B2 adjective Neutral

bonsai

/ˈbɒn.saɪ/

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 5
1

He 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.

2

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.

3

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

Noun
bonsai
Adjective
bonsai
Related
horticulture
💡

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

1

He gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.

everyday

He gave me a beautiful bonsai tree for my birthday to decorate my new apartment.

2

The museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.

formal

The museum's permanent collection includes several rare bonsai specimens that are over a century old.

3

I'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.

informal

I'm not sure if I can keep a bonsai plant alive; they seem pretty high-maintenance.

4

Bonsai aesthetics emphasize the representation of nature's vastness within a confined, miniature scale.

academic

Bonsai aesthetics emphasize the representation of nature's vastness within a confined, miniature scale.

5

Our firm adopts a bonsai philosophy toward expansion, focusing on meticulous quality over rapid, uncontrolled growth.

business

Our firm adopts a bonsai philosophy toward expansion, focusing on meticulous quality over rapid, uncontrolled growth.

Word Family

Noun
bonsai
Adjective
bonsai
Related
horticulture

Common Collocations

bonsai tree bonsai tree
bonsai artist bonsai artist
bonsai cultivation bonsai cultivation
bonsai master bonsai master
bonsai aesthetic bonsai aesthetic

Common Phrases

the art of bonsai

the art of bonsai

bonsai enthusiast

bonsai enthusiast

bonsai collection

bonsai collection

Often Confused With

bonsai vs banzai

Banzai is a Japanese shout or cheer, whereas bonsai refers to the art of miniature trees.

bonsai vs penjing

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

Used as an attributive adjective before nouns. The plural form can be either 'bonsai' or 'bonsais'.
🌍

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

Related Words

administrate

B2

To manage, supervise, or oversee the operations and activities of an organization, program, or system. It involves the practical execution of policies and the organization of resources to achieve specific goals.

administrative

C1

Relating to the organization and management of a business, institution, or government. It describes the practical tasks, systems, and procedures required to keep an entity running efficiently behind the scenes.

appropriately

B2

To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.

assistant

C2

A person who ranks below a senior professional and aids them in their duties, often handling specialized tasks or administrative burdens. In a professional or academic context, an assistant often possesses significant expertise but operates under the direction of a superior to facilitate complex operations.

commissioner

C1

A high-ranking official who is in charge of a government department, a public organization, or a professional sports league. This person is typically appointed to exercise administrative authority or to oversee a specific commission or set of regulations.

computer

C1

A sophisticated electronic device designed to store, retrieve, and process data through programmed instructions. In modern discourse, it encompasses everything from microprocessors in appliances to high-performance servers facilitating global networks.

conclusion

C2

A final judgment, decision, or opinion reached by reasoning after considering all evidence and facts. It also refers to the final part of a piece of writing or a speech that summarizes the main points and provides a closing statement.

consequent

C2

In logic and philosophy, a consequent is the second part of a conditional proposition, following the 'if' clause (the antecedent). It represents the result or deduction that follows necessarily or naturally from a previous statement or condition.

consume

C1

To consume means to use up a resource, such as energy, time, or goods, or to eat and drink something. In academic contexts, it often refers to the utilization of information, products, or services by individuals or groups within an economy or social system.

consumer

B2

A consumer is a person who purchases goods and services for personal use rather than for resale or business purposes. In a broader biological or ecological context, it refers to any organism that feeds on other organisms or organic matter.

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