Japanese Conversation · Level 134
61 words
Japanese word
瑠璃
Pronunciation
Romajiruri
Meaning
- nounlapis lazuli
Example
この指輪は瑠璃でできています。ko no yubi wa wa ru ri de de ki te i ma su
This ring is made of lapis lazuli.
More examples
職人は瑠璃を細かく砕いて、顔料にします。shoku nin wa ru ri o koma ka ku kuda i te gan ryō ni shi ma su
The artisan crushes lapis lazuli into a fine powder to make pigment.
Core concept
Refers to an opaque blue stone valued both for its appearance in jewelry and for the pigment made from it.
Common phrases
瑠璃の原石ru ri no gen seki
raw lapis lazuli
瑠璃を磨くru ri o miga ku
polish lapis lazuli
Similar words
ラピスラズリrapisurazuri: A widely used foreign name for an opaque blue stone valued in jewelry and used to make blue pigment.
Definition in Japanese
青色の不透明な宝石で、装飾品や絵の具の原料に用いるもの。ao iro no fu tō mei na hō seki de sō shoku hin ya e no gu no gen ryō ni mochi i ru mo no
Word origin
As a Sino-Japanese borrowing, 瑠璃 (ruri, "lapis lazuli") is associated with the Buddhist Sanskrit term vaidūrya, which referred to a precious stone.
Usage tips
- Lapis lazuli often contains tiny golden flecks of pyrite against its blue surface.