Translation guide
The horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) and its nuts. In Japanese, it is most commonly referred to as マロニエ (maronie) or セイヨウトチノキ (seiyō tochinoki). The nuts are inedible and distinct from edible chestnuts.
Referring to the horse chestnut tree itself, often as an ornamental or shade tree.
The most common and widely understood term for the horse chestnut tree in Japanese, borrowed from French 'marronnier'. Used in everyday contexts, gardening, and street tree descriptions.
Referring to the shiny brown nut (conker) of the horse chestnut tree.
The fruit/nut of the horse chestnut tree. Adding の実 clarifies you mean the nut, not the tree.
子供たちがマロニエの実を拾って遊んでいる。
The children are playing with horse chestnuts they picked up.
Horse chestnuts (マロニエの実) are not the same as edible chestnuts (クリ). Do not use クリ for horse chestnuts, as クリ refers to the sweet, edible Japanese/European chestnut (Castanea species). Horse chestnuts are toxic if eaten raw.
マロニエの実はクリと違って食べられません。
Horse chestnuts, unlike edible chestnuts, cannot be eaten.
マロニエ specifically means the European horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), while トチノキ is the Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata). In everyday speech, マロニエ is the safest choice for the common ornamental tree. Use セイヨウトチノキ in formal or botanical contexts.
公園にマロニエの木が植えられている。
Horse chestnut trees are planted in the park.
Literally 'Western horse chestnut'. A more formal or botanical term, often used in scientific or educational contexts.
セイヨウトチノキはヨーロッパ原産です。
The horse chestnut is native to Europe.
Refers to the Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata), a related native species. Not the same as the European horse chestnut, but sometimes used loosely. Can cause confusion.
This usually means the Japanese horse chestnut, not the European one. Use マロニエ or セイヨウトチノキ to be precise.
トチノキの実はアク抜きが必要です。
Japanese horse chestnuts need to be leached of their bitterness.
More formal/technical term for the nut.
セイヨウトチノキの実は食用には適さない。
Horse chestnuts are not suitable for eating.