卵(たまご)

たまご
noun
egg
food
1. egg
An egg, especially a hen's egg as food; also the eggs of fish, reptiles, and insects.
卵(たまご)を割(わ)る。
To crack an egg.
卵焼(たまごや)きを作(つく)る。
To make a Japanese omelet.
卵(たまご)を買(か)い忘(わす)れた。
I forgot to buy eggs.
生(なま)卵(たまご)は食(た)べられますか。
Can you eat raw eggs?
卵(たまご)が腐(くさ)っている。
The egg is rotten.
2. novice, beginner
Someone who is not yet fully developed.
彼(かれ)はまだ医者(いしゃ)の卵(たまご)だ。
He's still a novice doctor.
小説家(しょうせつか)の卵(たまご)です。
I'm an aspiring novelist.
俳優(はいゆう)の卵(たまご)がたくさん集(あつ)まった。
Many aspiring actors gathered.
まだ卵(たまご)だから失敗(しっぱい)も多(おお)い。
Since I'm still a beginner, I make many mistakes.
料理人(りょうりにん)の卵(たまご)として毎日(まいにち)練習(れんしゅう)している。
I practice every day as an aspiring chef.

卵(たまご) means egg, typically chicken eggs. Also means 'novice' or 'aspiring' when used figuratively.

Writing

  • 卵(たまご): general term for eggs (including biological context)
  • 玉子(たまご): specifically chicken eggs used in cooking

Related words

Usage

〜の卵(たまご) means an aspiring or novice ~:

Related Words

Related: 卵焼(たまごや)き (Japanese rolled omelet)
Related: 目玉焼(めだまや)き (fried egg)
Related: ゆで卵(たまご) (boiled egg)
Related: 生卵(なまたまご) (raw egg)
Related: 串揚(くしあ)げ (deep-fried skewers, kushiage)
Related: おでん (oden)
Related: 親子丼(おやこどん) (oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl))
Related: 成虫(せいちゅう) (adult insect)
Related: 蛹(さなぎ) (pupa)
Related: 稚魚(ちぎょ) (young fish)
basic
Added 2026.1.9 21:38 · Revised 2026.10.11 10:59
02000/02222_tamago