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釉薬 (うわぐすり, uwagusuri) Japanese meaning: glaze | Kotomora
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The glaze on this tea bowl is a beautiful blue-green.
The potter bisque-fires the piece before applying the glaze.
Kanji 薬 medicine, chemical, enamel Related words 釉薬 is the glaze used on pottery and ceramics, while エナメル is the broader term for a hard glossy coating on teeth, metal, or ceramics.
Written forms 釉薬 Usage 30% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
釉 Usage 67% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
上うわ 薬ぐすり Usage 3%
Alternate kanji spelling using 上 (upper) and 薬 (medicine/chemical), reflecting the coating nature.
うわ 薬ぐすり Usage <1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kana-kanji mixed form; not a standard written variant.
ゆう
ゆうやく
Etymology 釉薬 is a compound of 釉 (glaze) and 薬 (chemical/coating), literally 'glaze chemical'. The reading うわぐすり combines 上 (upper) and 薬 (here read ぐすり, an older form of くすり), meaning 'surface medicine/coating'. The technical readings ゆうやく and ゆう derive from the on'yomi of 釉.
