bonsai
Relating to the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers through careful pruning and wiring. When used as an adjective, it describes plants or objects that have been miniaturized or styled according to these aesthetic principles.
Examples
3 of 5He gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.
He gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.
The museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.
The museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.
I'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.
I'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word's components: 'bon' means tray and 'sai' means planting. It is literally a 'tree on a tray'.
Quick Quiz
The Japanese ______ tradition requires decades of patience to shape a tree into its desired form.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
He gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.
everydayHe gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.
The museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.
formalThe museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.
I'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.
informalI'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.
Bonsai aesthetics emphasize the representation of nature's vastness within a confined, miniature scale.
academicBonsai aesthetics emphasize the representation of nature's vastness within a confined, miniature scale.
Our firm adopts a bonsai philosophy toward expansion, focusing on meticulous quality over rapid, uncontrolled growth.
businessOur firm adopts a bonsai philosophy toward expansion, focusing on meticulous quality over rapid, uncontrolled growth.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
the art of bonsai
the art of bonsai
bonsai enthusiast
bonsai enthusiast
bonsai collection
bonsai collection
Often Confused With
Banzai is a Japanese shout or cheer, whereas bonsai refers to the art of miniature trees.
Penjing is the traditional Chinese art of tray landscapes, which preceded and influenced Japanese bonsai.
Usage Notes
While 'bonsai' is technically a noun (the tree itself), it is frequently used as an attributive adjective to describe trees, tools, or styles related to the craft.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misspell it as 'banzai' or assume it refers to any small plant, but it specifically refers to plants trained through specific techniques.
Memory Tip
Think of the word's components: 'bon' means tray and 'sai' means planting. It is literally a 'tree on a tray'.
Word Origin
From the Japanese 'bonsai', which is derived from the Chinese 'pénzāi' meaning 'tray planting'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Bonsai is a meditative art form in Japan that represents the harmony between nature, man, and the divine.
Quick Quiz
The Japanese ______ tradition requires decades of patience to shape a tree into its desired form.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
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