オパール
opāru
The English word "opal" is translated into Japanese as オパール (opāru).
オパール refers to the mineral consisting of silica, similar to quartz but with lower hardness and specific gravity.
Meaning: a mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
opāru
Did you know?
- Japanese jewelry advertisements often describe the shifting colors of an オパール using the term 遊色 ('yūshoku'), which means 'playing colors'.
- The word オパール is written in 'katakana', the script used for foreign words, but when written as 蛋白石, it uses 'kanji' to describe its physical property rather than its name.
- The word オパール is a loanword borrowed from French, rather than directly from English.
Examples in context
- 私はオパールの指輪が大好きです。I love opal rings.
- 彼女はオパールのネックレスを着けています。She is wearing an opal necklace.
- 昨日、オパール石の指輪を買いました。I bought an opal ring yesterday.
- あの子はオパール石のネックレスが好きだよ。That girl likes opal necklaces.
- このオパールはとても綺麗ですね。Kono opāru wa totemo kirei desu ne.This opal is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 彼女はオパールの指輪をしています。Kanojo wa opāru no yubiwa o shite imasu.She is wearing an opal ring.
- オパールの色は幻想的です。Opāru no iro wa gensōteki desu.The color of the opal is dreamy.
Example conversation
A jewelry shop where a young couple is looking at rings.
- 陽葵 Himariこのオパール、健太さんはどう思う？Kono opāru, Kenta-san wa dō omou?What do you think of this opal, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaとても綺麗だけど、少し派手かな。Totemo kirei dakedo, sukoshi hade kana.It's very beautiful, but maybe a bit flashy.
- 陽葵 Himariそうかな？私はこの色が大好き。Sō kana? Watashi wa kono iro ga daisuki.You think so? I love this color.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵に似合うと思うよ。Himari ni au to omou yo.I think it would suit you, Himari.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “opal” translations and entries オパール, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries オパール, CC BY-SA 4.0.
