栴せん檀だん

noun

chinaberry; Japanese bead tree

Refers to the tree Melia azedarach, known for its fragrant flowers and poisonous fruit. Often written in kana in general use, but the kanji 栴檀 is common in the proverb.

• 公こう園えんにセンダンの木きが植うえられている。

  A chinaberry tree is planted in the park.

• 栴せん檀だんは双ふた葉ばより芳かんばし。

  The sandalwood tree is fragrant from its seedling leaves. (proverb: genius shows from childhood)

noun

Indian sandalwood

Rare, archaic, or mistaken use for Indian sandalwood (Santalum album). In modern Japanese, sandalwood is usually called 白檀 (びゃくだん). This sense may appear in classical texts or due to historical confusion.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、栴せん檀だんが白びゃく檀だんを指さすことがある。

  In old texts, 栴檀 sometimes refers to sandalwood.