Japanese leaf
- noun
:
hoja japonesa
- The Japanese leaf thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, making it ideal for indoor spaces.
Examples
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She decorated the office with a large potted Japanese leaf near the window.
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The Japanese leaf is a popular choice for brightening up living rooms.
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Gardeners appreciate how easy it is to care for a Japanese leaf indoors.
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The Japanese leaf adds a unique touch to any room.
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I bought a beautiful Japanese leaf plant yesterday.
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Many people choose to grow a Japanese leaf plant because of its striking appearance.
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To enhance interior gardens, many use a Japanese leaf as a decorative element.
Synonyms
A tropical plant with large green and white leaves often grown as a houseplant that does well in low light
A plant with large green or patterned leaves that grows well in low light indoors
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'Japanese' (of or relating to Japan) + 'leaf' (a plant leaf), so a B1 learner who knows both words would reasonably infer it denotes a leaf or plant associated with Japan. Although it may refer to a specific ornamental species, the basic meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common modifier+noun pattern cross-linguistically.
Etymology
The noun Japanese leaf may come from plant sellers who brought a popular houseplant from Japan, or from the way a big green leaf looked like a small Japanese paper fan. So the name gives an easy image of a decorative 'houseplant' with large or variegated leaves.
