盆栽
bonsai[bõ̞ɰ̃sa̠i]
The Japanese word for bonsai is 盆栽 (bonsai).
While the English word 'bonsai' is often used to refer to the art form or the trees themselves, in Japanese, 盆栽 (bonsai) specifically refers to the practice and the trees grown in trays.
Meaning: a miniaturized tree or plant (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
bonsai
Did you know?
- While the world associates 盆栽 with Japan, the practice originated in China as pénzāi before being refined and popularized in Japan.
- The word 盆栽 is a linguistic 'loan translation' from Chinese. It was created by taking the Japanese word for 'potted plant', 鉢植え, and replacing its parts with the Chinese-derived characters for 'tray' and 'planting'.
- Japanese distinguishes between 盆栽 and 盆景 (bonkei), where the latter refers to a miniature landscape containing not just a tree, but rocks and water.
Examples in context
- 盆栽は風情がある。Bonsai trees are elegant.This sentence is useful for describing how 盆栽 can possess an elegant quality.Tatoeba #11211888 by ITA, translation #13307886 by Ag12x
- 私のね、桜の盆栽が咲き始めたんだ。My bonsai, which is the cherry tree, is starting to bloom.This sentence is useful for mentioning that a specific 盆栽 is beginning to bloom.Tatoeba #9694092 by small_snow, translation #3138094 by vicky_arancia
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are visiting a garden center.
- 蓮 Renこの盆栽、すごく綺麗だね。Kono bonsai, sugoku kirei da ne.This bonsai is really beautiful, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。形がとても素敵だよ。Hontō da ne. Katachi ga totemo suteki da yo.It really is. The shape is wonderful.
- 蓮 Ren結衣に盆栽をプレゼントしようかな。Yui ni bonsai o purezento shiyō kana.I wonder if I should give a bonsai to Yui.
- 結衣 Yui嬉しい！ぜひお願いね、蓮。Ureshii! Zehi onegai ne, Ren.I'd love that! Please do, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bonsai” translations and entries 盆栽, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 盆栽, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
