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Kotomora

檜

Japanese cypress

StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes17

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)

Explore all words using 檜 →

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.