bonsai

noun

bon·​sai (ˌ)bōn-ˈsī 

ˈbōn-ˌsī,

ˈbän-ˌsī 

 also  ˈbän-ˌzī

plural bonsai

: a potted plant (such as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape

also : the art of growing such a plant

Illustration of bonsai

Did you know?

This is a living dwarf tree. The word bonsai can also refer to the art of training and growing these dwarf plants in containers. Bonsai specimens are ordinary trees and shrubs, not hereditary dwarfs; they are dwarfed by a system of pruning roots and branches and training branches by tying them with wire. The art originated in China, but has been pursued and developed primarily by the Japanese. The inspiration for bonsai is found in nature, in trees that grow in harsh, rocky places, and are dwarfed and gnarled throughout their existence. Bonsai may live for a century or more and can be handed down from one generation to another. Bonsai pots, usually earthenware and of variable shape, are carefully chosen to harmonize in color and proportion with the tree. A sizable bonsai industry exists as part of the nursery industry in Japan. California is home to a small-scale bonsai industry.

Examples of bonsai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Visitors can enjoy taiko drumming, koto music and Nihon Buyo dance, explore booths selling bonsai and handmade ceramics, and sample a variety of culinary delights, from sushi and ramen to mochi. —Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025

Those with less patience can order a readymade bonsai online. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Jan. 2025

Authorities did not say if the bonsai were recovered during the arrest. —Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

Adjacent to the new conservatory is a new bonsai courtyard that will feature a rotating selection of 50 to 60 bonsai, many of which come from the dozens recently donated by the Kennett Collection, the largest outside Asia. —William O'Connor, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, literally, tray planting

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bonsai

noun

bon·​sai (ˈ)bōn-ˈsī  ˈbōn-ˌsī 

ˈbän-ˌsī

plural bonsai

: a miniature plant (as a tree) grown in a pot by special methods to restrict its growth

also : the art of growing such a plant

Etymology

Japanese