橦
paulownia; tung tree; parasol tree; ancient kapok
Meanings
5 senses · 11 examplesnoun
paulownia tree (Paulownia spp.)
Refers to fast-growing deciduous trees with showy flowers, prized for lightweight timber.
This paulownia tree grows very fast.
Paulownia wood is excellent material for making guzheng instruments.
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In spring, the paulownia trees are covered with purple blossoms.
noun
tung oil tree (Vernicia fordii)
A small deciduous tree cultivated for its seeds which yield tung oil used in varnishes and paints.
The fruit of the tung oil tree can be pressed for oil.
This hillside is planted full of tung trees.
noun
Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex)
Distinct from paulownia; a large deciduous tree with palmately lobed leaves, often associated with phoenixes in mythology and autumn in poetry.
A Chinese parasol tree is planted in the courtyard.
When the parasol tree leaves fall, autumn has arrived.
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Legend says that phoenixes will not roost on any tree but the parasol tree.
noun
kapok tree (Bombax ceiba), as mentioned in ancient texts
archaicArchaic usage found in classical literature where 桐 was used to denote the kapok or silk-cotton tree.
The tóng recorded in ancient texts sometimes refers to what is today called the kapok tree.
The kapok tree was called tóng in ancient books.
noun
surname Tong
Used as a family name.
Mr. Tong is a famous painter.