Definition

1. Noun:
   • Gardenia: A type of flowering plant, often growing wild near water or in sparse forests, and also cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is characterized by its fragrant white flowers and yellow-fleshed fruit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hoa dành dành có mùi thơm rất dễ chịu. (Gardenia flowers have a very pleasant fragrance.)
  • Quả dành dành được dùng để nhuộm màu thực phẩm. (Gardenia fruit is used to color food.)
  • Cô ấy trồng một bụi dành dành trước hiên nhà. (She planted a gardenia bush in front of the porch.)

Advanced Usage

• The fruit of the gardenia is traditionally used in Vietnamese cuisine and medicine. Its yellow pigment is a natural food coloring for cakes, candies, and jams, and it is also used in herbal remedies.

Variants and Related Words

• Cây dành dành: The gardenia plant or tree.

  • Cây dành dành này ra hoa quanh năm. (This gardenia plant flowers all year round.)

• Hoa dành dành: Specifically refers to the gardenia flower.

  • Hoa dành dành tượng trưng cho sự thanh khiết. (The gardenia flower symbolizes purity.)

Synonyms

• Gardenia: The common English name for the plant.
• Cape jasmine: Another common name for some species of gardenia.

Related Cultural Notes

• In Vietnam, the gardenia is valued for its beauty and fragrance in gardens. Its use in food coloring and traditional medicine highlights its practical importance beyond ornamentation.

noun

1. (bot) gardenia