Japanese lacquer tree

9.3

A small East Asian tree that makes a poisonous sap used for lacquer

noun

: árbol de laca japonés

Because the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree is toxic, it must be handled with care.

Examples

Artisans have used the Japanese lacquer tree for centuries to create exquisite lacquerware.
The Japanese lacquer tree is known for its toxic sap.
The Japanese lacquer tree is cultivated for its valuable resin used in traditional crafts.
Many artisans use the sap from the Japanese lacquer tree for their crafts.
The Japanese lacquer tree produces a toxic sap that is used to create traditional lacquerware.
Artisans often use the sap from the Japanese lacquer tree to finish beautiful antique furniture.
Harvesting the sap from a Japanese lacquer tree requires careful handling due to its toxic properties.

Synonyms

Rhus verniciflua

vsJapanese lacquer tree

Specialized

9.9

A small Asian tree whose sap makes a hard shiny finish for wood and can cause skin allergy

is the common description rather than the formal Latin name

Toxicodendron vernicifluum

vsJapanese lacquer tree

Specialized

9.9

A small Asian tree that makes a poisonous sap used to make lacquer

is the everyday description rather than a botanical label

lacquer tree

vsJapanese lacquer tree

9.3

A small Asian tree that gives a poisonous sap used to make a hard shiny finish

specifies East Asia as the native region rather than all Asia

Japanese sumac

vsJapanese lacquer tree

9.9

A small Asian tree whose sap can cause a skin rash and is used to make lacquer

highlights East Asian origin more specifically than the general label

varnish tree

vsJapanese lacquer tree

Indian

9.9

A small Asian tree that gives a poisonous sap used to make lacquer

narrows the native area to East Asia rather than all of Asia

Chinese lacquer tree

vsJapanese lacquer tree

9.9

A small tree from China and Japan that makes a poisonous sap used to make a hard shiny coating

focuses on East Asia broadly without stressing China specifically

Japanese varnish tree

vsJapanese lacquer tree

9.9

A small tree from East Asia that loses its leaves and has toxic sap used to make lacquer

is the basic wild tree description without the ornamental cultivation note

Surface Forms

Japanese lacquer tree singular

Japanese lacquer trees plural

Morphology

Japanese + lacquer + tree

This noun phrase is fully compositional: 'Japanese' specifies origin, 'lacquer' names the substance, and 'tree' denotes the plant, so a learner who knows those words can infer it is a tree associated with lacquer (i.e., one that yields or is used for lacquer). The construction follows a common language pattern (substance + tree, and nationality + noun) and is therefore immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Japanese lacquer tree gets its name from the sticky, toxic sap the tree makes. Makers spread this sap in thin layers to make the shiny, hard finish called lacquer, so the name shows the tree is the source of that material.