1.
glaze (for pottery and ceramics)
A liquid mixture applied to pottery before firing. When heated in the kiln, it melts and fuses into a glassy layer that seals the surface and gives the finished piece its characteristic color, sheen, and texture.
釉薬を塗る。
To apply glaze.
器に釉薬をかけてから焼く。
We apply glaze to the bowl and then fire it.
焼き物の色は、釉薬と焼く温度で決まる。
The color of pottery is determined by the glaze and the firing temperature.
伝統的な陶器には、灰や鉱物を使った独自の釉薬が用いられている。
Traditional pottery uses distinctive glazes made from ash and minerals.
Composed of 釉 (gloss; glaze) + 薬 (drug; substance, chemical). A technical term from ceramics referring to the liquid coating applied to unfired pots. During firing, the glaze melts and fuses to the clay body, giving the finished work its glossy surface, color, and waterproof properties. Sometimes also read as うわぐすり in more everyday craft contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 釉薬をかける: to apply glaze (by pouring or dipping)
- 釉薬を塗る: to apply glaze (by brushing)
- 釉薬が溶ける: the glaze melts (in the kiln)
- 透明釉薬: clear glaze
- 灰釉薬: ash glaze
- 鉄釉薬: iron glaze
SIMILAR WORDS:
- うわぐすり: glaze — the native Japanese reading of 釉薬 (sometimes written 上薬 or just 釉). Used in craft and studio talk; 釉薬 (ゆうやく) is more common in technical writing.
- 素焼き: unglazed firing / bisque firing — the initial firing before glaze is applied.
- 本焼き: glaze firing — the second firing that fuses the glaze.
RELATED TERMS:
- 陶器: pottery; earthenware
- 磁器: porcelain
- 窯: kiln
- 焼き物: ceramics; pottery
USAGE:
You will see this word in pottery workshops, museum labels, and craft magazines. It can refer either to the liquid before firing or to the fused glassy layer on the finished piece — context makes the difference clear.