Translation guide
A green mineral used in jewelry and carvings, especially in East Asia. In Japanese, it is primarily referred to as ひすい (翡翠), which can also mean jade in general or kingfisher.
Referring to the specific mineral jadeite, especially in geological or gemological contexts.
The most common term for jadeite in Japanese. Can be written as 翡翠 in kanji, but often in kana. Note that ひすい can also refer to jade in general (including nephrite) or the kingfisher bird.
この指輪はひすいでできています。
This ring is made of jadeite.
Literally 'hard jade', the technical term for jadeite in mineralogy. Used in scientific or formal contexts.
硬玉は主にミャンマーで産出されます。
Jadeite is mainly mined in Myanmar.
Loanword from English 'jadeite'. Rarely used, mostly in gemology or when distinguishing from nephrite.
ジェダイトは翡翠の一種です。
Jadeite is a type of jade.
Talking about jadeite used in accessories, carvings, or decorative items.
The everyday term for jadeite jewelry. Often used in compounds like ひすいの指輪 (jadeite ring).
祖母からひすいのネックレスをもらいました。
I received a jadeite necklace from my grandmother.
Kanji form of ひすい, often used in written contexts or product names. The characters mean 'kingfisher' and 'jade', reflecting the bird's blue-green color.
In English, 'jade' can refer to either jadeite or nephrite. In Japanese, ひすい (翡翠) is used for both, but 硬玉 (こうぎょく) specifically means jadeite. If you need to be precise, use 硬玉 for the mineral and ひすい for the gemstone.
Jadeite carvings are expensive.