noun
hiba false arborvitae; Thujopsis dolabrata
A species of cypress native to Japan, often used in construction and ornamental planting. The word is usually written in kana (ヒバ or ひば).
See also: 翌檜
ヒバは日本の山地に自生する針葉樹です。
Hiba is a conifer native to the mountains of Japan.
この神社の建材にはヒバが使われている。
Hiba wood is used in the building materials of this shrine.
noun
small ornamental false cypress; dwarf hiba
Refers to a small variety of hinoki or a related species, often used as an ornamental plant. Usually written in kana.
See also: 矮鶏檜葉
庭に矮鶏檜葉（チャボヒバ）を植えた。
I planted a dwarf hiba (chabo-hiba) in the garden.
この小さなヒバは盆栽に適している。
This small hiba is suitable for bonsai.
noun
hinoki leaf
Literally 'hinoki leaf', but this sense is rare and mostly appears in compound words or older texts. The cross-reference to 檜 (hinoki) suggests a connection to the hinoki cypress.
See also: 檜
古い文献では「檜葉」がヒノキの葉を指すことがある。
In old documents, 檜葉 can refer to the leaves of the hinoki cypress.
Variant kanji spelling; 桧 is a simplified form of 檜. Rarely used.
The word ひば (hiba) is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 檜葉 literally mean 'hinoki leaf', but the word refers to a distinct species. The exact derivation is uncertain.