玉

たま· also ぎょく

ball; sphere; globe; orb

JLPT N3 Common word Also written 球、珠、弾、璧

Meanings

Noun
ball; sphere; globe; orb
bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet
ball (in sports); pitch (e.g. in baseball)
pile (of noodles, etc.)
bullet

All 24 meanings

bulb (i.e. a light bulb)
lens (of glasses, etc.)
bead (of an abacus)
ball (i.e. a testicle)SlangAbbreviation
gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl
female entertainer (e.g. a geisha)
person (when commenting on their nature); characterDerogatory
item, funds or person used as part of a plot
Noun, Noun, suffix
egg
Noun, suffix, Counter
okonomiyaki
Noun, suffix
coin
precious; beautiful; excellent
Noun
precious stone (esp. jade)
egg (esp. as a sushi topping)
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 geishaAbbreviation
king (of the junior player)Abbreviation

Example sentences

艱難かんなん汝なんじを玉たまにす。

Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.
ニンニクを２玉たま入いれます。

I'll put in two garlic heads.
ニッケルは５セント玉たまです。

A nickel is a five-cent coin.
彼かれの額ひたいに玉たまのような汗あせが出でていた。

Beads of sweat stood on his forehead.
赤あかん坊ぼうが毛糸けいとの玉たまをもつれさせた。

The baby tangled the ball of yarn.

More examples (10)

私わたしは彼女かのじょにアメ玉たまを出だしてあげた。

I gave her some candy.
トムの猫ねこが、毛糸けいと玉たまで遊あそんでるよ。

Tom's cat is playing with a ball of yarn.
彼かれの額ひたいには玉たまのような汗あせが浮うかんでいた。

There were beads of sweat on his forehead.
子供こどもたちが大おおきな雪ゆきの玉たまを転ころがしていた。

The children were rolling a big snowball.
5円えん玉たまは黄銅おうどう、10円えん玉たまは青銅せいどうでできている。

The 5 yen coin is made from brass and the 10 yen coin is made from bronze.
彼かれは裸はだかの背中せなかと腕うでに玉たまのような汗あせをかいていた。

His naked back and arms were beaded with sweat.
私わたしの父ちちはビリヤードの玉たまのように頭あたまがつるつるだ。

My father is as bald as a billiard ball.
「南瓜かぼちゃは、何なに玉たま欲ほしい？」「３玉たま、お願ねがいします」

"How many pumpkins do you want?" "Three, please."
ガリレオは二ふたつの鉄てつの玉たまを塔とうのてっぺんから落おとした。

Galileo dropped two iron balls from the top of the tower.
羽子板はごいたで突つく羽はねの玉たまは「むくろじ」という大木たいぼくの種たねです。

The feathered balls you hit with a battledore are the seeds of a large tree called 'soapberry'.