1.
plants, vegetation, trees and grasses
A collective term for plant life in general, encompassing both grasses and trees. Often used in literary or poetic contexts to refer to nature or the natural world.
Usage
草木 literally combines 草 (grass) and 木 (tree) to mean plant life collectively. It carries a slightly literary or poetic tone compared to simply saying 植物 (plants).
The fixed expression 草木も眠る丑三つ時 refers to the dead of night (around 2-3 AM), literally "the hour when even the plants sleep."
Common collocations
- 草木が茂る (vegetation grows thick)
- 草木が枯れる (plants wither)
- 草木が芽吹く (plants sprout)
- 草木が生い茂る (vegetation grows lush)