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玉

jewel
Stroke count: 5

Readings

On readingギョク
Kun readingたま、たま-、-だま
JLPT level: N2JōyōGrade 1

Meanings

  1. jewelRtK
  2. ball
  1. sphere
  2. globe
  3. orb
  4. bead (of sweat, dew, etc.)

Synonyms

お好み焼き

Radicals and components

Radical玉jade
Components
How it's built
玉
  • →
  • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

king (王) · ball (玉) · earring · drop (丶)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 272

Compound words

玉砕ぎょくさい
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat; trying but being utterly beaten; being completely rejected when professing one's love
珠玉しゅぎょく
jewel; gem; gem (of a story, essay, etc.); accomplished work; beautiful piece
水玉みずたま
drop of water; polka dots
目玉めだま
eyeball; special feature; centerpiece; showpiece; drawcard
埼玉さいたま
Saitama (city, prefecture)
玉虫色たまむしいろ
iridescent colour; equivocal (reply, statement, etc.); ambiguous; vague
玉ねぎたまねぎ
onion (Allium cepa)
お年玉おとしだま
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
替え玉かえだま
stand-in; proxy; substitute; double; ringer
ビー玉ビーだま
marble; glass marble
目玉商品めだましょうひん
bargain goods; loss leader; eye-catching goods; featured product
シャボン玉シャボンだま
soap bubble
悪玉あくだま
bad character
飴玉あめだま
candy
玉梓たまずさ
(precious) letter
玉瑛ぎょくえい
crystal
玉璽ぎょくじ
sovereign's seal
玉鴫たましぎ
painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)
玉樟たまぐす
Machilus thunbergii (species of laurel)
玉葱たまねぎ
onion (Allium cepa)
玉蕗たまぶき
Parasenecio farfarifolius var. bulbifer (variety of Indian plantain)
玉門ぎょくもん
beautifully decorated gate
玉露ぎょくろ
high-quality green tea
玉將ぎょくしょう
king (of the junior player)

On Reading Examples

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。ぎょく
The boss said this group is a real mixed bag. I wonder if he places me with the wheat or the chaff.tatoeba
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。ぎょく
The checked player must find a way for the king to escape and block the check.tatoeba

Kun Reading Examples

彼の額に玉のような汗が出ていた。たま
Beads of sweat stood on his forehead.tatoeba
彼の額には玉のような汗が浮かんでいた。たま
There were beads of sweat on his forehead.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は鉄砲玉のように飛び出した。
He dashed out like a bullet.tatoeba
彼は人を手玉に取ったような扱い方をする。
He leads you by the nose if you let him.tatoeba
彼はシャボン玉をとばした。
He blew soap bubbles.tatoeba
彼の額に玉のような汗が出ていた。
Beads of sweat stood on his forehead.tatoeba

Stroke Order

5 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 玉

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step