Translation guide
The English word 'glaze' covers several distinct concepts: a glossy coating on pottery, a thin liquid coating on food, a glass-like surface on paintings, and a shiny appearance on eyes or surfaces. Each meaning has different natural Japanese equivalents.
A vitreous coating applied to pottery or ceramics, or the process of applying it.
The standard term for ceramic glaze. Can refer to the material itself or the coating after firing.
この茶碗の釉薬はとても美しい。
The glaze on this tea bowl is very beautiful.
釉薬をかける前に素焼きする。
Bisque fire before applying the glaze.
Often used in compound words or technical contexts, same reading as 釉薬.
釉の成分が色に影響する。
The composition of the glaze affects the color.
Loanword from English, used in some art or craft contexts, but less common than 釉薬.
グレーズの厚さを均一にする。
Make the glaze thickness uniform.
A thin, glossy coating on food, such as a sugar glaze on pastries or a savory glaze on meat.
Refers to the shiny appearance of a glaze on food, often from sugar or soy sauce. Used in terms like 照り焼き (teriyaki).
このケーキの照りがきれいだ。
The glaze on this cake is beautiful.
照りを出すためにみりんを加える。
Add mirin to create a glaze.
Commonly used in baking and confectionery for sugar glazes, icing, or mirror glazes.
ドーナツにグレーズをかける。
Glaze the donuts.
General word for gloss or luster, often used for the shiny look of glazed food.
パンにつやを出すために卵を塗る。
Brush with egg to give the bread a glaze.
A thin, transparent layer of paint applied over another color to modify the tone, or a glass-like coating on a painting.
The standard term in art contexts for a transparent layer of paint used in glazing techniques.
油絵でグレーズ技法を使う。
Use the glazing technique in oil painting.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'transparent overcoat', can be used to explain the concept.
透明な上塗りで色に深みを出す。
Add depth to the color with a transparent glaze.
A smooth, shiny, often glass-like surface or coating on objects like paper, leather, or ice.
General term for gloss, luster, or sheen. Used for paper, paint, leather, etc.
この紙は光沢がある。
This paper has a glaze.
光沢仕上げの革製品。
Leather goods with a glazed finish.
Everyday word for gloss or shine, often used for hair, surfaces, or food.
つやのある床。
A glazed floor.
Sometimes used for specific products like glazed paper or leather, but 光沢 or つや is more natural.
A shiny, often unfocused or lifeless look in the eyes, as from fever, intoxication, or emotion.
Describes eyes that are dull, cloudy, or glazed over, often from fatigue or illness.
熱で目がどんよりしている。
His eyes are glazed over from the fever.
Means eyes are vacant, hollow, or glazed, often from shock or drunkenness.
酔っ払って目がうつろになっている。
He's drunk and his eyes are glazed.
Literally 'eyes are set', used when someone has a fixed, glassy stare, often from anger or intense focus.
怒りで目が据わっている。
His eyes are glazed with anger.
A thin coating of ice on surfaces, such as roads or trees, from freezing rain.
Meteorological term for glaze ice, formed by freezing rain. Not an everyday word.
雨氷で道路が滑りやすくなっている。
The roads are slippery from glaze ice.
General term for ice accretion, including glaze ice on structures.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'film of ice', can be used to explain glaze ice in non-technical contexts.
木の枝に氷の膜が張った。
A glaze of ice formed on the tree branches.
照り (teri) is specifically the shiny glaze on food, often from sugar or soy sauce. つや (tsuya) is a general word for gloss or luster on any surface, including food, hair, or furniture. 光沢 (koutaku) is more formal and often used for manufactured products like paper or paint finishes.
English 'glazed eyes' is an idiom. Direct translations like ガラスのような目 sound unnatural. Use phrases like 目がどんよりしている or 目がうつろだ depending on the cause.
陶芸家は花瓶に青い釉薬をかけた。
The potter applied a blue glaze to the vase.
彼女はケーキ用にレモンのグレーズを作った。
She made a lemon glaze for the cake.
道路は雨氷で覆われていた。
The road was covered with a glaze of ice.
チョコレートグレーズのレシピを教えてください。
Please tell me the recipe for chocolate glaze.
Glazed photographic paper.
Glaze ice is observed on the power lines.