Translation guide
The English word 'marble' can refer to the material, a small glass ball used in games, or the game itself. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
The hard, often patterned stone used in sculpture and architecture.
The standard word for marble as a material. Used in all contexts.
この像は大理石でできています。
This statue is made of marble.
Loanword from English, often used in design contexts or for marble-like patterns (e.g., 'marble cake').
マーブル模様の壁紙
wallpaper with a marble pattern
A small, usually colored glass ball used in children's games.
The most common word for a glass marble used in play. Literally 'bead ball'.
子供の頃、ビー玉を集めていました。
When I was a child, I collected marbles.
Refers to flat glass or plastic pieces used in a traditional Japanese game similar to marbles. Not exactly the same as spherical marbles, but sometimes used as a translation.
おはじき are flat, not round. Use ビー玉 for spherical marbles.
The game played with marbles.
The general term for playing marbles. 遊び means 'play' or 'game'.
放課後、よくビー玉遊びをした。
After school, we often played marbles.
A more modern or specific term, using the loanword ゲーム. Could refer to a digital game involving marbles.
スマホでビー玉ゲームをダウンロードした。
I downloaded a marble game on my smartphone.
A streaked or swirled pattern resembling marble.
Specifically refers to the marbling of fat in meat, especially beef. Highly prized in Japanese cuisine.
この牛肉は霜降りが美しい。
This beef has beautiful marbling.
General term for a marble-like pattern, used for cakes, fabrics, etc.
マーブル模様のケーキを作った。
I made a marble cake.
ビー玉 are spherical glass marbles. おはじき are flat, coin-like pieces used in a different game. If you mean the round toy, always use ビー玉.
When talking about the quality of beef, 霜降り (shimofuri) is the key term. It literally means 'frost pattern' and is a sign of high-grade wagyu.
おはじきで遊ぶ
play with flat marbles (ohajiki)