錦草

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
錦	草
にしき Grade: S	そう Grade: 1
yutōyomi

Literally, “brocade grass”, 錦(にしき) (nishiki, “brocade”) + 草(そう) (sō, “grass, plant”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɲ̟iɕikʲiso̞ː]

Noun

錦(にしき)草(そう) or 錦草(ニシキソウ) • (nishikisō) 

1. Euphorbia humifusa, a species of spurge

   Synonym: 錦草 (nishiki-gusa)

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary).}

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
錦	草
にしき Grade: S	くさ > ぐさ Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Literally, “brocade grass”, 錦(にしき) (nishiki, “brocade”) + 草(くさ) (kusa, “grass, plant”). The kusa changes to gusa as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɲ̟iɕikʲiɡɯ̟sa̠]

Noun

錦(にしき)草(ぐさ) • (nishikigusa) 

1. Synonym of 紅葉 (momiji, “autumn leaves”)
2. Synonym of 錦草 (nishiki-sō, “Euphorbia humifusa, a species of spurge”)