Translation guide
A small spherical toy made of glass, often used in children's games. In Japanese, the most common term is ビー玉, but other words exist for marbles in general or specific types.
ビー玉
glass marble (toy)
The small glass ball used in games like marbles.
The standard word for a glass marble. Literally 'B-dama', from 'vidro' (Portuguese for glass) and 'ball'. Used by children and adults.
子供の頃、ビー玉を集めていました。
When I was a child, I collected glass marbles.
ビー玉で遊ぼう。
Let's play with marbles.
Refers to small flat glass or plastic pieces used in a traditional Japanese game similar to marbles. Not exactly a marble, but often translated as such in contexts of children's games.
おはじきをして遊んだ。
We played with flat marbles.
Loanword from English, sometimes used for marbles in general, but less common than ビー玉. May also refer to marble (stone) or a marbled pattern.
マーブル模様のビー玉
a marble with a marbled pattern
The stone material used in sculpture and architecture.
The standard word for marble as a material. Literally 'large reason stone', but used for the metamorphic rock.
この像は大理石でできている。
This statue is made of marble.
Loanword used for marble as a material, especially in design contexts. Can also mean marbled pattern.
ビー玉 are spherical glass marbles, while おはじき are flat, coin-like pieces used in a different game. Using おはじき for a round marble will cause confusion.
マーブル柄の床
a floor with a marble pattern