宿木(やどりぎ)

やどりぎ
noun
mistletoe; parasitic plant
natureplant-general
1. mistletoe; parasitic plant that grows on trees
A semi-parasitic evergreen plant that grows attached to the branches of host trees, drawing water and nutrients from them.
木(き)の枝(えだ)に宿木(やどりぎ)がついている。
There's mistletoe growing on the tree branches.
冬(ふゆ)になると葉(は)が落(お)ちた木(き)に宿木(やどりぎ)が目立(めだ)つ。
In winter, mistletoe stands out on bare trees.
西洋(せいよう)ではクリスマスに宿木(やどりぎ)の下(した)でキスをする風習(ふうしゅう)がある。
In Western culture, there is a tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas.

The word comes from 宿(やど) (lodging) + 木(ぎ) (tree), literally "a tree that lodges on another tree." Also written as 寄生木(やどりぎ). In Japanese culture, 宿木(やどりぎ) is also known as a chapter title in The Tale of Genji (源氏物語(げんじものがたり)), one of the later chapters.

Common collocations

  • 宿木(やどりぎ)がつく: mistletoe attaches to (a tree)
  • 宿木(やどりぎ)の実(み): mistletoe berries
  • 宿木(やどりぎ)の下(した): under the mistletoe

Botanical note

Mistletoe is a semi-parasite (半寄生(はんきせい)) — it has green leaves and can photosynthesize, but it also draws water and minerals from the host tree through specialized roots.

general
Added 2026.4.7 4:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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