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Japanese persimmon

Japanese persimmon

7.1
A small tree that grows large orange fruit people eat when ripe
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz pərˈsɪmən/
translation icon : kaki japonés
  • The Japanese persimmon is prized for its large, sweet fruit and ornamental value.

Examples

  • Have you tried Japanese persimmons?

  • I love eating Japanese persimmons in the fall.

  • Farmers harvested the ripe Japanese persimmons late in the autumn for market.

  • My grandmother makes a delicious jam from Japanese persimmon each year.

  • The Japanese persimmon is known for its sweet, flavorful flesh when fully ripe.

  • In East Asia, many people enjoy picking fresh persimmons from local trees during the autumn harvest.

  • When the persimmons are ripe, they turn a vibrant orange color, attracting many fruit lovers.

Synonyms

persimmon
vsJapanese persimmon
4 6.7

A tree that grows in warm places and makes sweet orange fruit

is more specific and refers only to the East Asian species with astringent fruit
persimmon tree
vsJapanese persimmon
1 6.4

A tree that grows sweet orange fruit eaten in autumn

is narrower and names the specific small East Asian tree with astringent fruit
kaki
vsJapanese persimmon
1 9.9

A small Asian tree that produces large orange fruit you can eat

is identical in meaning but uses an English descriptive name
Diospyros kaki
vsJapanese persimmon
  • Specialized
9.9

A small Asian tree that produces large orange fruit called persimmons

uses the ordinary descriptive name rather than a scientific label

Surface Forms

Morphology

Japanese + persimmon

The meaning is directly compositional: the adjective 'Japanese' specifies origin/association and 'persimmon' names the fruit/tree, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a persimmon from Japan or a Japanese variety. This adjective+noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic way to mark origin, making the expression transparent rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

The name Japanese persimmon simply names a type of persimmon that comes from Japan and is often called kaki, a bright orange fruit. One popular story says the word persimmon comes from an old Native American word for a fruit that becomes sweet when ripe, so the name helps you remember it means 'a small tree with large orange edible fruit'.