檜
Japanese cypress
Readings
On'yomi
- カイ
Kun'yomi
- ひのき
- ひ
Meaning
檜 centers on the Japanese cypress tree, a specific evergreen conifer valued for its wood and often found in shrines and temples.
Most common words using 檜
- 檜ひのき
hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa); Japanese cypress
- 翌檜あすなろ
hiba false arborvitae (species of cypress, Thujopsis dolabrata)
- 檜葉ひば
hinoki leaf
- 唐檜とうひ
spruce tree (esp. Picea jezoensis hondoensis, a variety of Ezo spruce)
- ドイツ唐檜ドイツとうひ
Norway spruce (Picea abies)
- 大白檜曽おおしらびそ
Maries' fir (Abies mariesii)
- 岩檜葉いわひば
Selaginella tamariscina (species of spikemoss)
- 檜扇ひおうぎ
formal folding fan made of hinoki cypress
- 檜扇菖蒲ひおうぎあやめ
Arctic iris (Iris setosa)
- 檜林ひのきばやし
cypress woodland
- 檜皮色ひわだいろ
dusky-red; color of cypress bark
- 檜舞台ひのきぶたい
stage made of Japanese cypress (in noh, kabuki, etc.)
- 檜風呂ひのきぶろ
Japanese cypress wood bathtub; hinoki tub
- 欧州唐檜おうしゅうとうひ
Norway spruce (Picea abies)
- 白檜しらべ
Veitch's silver fir (Abies veitchii)
- 白檜曽しらびそ
Veitch's silver fir (Abies veitchii)
- 矮鶏檜葉チャボひば
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea (ornamental variety of hinoki cypress)
- 黒檜くろべ
Japanese arborvitae (Thuja standishii)
Study
Etymology
檜 combines 木 (tree) with 會, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to gathering or meeting, but the exact historical reason for this combination is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree (木) that gathers (會) attention with its fragrant wood and sacred presence: that's the Japanese cypress.
Reading mnemonic
For カイ, imagine a cypress tree by the sea (海, かい): the sound of the waves matches カイ, and the tree stands tall like a coastal landmark.