玉

• Pinyin: yù
• Hanzi breakdown: 玉 = pictograph of three jade discs strung on a cord; a dot distinguishes it from 王 (king)

Meaning

Jade. A precious stone highly valued in Chinese culture for its beauty, hardness, and spiritual significance.

Jade holds a central place in Chinese civilisation, symbolising virtue, purity, beauty, and good fortune. 君子比德于玉 (a gentleman's virtue is compared to jade) is a classical expression. Common types include 翡翠 (jadeite) and 白玉 (white jade). 玉 is also used as a respectful prefix: 玉言 (your precious words).

Examples

1. 在中国文化中，玉象征着纯洁、高贵和吉祥如意。 In Chinese culture, jade symbolises purity, nobility, and good fortune.
2. 她手腕上戴着一块温润的碧玉手镯，十分雅致好看。 She wears a smooth, lustrous green jade bracelet on her wrist, which looks very elegant.
3. 这件玉雕工艺精湛，是博物馆中最珍贵的藏品之一。 This jade carving is of exquisite craftsmanship and is one of the most precious items in the museum's collection.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, arts, everyday

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 这块玉的颜色很纯，质地也非常细腻。(The colour of this jade is very pure, and its texture is extremely fine.)
• 中国人自古以来就喜爱玉，认为它能带来好运。(Chinese people have loved jade since ancient times, believing it brings good luck.)

Don't Say

• 将'玉'与一般宝石混用，认为它们含义相同 (Don't treat 玉 as just another gemstone — in Chinese culture, jade carries unique spiritual and moral symbolism that other stones do not)

Origin & History

One of the oldest characters in Chinese, 玉 is a pictograph of three jade pieces strung together on a cord. The dot was added to distinguish it from 王 (king), reflecting jade's association with royalty.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal