瑠璃

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 瑠璃 is a noun read るり, meaning lapis lazuli, a gemstone associated with a deep blue color.
• Basic usage: It can refer to deep blue lapis lazuli on display or material polished into an ornament by an artisan.
  • 展示室で深い青色の瑠璃を眺めた。 says that the deep blue lapis lazuli was viewed in the gallery; 職人は瑠璃を小さく磨いて飾りにした。 says that the artisan polished a small piece of lapis lazuli and made it into an ornament.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 瑠璃を眺める
  • を marks the deep blue lapis lazuli as what was viewed in the gallery.
• 磨いて飾りにする
  • The て-form links polishing the stone to making it an ornament, and に marks the resulting use.
• 瑠璃 and 翡翠
  • 瑠璃 is deep blue lapis lazuli, while 翡翠 is jade, a different gemstone commonly associated with green tones.