(たま) (n) (1) ball; sphere; globe; orb; (2) bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet; (3) (esp. 球) ball (in sports); (4) pile (of noodles, etc.); (5) (esp. 弾; also written as 弾丸) bullet; (6) (esp. 球) bulb (i.e. a light bulb); (7) lens (of glasses, etc.); (8) (esp. 玉,珠) bead (of an abacus); (9) (sl) (abbr) (esp. 玉) (See 金玉・きんたま) ball (i.e. a testicle); (10) (esp. 玉,珠; also written as 璧) gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl; (11) female entertainer (e.g. a geisha); (12) (derog) person (when commenting on their nature); character; (13) item, funds or person used as part of a plot; (n,n-suf) (14) (See 玉子・2) egg; (n-suf) (15) (usu. だま) coin; (16) precious; beautiful; excellent; (P) [EDICT]
(だん) (ctr) counter for parts (of a story, etc.) [EDICT]
