真珠
shinju[ɕĩɲ̟d͡ʑɨ]
The Japanese word for "pearl" is 真珠 (shinju).
真珠 refers to the rounded, shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks. In modern contexts, particularly regarding fashion and jewelry, the loanword パール is also frequently used.
Meaning: rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 真珠 is composed of two kanji: 真, meaning "true" or "real" and 珠, meaning "gem" or "bead". Together, they literally mean "true pearl".
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter パール, which is a loanword from English used often in the jewelry and fashion industries. To specify a color, such as a "white pearl", you can use shiroi shinju.
How do you pronounce it?
shinju
Did you know?
- The word 真珠 is a homophone for 心中, which refers to a double suicide pact between lovers. While the kanji are different, the phonetic overlap can lead to startling misunderstandings in spoken Japanese.
- In Japanese culture, pearls are often seen as the most appropriate jewelry for funerals because their understated luster represents mourning and modesty.
- Japan is the birthplace of the cultured pearl. Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in creating the first perfectly round cultured pearl in 1893, transforming the global jewelry market.
Examples in context
- 母は真珠のネックレスをくれた。My mother gave me a pearl necklace.This sentence shows how to use 真珠 in the context of a gift.Tatoeba #82909 by small_snow, translation #320807 by CK
- これは、真珠のネックレスです。This is a pearl necklace.This sentence demonstrates a simple identification of a pearl necklace using 真珠.Tatoeba #10565752 by small_snow, translation #8169654 by lucasmg123
- こんな大きな真珠、初めて見たよ。I've never seen a pearl of such magnitude!This sentence expresses admiration for the size of a 真珠.Tatoeba #10565781 by small_snow, translation #54732 by CM
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
陽葵 and 陽太 are looking at jewelry in a shop window.
- 陽葵 Himariあの真珠、とても綺麗ね。Ano shinju, totemo kirei ne.That pearl is very beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ。輝きがすごいね。Honto da. Kagayaki ga sugoi ne.You're right. The luster is amazing.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、これプレゼントにどうかな？Yota, kore purezento ni dou kana?Yota, how about this as a gift?
- 陽太 Yotaとても素敵だと思うよ。Totemo suteki da to omou yo.I think it's very lovely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl” translations and entries 真珠, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
