lapis lazuli

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 瑠 has 14 strokes, with a jade component on the left and 留 on the right. It is the first character in 瑠璃.
• Basic usage: 瑠璃 is read るり, and 瑠璃色 is read るりいろ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A mineral and a color name
  • In 瑠璃, 瑠 supplies the sound る.
  • The object in 瑠璃を小さく磨いて is lapis lazuli being worked into a small ornament.
  • 瑠璃色 is the deep blue associated with lapis lazuli. 空が深い瑠璃色に変わった describes the sky turning that color.