also: こうそんじゅ
noun
ginkgo; maidenhair tree
Refers to the tree Ginkgo biloba, its leaves, or its nuts. Commonly written in katakana as イチョウ.
秋になると、イチョウの葉が黄色くなる。
In autumn, ginkgo leaves turn yellow.
神社の境内に大きなイチョウの木がある。
There is a large ginkgo tree in the shrine grounds.
Literary Chinese-derived name meaning 'grandson tree'; very rare. The reading こうそんじゅ is restricted to this form.
Ateji spelling using kanji for 'silver' and 'apricot'; the reading いちょう is a gikun/jukujikun. Rarely used in modern writing.
Obscure variant meaning 'duck-foot tree'; almost never used.
The Japanese name イチョウ likely derives from Chinese 鴨脚 (yājiǎo, 'duck foot'), referring to the leaf shape. The kanji 銀杏 are ateji borrowed from Chinese, where they originally referred to the apricot-like fruit.