さかき

Japanese

For pronunciation and definitions of さかき – see the following entry.

【榊】J [noun] a tree of species Cleyera japonica, considered sacred in Shinto [noun] any evergreen tree planted within precincts of a Shinto shrine [proper noun] a placename [proper noun] a female given name [proper noun] a surname Alternative spellings 賢木, サカキ

(This term, さかき, is the hiragana spelling of the above term.) For a list of all kanji read as さかき, see Category:Japanese kanji read as さかき.)

Old Japanese

Etymology

Possibly a compound of 咲か (saka, the 未然形 (mizenkei, “irrealis form”) of verb 咲く (saku), “to bloom”) +‎ 木 (ki₂, “tree”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Alternatively, the initial saka is cognate with verb 榮ゆ (sakayu, “to flourish, thrive”).

Noun

さかき (sakaki₂)

1. any evergreen tree planted within precincts of a Shinto shrine

Derived terms

• いちさかき (itisakaki₂, “Eurya japonica”)
• つきさかき (tuki₁-sakaki₂)

Descendants

• Japanese: 榊 (sakaki)