. (ye sini-ye bozorg âvard vasat-e otâq.) “She brought a large tray to the middle of the room.”
- سینی رو بده به مهمونها. (sini ro bede be mehmun-hâ.) “Pass the tray to the guests.”
- میوهها رو چید رو سینی. (mive-hâ ro chid ru sini.) “He arranged the fruits on the tray.”
Cultural note
The sini is a fixture of Iranian hospitality. When guests arrive, it is the sini that carries the first glasses of tea, along with sugar cubes or sweets. A decorative copper or brass sini is a traditional household item and can also be displayed as an ornament. The image of a host carrying a loaded tray is deeply associated with the Persian ideal of taarof and generous reception.