玉・球・珠・弾|たまtama[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounball; sphere; globe; orb
2. nounbead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet
   彼かれの額がく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.
3. nounball (in sports); pitch (e.g. in baseball)esp. 球
4. nounpile (of noodles, etc.)
5. nounbulletesp. 弾
   弾たまが彼かれの頬ほおをかすめた。↗

   The bullet grazed his cheek.
6. nounbulb (i.e. a light bulb)esp. 球
7. nounlens (of glasses, etc.)
8. nounbead (of an abacus)esp. 玉, 珠
9. nounball (i.e. a testicle)esp. 玉
10. noungem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearlesp. 玉, 珠; also written as 璧
    艱難かんなん汝なんじを玉たまにす。↗

    Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.
11. nounfemale entertainer (e.g. a geisha)
12. nounperson (when commenting on their nature); character
    こいつがそんな玉たまじゃないことなんてとうの昔むかしに解わかっていたからさ。↗

    That's because, you see, I've known he isn't that sort of person from a long time back.
13. nounitem, funds or person used as part of a plot
14. noun, noun (suffix)egg
15. noun (suffix), counter, foodokonomiyaki
16. noun (suffix)coinusu. だま
    ニッケルは５セント玉たまです。↗

    A nickel is a five-cent coin.
17. noun (suffix)precious; beautiful; excellent

• SynonymボールNeutralLoanword for a ball, above all one used in sport, as in 「サッカーボール」; 「玉」 ranges wider, also covering beads, drops and bullets.
• Synonym球体きゅうたいWrittenWritten word for a spherical body in the geometric sense; suits scientific or formal description rather than everyday talk.
• Synonym球きゅうNeutralRead きゅう, it covers the geometric sphere or a baseball pitch count, with a Sino-Japanese flavour; read たま, it is identical to 「玉」.
• Synonym球状体きゅうじょうたいWrittenA written word for an object shaped like a sphere; used in scientific description.
• Related球形きゅうけいNeutralRefers to the spherical shape itself, as in 「球形の建物」, not to the object; 「玉」 names the thing.
• Related弾丸だんがんNeutralA bullet or shell for guns and cannons, as in 「弾丸列車」; matches the bullet sense of 「玉」 written 「弾」.
• Related宝石ほうせきNeutralA gem or jewel, as in 「宝石店」; matches the precious-stone sense of 「玉」 read ぎょく.
• Related珠玉しゅぎょくWrittenWritten word for pearls and jewels; also a metaphor for an outstanding work, as in 「珠玉の名作」.
• Related鞠まりNeutralRead 「まり」, it means a ball for play, as in 「手まり」 or 「ゴムまり」; carries a traditional, children's-game flavour.
• Related宝玉ほうぎょくWrittenWritten word for precious gems and jewels; found mostly in literature or fantasy works.
• Related宝珠ほうじゅWrittenWritten word for a precious orb; also the Buddhist wish-granting jewel or the ball-shaped ornament atop a pagoda.
• Related貴石きせきWrittenWritten word for precious stones; mostly seen in mineralogy or the jewellery trade.
• Related砲丸ほうがんNeutralA cannonball, or the metal shot used in the shot put, as in 「砲丸投げ」.

Use 「玉」 broadly for round things — balls, beads, drops, bullets. Say 「ボール」 for sports balls, 「球体」 for geometric spheres, 「弾丸」 for bullets and 「宝石」 for gems; 「鞠」 covers play balls, 「球形」 names the shape, and 「珠玉」 is a literary word for jewels or a fine work.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （たま）球たま又または球たまに類るいする立体りったい
2. （ギョク又またはたま）卵たまご又または卵たまごに関かんする造語ぞうご成分せいぶん
3. （ギョク　花柳界かりゅうかいの符丁ふちょう）芸者げいしゃ（の揚げ代あげだい）。（例れい）玉代ぎょくだい
4. （ギョク又またはたま）美うつくしいことを褒ほめる接頭辞せっとうじ。（例れい）玉淵たまぶち、玉藻たまも、玉垣たまがき、玉たま筵むしろ