precious stone; jade
Primarily refers to jade, but can denote any precious stone. Formerly also read as ごく.
この指輪には高価な玉がはめ込まれている。
This ring is set with an expensive precious stone.
The craftsman is carefully polishing the jewel.
Used in sushi contexts for the sweet layered omelet topping. Occasionally written in katakana as ギョク.
寿司屋で玉を注文した。
I ordered egg sushi at the sushi restaurant.
traded security; position
Financial term for a stock, security, or product being traded. Sense 4 specifically refers to an open position (amount owned or owed).
今日は玉が動きにくい相場だった。
It was a market where securities were hard to move today.
建玉を整理する必要がある。
I need to close out my open positions.
geisha; geisha time charge
Rare abbreviation. Sense 5 refers to a geisha herself; sense 6 is an abbreviation of 玉代, the time-based fee for a geisha's service.
昔は玉を呼んで宴会を開いたものだ。
In the old days, they used to hold banquets by calling geisha.
玉代は時間制で計算される。
The geisha fee is calculated on an hourly basis.
Abbreviation of 玉将, the king piece in shogi, specifically for the junior (challenger) player.
See also: 玉将
玉を守るために金を動かした。
I moved the gold general to protect the king.
相場師は新しい玉を建てた。
The trader opened a new position.
He won by capturing his opponent's king.
卵 is the everyday word for an egg, while 玉（ぎょく）is the specialized sushi term for the sweet tamago topping.
株 is the common word for a stock or share, while 玉（ぎょく）is a technical finance term for a traded security or open position.
芸者 is the standard word for a geisha, while 玉（ぎょく）is a rare abbreviation used in specific professional contexts.
王将 is the king piece used by the senior player in shogi, while 玉（ぎょく）, short for 玉将, is the king piece used by the junior player.
As a physical object—such as a jewel or a sushi egg topping—玉（ぎょく）is typically counted with 個（こ）.
gold and jewels; precious object
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat · utter defeat; complete rejection
throne
the Emperor's voice · beautiful voice; beautiful sound
jewel; gem · gem (of a work); masterpiece
gyokuro; high-quality green tea · jewel-like dewdrop
gems and stones; wheat and chaff; good and bad
jasper
geisha apprentice; young geisha
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
Katakana spelling occasionally used for the sushi egg topping sense.
The kanji 玉 originally means 'jewel' or 'precious stone'. The reading ぎょく is the on'yomi. The extended meanings (egg, financial position, geisha, shogi king) are derived from metaphorical or abbreviated uses within specific domains.
emerald
ruby · Jonathan apple · glowing skin; beautiful looks
entering the opponent's camp with the king
jewel; precious stone; gem
sitting king; playing with the king in its starting position
position; open interest; outstanding contract
cultivating knowledge and virtue; jewel polishing
geisha time charge; geisha fee
the Emperor's person; His Majesty's presence
moon
king (junior player's piece in shogi)