Japanese banana
- noun
:
plátano japonés
- He admired the impressive leaves of the Japanese banana growing by the pond.
Examples
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Gardeners in temperate regions often plant the Japanese banana for its lush, tropical appearance.
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Many gardeners love the Japanese bananas for their ornamental value.
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The Japanese banana can survive cold winters better than other banana species.
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The Japanese banana is known for its large, lush leaves.
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The garden was beautifully decorated with vibrant Japanese bananas, showcasing their large and lush leaves.
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In summer, the Japanese banana trees provide a stunning backdrop with their striking foliage.
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I planted several Japanese bananas in my backyard to add an exotic touch to the landscape.
Synonyms
A banana plant that can live in cool weather and is grown for its tropical leaves rather than its fruit
How Decorative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase combines the adjective 'Japanese' (of or connected with Japan) with 'banana' (the plant), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer it refers to a banana plant associated with Japan. While they may not know the specific species (Musa basjoo) or the decorative-leaf nuance, the overall meaning is compositionally predictable and follows common adj+noun patterns found cross-linguistically.
Etymology
Japanese banana may come from Japan, and people used banana because its large, banana-like leaves give a tropical look even though its fruit is 'not for eating'. That's why Japanese banana now means a decorative banana plant grown for its big leaves that can survive cool weather.