玉【たま】
ball, sphere, globe, orb, bead (of sweat, dew, etc.), drop, droplet, ball (in sports), pile (of noodles, etc.), bullet, bulb (i.e. a light bulb), lens (of glasses, etc.), bead (of an abacus), ball (i.e. a testicle), gem, jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively), pearl, female entertainer (e.g. a geisha), person (when commenting on their nature), character, item, funds or person used as part of a plot, egg, okonomiyaki, coin, precious, beautiful, excellent
目玉【めだま】
eyeball, special feature, centerpiece, showpiece, drawcard, special program, loss leader, sunny-side up fried egg
玉【ぎょく】
precious stone (esp. jade), egg (sometimes esp. as a sushi topping), stock or security being traded, product being bought or sold, position (in finance, the amount of a security either owned or owed by an investor or dealer), geisha, time charge for a geisha, king (of the junior player)
替え玉【かえだま】
stand-in, proxy, substitute, double, ringer, second serving of noodles (to add to one's remaining ramen broth)
玉虫色【たまむしいろ】
iridescent colour, equivocal (reply, statement, etc.), ambiguous, vague
お年玉【おとしだま】
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
悪玉【あくだま】
bad character, bad person, villain, baddie
目玉商品【めだましょうひん】
bargain goods, loss leader, eye-catching goods, featured product
善玉【ぜんだま】
good person, good guy, character with a round white head on which the character "good" is written (common in Edo-period prints)
火の玉【ひのたま】
fireball, ball of fire, will-o'-the-wisp, jack-o'-lantern
手玉【てだま】
beanbags, jackstones, cueball
珠玉【しゅぎょく】
jewel, gem, gem (of a story, essay, etc.), accomplished work, beautiful piece
水玉【みずたま】
drop of water, polka dots
玉砕【ぎょくさい】
honorable death, death without surrender, honorable defeat, trying but being utterly beaten, being completely rejected when professing one's love
白玉【しらたま】
white gem (esp. a pearl), rice flour dumpling, white-flowered camellia
親玉【おやだま】
boss, chief, head
玉突き【たまつき】
billiards, pool, serial collisions (of cars)
金科玉条【きんかぎょくじょう】
golden rule (basic principle ensuring success in some activity)
玉音【ぎょくおん】
the Emperor's voice, beautiful voice, beautiful sound
勾玉【まがたま】
magatama, comma-shaped bead from prehistoric Japan, usually made of jade
