Jadeite Glossary: Chinese Jade Trade Terms Explained
Updated
Chinese jadeite sellers use a short trade vocabulary. The most important words are Type A (natural, untreated), Type B (acid-bleached and resin-filled) and Type C (dyed); zhong (texture), shui (translucency) and se (color); grades like glassy, icy, glutinous and bean; and bangle sizes in mm of inner diameter (圈口). This glossary explains each term in plain English, grouped by topic, with links to the full guides.
How do I use this jadeite glossary?
Listings, videos and chats with Chinese sellers are full of short trade words. This glossary groups them by topic: basics, quality, color, treatments and testing, pieces, bangles, and buying. Each term has its Chinese name, so you can match it to what a seller writes. Where a topic has its own guide, the link takes you there.
What are the basic jadeite terms?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Jadeite | 翡翠 / 硬玉 | The more valuable of the two minerals called "jade." Most fine jadeite comes from Myanmar (Burma). Hardness about 6.5–7, density about 3.33 |
| Nephrite | 软玉 / 和田玉 | The other jade mineral, slightly softer, with an oily luster. See jadeite vs nephrite |
| Fei and cui | 翡 / 翠 | Traditionally fei means the red and yellow tones and cui the green ones; together they make the word for jadeite |
| Burmese jade | 缅甸玉 | Another name for jadeite, after its main source |
| Type A | A货 | Natural jadeite, not bleached, filled or dyed. Only surface polishing and traditional waxing |
| Type B | B货 | Bleached with acid and filled with resin to look cleaner. Weakens the stone over time |
| Type C | C货 | Dyed to add or improve color |
| Type B+C | B+C货 | Both bleached-and-filled and dyed |
The differences are explained in Type A vs Type B vs Type C jadeite.
Which terms describe jadeite quality?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Zhong | 种 | Texture: how fine and tight the crystal grains are. The most important quality word |
| Shui | 水 | Translucency: how deep light goes into the stone. "Long water" is good, "short water" is opaque |
| Se | 色 | Color: hue, strength and evenness |
| Di / dizi | 底 / 地子 | The base material around the color: its cleanness, texture and translucency together |
| Glassy | 玻璃种 | The finest texture, transparent like glass, with a strong sheen |
| Icy | 冰种 | Fine texture, clear to semi-clear, like ice |
| Glutinous | 糯种 / 糯冰种 | Fine but softer-looking, semi-translucent, like sticky rice |
| Bean | 豆种 | Coarse, visible grains, low translucency |
| Sheen / glow | 起光 / 起荧 | A soft glow that seems to float on fine, translucent material. Not UV fluorescence |
| Cotton | 棉 | White cloudy flecks or patches inside the stone |
| Crack | 裂 / 绺 | An open fracture. A crack that goes through the stone greatly lowers value |
| Stone line | 石纹 | A healed fracture line that is closed and does not catch a fingernail. Less serious than a crack, but check it |
| Black spots | 黑点 / 癣 | Dark mineral inclusions |
Read more in zhong, shui and se explained and what determines jadeite price.
Which color terms will I see?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial green | 帝王绿 | Intense, pure, even green. The most valued color |
| Bright green | 阳绿 | Vivid, lively green |
| Clear water | 晴水 | Light, even, transparent green throughout |
| Oily green | 油青 | Darker, slightly grey green with an oily look |
| Lavender | 紫罗兰 / 春色 | Light to medium purple |
| Spring with color | 春带彩 | Purple and green together in one piece |
| Red / yellow jadeite | 红翡 / 黄翡 | Red, orange or yellow tones, usually from iron near the surface of the rough |
| Black jadeite | 墨翠 | Looks black, shows deep green when lit from behind |
| Floating flowers | 飘花 | Wisps of green or blue-green inside a lighter body |
See the jadeite colors guide for pictures of each.
Which terms describe treatments and testing?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Acid bleaching | 酸洗 / 漂白 | Removing brown and grey stains with acid; the first step of Type B |
| Resin filling | 充胶 / 注胶 | Filling the bleached stone with resin. Seen as a "spider web" texture under magnification |
| Dyeing | 染色 / 炝色 | Adding color; dye often gathers in cracks and grain boundaries |
| Coating | 镀膜 | A thin surface film to add color or shine |
| Certificate | 证书 / 鉴定证书 | A lab report stating the stone is natural jadeite and whether it is treated |
| NGTC | 国检 | China's National Gemstone Testing Center; "国检证书" is a common certificate in China |
| Refractive index | 折射率 | A measured optical value; about 1.66 for jadeite |
| Specific gravity | 比重 / 密度 | Weight relative to water; about 3.33 for jadeite. Resin-filled stones can measure lower |
| Infrared spectrum | 红外光谱 | The lab test that detects resin in Type B jadeite |
| UV fluorescence | 荧光 | Glow under ultraviolet light; resin often fluoresces, natural jadeite usually does not |
Learn the signs in how to spot treated jadeite and how to check a report in how to verify a jadeite certificate.
Which terms describe jadeite pieces?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cabochon | 蛋面 | A smooth domed stone (1), set in rings, earrings and pendants |
| Peace buckle | 平安扣 | A round disc with a hole in the middle (2), for safety and completeness |
| Plain tablet | 无事牌 | A flat, uncarved tablet (3), meaning "peace without trouble" |
| Bead bracelet / strand | 珠串 / 手串 | Round beads on a cord (4) |
| Saddle ring | 马鞍戒 | A long, curved stone set across the finger (5), a classic for men |
| Bangle | 手镯 | A solid ring carved from one piece of stone (6) |
| Hand piece | 把件 | A palm-sized carving made to hold, not to wear (7) |
| Pendant | 挂件 / 吊坠 | Any piece worn on a cord or chain |
| Plain / uncarved | 素面 | No carving, so the material shows clearly |
| Carving | 雕件 / 雕花 | A carved piece; carving can hide flaws |
| Setting | 镶嵌 | Jadeite mounted in gold or silver |
Motif meanings are explained in jadeite pendant meanings.
Which bangle terms should I know?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Inner diameter | 圈口 | The bangle size, in mm across the inside (a). The number sellers quote |
| Band width | 条宽 | How wide the band is along the arm (b) |
| Band thickness | 条厚 | How thick the band is from inside to outside (c) |
| Hand measurement | 手寸 | The distance around the widest part of the hand with the thumb tucked in, used to estimate the inner diameter |
| Round band | 圆条 | Round cross-section, the most traditional style |
| Flat inner / princess | 正装 / 平安镯 | Flat inside, rounded outside; comfortable for daily wear |
| Oval / guifei | 贵妃镯 | Oval seen from above; sized by its long and short axes |
| Slim bangle | 美人镯 | A thin, light band |
Guides: how to choose a jadeite bangle size and jadeite bangle styles.
Which trade terms come up when buying?
| Term | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Rough | 原石 / 毛料 | Uncut jadeite boulders |
| Gambling stone | 赌石 | Buying rough without seeing inside. High risk, even for professionals |
| Window | 开窗 | A small polished spot cut into rough (8) to show the inside |
| Open rough | 明料 | Rough that has been cut open, so the material can be seen |
| Old mine | 老坑 | Traditionally fine material from old mining areas; often used loosely as a sales word |
| Real photos | 实拍 | Photos of the actual piece, not a sample |
| Shining a light | 打灯 | Holding a strong light to the stone; makes almost any piece look translucent |
| Color difference | 色差 | The difference between photo color and real color |
| Wax | 上蜡 | Traditional light waxing after polishing; normal for Type A |
How to buy safely is covered in how to buy jadeite from China safely. For looking after a piece, see how to care for jadeite. For choosing one for someone else, see choosing jadeite as a gift.
On JadeiteHub, listings use the seller's own photos, and some include video. Every sold piece is checked against its certificate before it ships, with insured shipping, and if it does not match the description you get a full refund.
FAQ
What does Type A jadeite mean?
Type A (A货) is natural jadeite that has not been bleached, resin-filled or dyed. Only polishing and traditional light waxing are allowed. It is the only type worth buying as a long-term piece.
What do zhong and shui mean in jadeite?
Zhong (种) is texture, how fine and tight the crystal grains are. Shui (水) is translucency, how deep light goes into the stone. Fine texture usually gives better translucency.
What is glassy jadeite?
Glassy (玻璃种) is the finest texture grade. The stone is transparent like glass and shows a soft floating glow. It is rare and among the most valuable.
What does 圈口 mean for a jade bangle?
圈口 is the bangle size: the inner diameter in millimetres. Many women wear around 52–58 mm and many men around 58–64 mm, but measure the hand to be sure.
What is 赌石?
赌石 (gambling stone) means buying uncut rough without knowing what is inside. The outcome is very uncertain, so it is not recommended for ordinary buyers.
