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道Nihongo Path
璃

璃·glassy, lapis lazuli

On-yomi
リ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
瑠璃るりlapis lazuli; deep blue
瑠璃色るりいろlapis blue, azure
浄瑠璃じょうるりjoruri, sung narrative for puppet theatre
玻璃はりcrystal; glass (literary)

Example sentences

  1. 瑠璃色の羽を持つ鳥を見た。

    るりいろのはねをもつとりをみた。

    I saw a bird with lapis-blue feathers.

  2. 浄瑠璃の語りに聞き入った。

    じょうるりのかたりにききいった。

    I listened intently to the joruri chanting.

  3. 湖の水が玻璃のように澄んでいる。

    みずうみのみずがはりのようにすんでいる。

    The lake water is as clear as crystal.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 浄瑠璃 as じょうるいり — it is じょうるり
  • Expecting 璃 to stand alone — it appears essentially only in 瑠璃, 浄瑠璃 and given names

Memory aid

Picture it

The jewel radical 王 beside 离: a gemstone character that almost never leaves its partner 瑠 — together they are lapis lazuli.

Quick check

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What does the kanji 璃 mean?