Chinese banana; plantain
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
Chinese banana; plantain; Musa basjoo
Refers to the banana plant, specifically the hardy species Musa basjoo or similar varieties. Often appears in classical Chinese poetry and literature, associated with rain sounds and summer shade. The leaves are traditionally used to make fans (芭蕉扇).
Yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhòng种
le了
jǐ几
zhū株
bā芭
jiāo蕉
。
Several banana plants are growing in the courtyard.
Yǔ雨
dǎ打
bā芭
jiāo蕉
，
shēng声
shēng声
rù入
ěr耳
。
The rain beats upon the banana leaves, each sound falling clearly upon the ear.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Bā芭
jiāo蕉
yè叶
dà大
rú如
shàn扇
，
kě可
yǐ以
yòng用
lái来
zhē遮
yáng阳
。
The banana leaves are as large as fans and can be used for shade.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
zhí植
wù物
zài在
gǔ古
diǎn典
shī诗
cí词
zhōng中
cháng常
bèi被
chēng称
wéi为
bā芭
jiāo蕉
。
This plant is often referred to as 'bājiāo' in classical poetry.