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Kotomora

珠

pearl, gem, jewel

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • シュ

Kun'yomi

  • たま

Nanori

  • す
  • とも
  • ま
  • み

Meaning

珠 centers on small, precious, rounded objects: pearls, gems, and jewels. The core idea is something valuable and bead-like.

Most common words using 珠

20 of 64
  • 真珠しんじゅ
    N1

    pearl

  • 数珠じゅず

    rosary; string of prayer beads

  • 珠玉しゅぎょく

    jewel; gem

  • 宝珠ほうじゅ

    precious orb

  • 曼珠沙華まんじゅしゃげ

    red spider lily (Lycoris radiata); cluster amaryllis; cluster belladonna; manjusaka

  • 念珠ねんじゅ

    rosary; string of prayer beads

  • 数珠繋ぎじゅずつなぎ

    linking together; tying in a row

  • 珠算しゅざん

    calculation on an abacus

  • 連珠れんじゅ

    variant of gobang (game)

  • 擬宝珠ぎぼし

    ornamental railing top; bridge railing-post knob

  • 人工真珠じんこうしんじゅ

    artificial pearls

  • 人造真珠じんぞうしんじゅ

    artificial pearls

  • 大葉擬宝珠おおばぎぼうし

    Hosta montana (species of plantain lily)

  • 天珠てんじゅ

    dzi bead; Himalayan agate bead

  • 如意宝珠にょいほうじゅ

    Cintamani stone; wish-fulfilling jewel

  • 宝珠の玉ほうじゅのたま

    Cintamani stone; wish-fulfilling jewel

  • 小葉擬宝珠こばぎぼうし

    Hosta sieboldii (species of plantain lily)

  • 川真珠貝かわしんじゅがい

    Margaritifera laevis (species of freshwater pearl mussel)

  • 念珠藻ねんじゅも

    nostoc

  • 掌中の珠しょうちゅうのたま

    apple of one's eye; one's jewel

Explore all words using 珠 →

Study

Etymology

珠 combines 王 (jade/jewel) with 朱, which likely contributes the sound and possibly the idea of a red or precious bead. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 王 (jewel) and the right side 朱 (vermillion) together suggest a precious red bead: a pearl or gem.

Reading mnemonic

For シュ, imagine a shoe filled with pearls: shoe -> シュ, and the pearls are the jewels inside.