三葉

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
三	葉
みつ Grade: 1	は > ば Grade: 3
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
三つ葉

Literally, “three leaves”, 三(み)つ (mitsu, “three (objects)”) + 葉(は) (ha, “leaf”). The ha changes to ba as an instance of rendaku (連(れん)濁(だく)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mʲit͡sɨba̠]

Noun

三(みつ)葉(ば) or 三葉(ミツバ) • (mitsuba) 

1. a leaf of three parts
2. mitsuba, Cryptotaenia japonica

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary).

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
三	葉
さん Grade: 1	よう Grade: 3
on'yomi

Noun

三(さん)葉(よう) • (san'yō) 

1. (botany) a three part leaf, especially a three part compound leaf
2. synonym of 南天 (nanten, “nandina, heavenly bamboo, sacred bamboo: Nandina domestica”)