玉
玉 means ‘jewel,’ ‘ball,’ or ‘bead.’ It looks very similar to 王 (king) but has an added dot representing a precious gem or a round object.
Reading
On’yomi: ギョク (gyoku)
Kun’yomi: たま (tama)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 玉 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ball, jewel, gem |
| Stroke Count | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
玉 can refer to a precious stone, a ball or sphere, a bead, or even an eye (目玉). In everyday speech, it often appears in compound words for round objects. The on’yomi ギョク is used in formal or literary contexts.
Common Words
- 玉（たま / tama） — ball, jewel, bead, gem
- 玉ねぎ（たまねぎ / tamanegi） — onion (literally ‘ball onion’) Named for its round bulb shape.
- 目玉（めだま / medama） — eyeball
- 水玉（みずたま / mizutama） — water droplet; polka dot
- お玉（おたま / otama） — ladle (kitchen tool)
- 宝玉（ほうぎょく / hōgyoku） — precious gem, jewel
Example Sentences
-
きれいな玉を拾いました。
きれいなたまをひろいました。 / Kirei na tama o hiroimashita.
I picked up a pretty bead.
-
玉ねぎを切るのは目が痛い。
たまねぎをきるのはめがいたい。 / Tamanegi o kiru no wa me ga itai.
My eyes hurt when cutting onions.
-
水玉模様のシャツを買いました。
みずたまもようのシャツをかいました。 / Mizutama moyō no shatsu o kaimashita.
I bought a polka-dot shirt.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
玉 and 王 differ by just one dot — a common source of confusion for learners. A useful reminder: 玉 has a ‘sparkle’ (the dot) because it is a shiny jewel, while 王 stands tall and unadorned as a king.
Summary
玉 means ‘jewel’ or ‘ball’ and is closely related in shape to 王 (king), differing only by a dot.