---
title: bonsai — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bonsai» in the school dictionary: A bonsai is a tree or shrub kept very small by growing it in a shallow pot and carefully cutting its roots and branches, so it looks like a tiny old tree. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bonsai

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bonsai, art, Grandpa, bonsai trees, We · **What happens:** be, keep, grow, cut, look, come · **To what, where:** tree, shrub, bonsai, shallow pot, roots, art

<!-- .vabout -->
«bonsai» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [bonsai in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bonsai.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bonsai is a tree or shrub kept very small by growing it in a shallow pot and carefully cutting its roots and branches, so it looks like a tiny old tree.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:m1:1
# text = A bonsai is a tree or shrub kept very small by growing it in a shallow pot and carefully cutting its roots and branches, so it looks like a tiny old tree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	shrub	shrub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
21	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
26	so	so	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
28	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
29	like	like	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
31	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	_	_
32	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	_	_
33	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bonsai | a tree or shrub |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  | shrub *not said here* |  |  |  | small *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **grow** | gerund |  | bonsai |  | a shallow pot |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location it=Theme |
| 4 | **cut** | gerund |  | bonsai's roots and branches |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset root=Product |
| 5 | **look** | present | bonsai |  |  |  |  | like a tiny old tree | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bonsai is the art of growing such trees, which comes from Japan and, before that, China.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:m2:1
# text = Bonsai is the art of growing such trees, which comes from Japan and, before that, China.
1	Bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	before	before	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bonsai | the art |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | the art *not said here* | such trees |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location tree=Theme |
| 3 | **come** | present | the art | China |  | Japan | before that |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from japan=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa trims his bonsai with tiny scissors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x1:1
# text = Grandpa trims his bonsai with tiny scissors.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	trims	trim	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trim** | present | Grandpa | Grandpa's bonsai |  |  |  | with tiny scissors | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent bonsai=Destination with scissors=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bonsai looked like a big old pine tree, but it was only 30 cm tall.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x2:1
# text = The bonsai looked like a big old pine tree, but it was only 30 cm tall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	pine	pine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
14	only	only	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
16	cm	cm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl:unmarked	_	_
17	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the bonsai |  |  |  |  | like a big old pine tree | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | bonsai |  |  |  |  | 30 cm *obl:unmarked*; tall *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bonsai is a Japanese art.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x3:1
# text = Bonsai is a Japanese art.
1	Bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Japanese	Japanese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bonsai | a Japanese art |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some bonsai trees are hundreds of years old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x4:1
# text = Some bonsai trees are hundreds of years old.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	bonsai	bonsai	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | some bonsai trees | hundreds |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bonsai needs a shallow pot and careful watering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x5:1
# text = A bonsai needs a shallow pot and careful watering.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	watering	watering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | a bonsai | a shallow pot and careful watering |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot pot=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a bonsai maple with red leaves at the garden show.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x6:1
# text = We saw a bonsai maple with red leaves at the garden show.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	bonsai	bonsai	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	maple	maple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a bonsai maple |  | the garden show |  | with red leaves | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer maple=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bonsai teaches you to be patient.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bonsai:x7:1
# text = Bonsai teaches you to be patient.
1	Bonsai	bonsai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	patient	patient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | Bonsai |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | Bonsai *not said here* |  |  |  |  | patient *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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