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.
A chinaberry tree is planted in the park.
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.
栴檀は双葉より芳し。
The sandalwood tree is fragrant from its seedling leaves. (proverb: genius shows from childhood)
In old texts, 栴檀 sometimes refers to sandalwood.
Standard kanji spelling for the chinaberry tree; also used in the proverb 栴檀は双葉より芳し.
Katakana spelling often used in botanical contexts.
Alternate kanji for the chinaberry tree; less common than 栴檀.
The kanji 栴檀 originally referred to sandalwood in Chinese, but in Japanese it came to designate the chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach). The exact historical shift is uncertain.