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Kotomora

玲

sound of jewels

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • レイ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • たま
  • あきら
  • あき
  • りょう
  • れ

Meaning

玲 centers on the clear, tinkling sound of jewels or precious stones striking each other. It is a poetic, sensory idea of delicate ringing.

Most common words using 玲

  • 八面玲瓏はちめんれいろう

    beautiful from all sides; perfect serenity; affability

  • 玲々れいれい

    tinkling (jewels, metal, etc.)

  • 玲瓏れいろう

    clear; translucent; brilliant; sweetly ringing (as the tinklings of jade)

  • 白玲はくれい

    Hakurei (one of the eight major professional female titles of shogi)

Explore all words using 玲 →

Study

Etymology

玲 combines 王 (jade/jewel) with 令, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of clarity or command, together suggesting the clear sound of jade.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 王 represents a jewel, and the right side 令 looks like a person kneeling under a roof, perhaps listening. Imagine a jewel being struck and producing a clear, ringing sound that commands attention.

Reading mnemonic

For レイ, picture a ray of light hitting a jewel and making it ring: ray -> レイ, and the jewel sings.