Pictograph of a ritual object made out of several pieces of jade joined together by a string. A dot was later added to 玉 to distinguish it from 王 (king).
Components
◎ Iconic component
characterless component
Depicts a ritual object made out of several pieces of jade joined together by a string.
zhǔ dot
Notes
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Historical Evolution
玉
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
玉
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
玉
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
玉
Bronze
Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
玉
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
玉
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
玉
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
玉
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
玉
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
玉
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
玉
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
玉
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
玉
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
玉
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
玉
Regular
Modern
Chinese
玉 [yù]
jade
Japanese
noun
- precious stone (esp. jade) (also formerly read as ごく)
- egg (esp. as a sushi topping) (occ. ギョク)
- stock or security being traded; product being bought or sold
- position (in finance, the amount of a security either owned or owed by an investor or dealer)
- geisha
- time charge for a geisha
- king (of the junior player)
noun
- ball; sphere; globe; orb
- bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet
- ball (in sports); pitch (e.g. in baseball) (esp. 球)
- pile (of noodles, etc.)
- bullet (esp. 弾)
- bulb (i.e. a light bulb) (esp. 球)
- lens (of glasses, etc.)
- bead (of an abacus) (esp. 玉, 珠)
- ball (i.e. a testicle) (esp. 玉)
- gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl (esp. 玉, 珠; also written as 璧)
- female entertainer (e.g. a geisha)
- person (when commenting on their nature); character
- item, funds or person used as part of a plot
- egg
n-suf
- okonomiyaki
- coin (usu. だま)
- precious; beautiful; excellent
Example Sentences
🇯🇵 (7)
ボスには玉石混交のグループとは言われたけれど、俺は玉かな、それとも石なのかな。
The boss said this group is a real mixed bag. I wonder if he places me with the wheat or the chaff.
王手をかけられたほうは、玉を逃げるなどの方法で王手を防がねばなりません。
The checked player must find a way for the king to escape and block the check.
彼の額には玉のような汗が浮かんでいた。
There were beads of sweat on his forehead.
弾が彼の頬をかすめた。
The bullet grazed his cheek.
Japanese Names
玉 おく
Oku surname
玉 ぎよく
Giyoku surname
玉 たま
Tama female given name
玉 たまさき
Tamasaki surname
玉 たまざき
Tamazaki surname
玉 ひかる
Hikaru female given name
CHINESE WORDS (200)
玉米 [yùmǐ] #3,275
corn
玉米饼 [yùmǐbǐng] #13,864
corn cake
玉米饼 [yùmǐbǐng] #13,864
corn cake
玉石 [yùshí] #28,159
precious stones
玉米粉 [yùmǐfěn] #20,459
cornflour
玉米面 [yùmǐmiàn] #24,605
cornmeal
玉米面 [yùmǐmiàn] #24,605
cornmeal
玉女 [yùnǚ] #46,646
beautiful woman
玉器 [yùqì] #20,020
jade artifact
白玉 [Báiyù] #20,565
Baiyü county (Tibetan: dpal yul rdzong) in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州[GānzīZàngzúzìzhìzhōu], Sichuan (formerly in Kham province of Tibet)
190 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
玉座 [ぎょくざ] #8,635
throne
⭐ 目玉 [めだま] #9,079
eyeball
卵焼き [たまごやき] #15,327
rolled egg
火の玉 [ひのたま] #17,827
fireball
親玉 [おやだま] #18,524
boss
目玉焼き [めだまやき] #18,543
fried egg
宝玉 [ほうぎょく] #19,978
jewel
⭐ 玉砕 [ぎょくさい] #21,164
honorable death
⭐ 玉ねぎ [たまねぎ] #23,293
onion (Allium cepa)
毛玉 [けだま] #25,062
pilling
190 more
items