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めのう Japanese meaning | Kotomora

めのう

め

の

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

agate

usually written using kana alonemineralogy

A type of banded chalcedony, often used in jewelry and ornamental objects.

この指ゆび輪わにはめのうが使つかわれています。
This ring uses agate.
めのうは色いろの縞しま模も様ようが美うつくしい石いしです。
Agate is a stone with beautiful colored bands.

Written forms

めのうUsage18%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 瑪瑙 is rare and mainly used in technical or literary contexts.
瑪め瑙のうUsage55%
Kanji form; rarely used in everyday writing.
メノウUsage27%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, often used in scientific or commercial contexts.

Kanji

瑪agate, onyx
瑙agate, onyx

Similar words

水すい晶しょう
水晶 (quartz) is a broader category of silica minerals, while めのう specifically refers to banded chalcedony (agate).
メノウ
メノウ is the katakana spelling of the same word, often used in scientific or commercial contexts.

Etymology

The word めのう is derived from the Chinese term 瑪瑙 (mǎnǎo), which itself may have origins in a foreign language. The exact derivation is uncertain.