Japanese cypress
檜 centers on the Japanese cypress tree, a specific evergreen conifer valued for its wood and often found in shrines and temples.
檜 combines 木 (tree) with 會, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to gathering or meeting, but the exact historical reason for this combination is uncertain.
A tree (木) that gathers (會) attention with its fragrant wood and sacred presence: that's the Japanese cypress.
For カイ, imagine a cypress tree by the sea (海, かい): the sound of the waves matches カイ, and the tree stands tall like a coastal landmark.
hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa); Japanese cypress
hiba false arborvitae (species of cypress, Thujopsis dolabrata)
hinoki leaf
spruce tree (esp. Picea jezoensis hondoensis, a variety of Ezo spruce)
Norway spruce (Picea abies)
Maries' fir (Abies mariesii)
Selaginella tamariscina (species of spikemoss)
formal folding fan made of hinoki cypress
Arctic iris (Iris setosa)
cypress woodland
dusky-red; color of cypress bark
stage made of Japanese cypress (in noh, kabuki, etc.)
Japanese cypress wood bathtub; hinoki tub
Norway spruce (Picea abies)
Veitch's silver fir (Abies veitchii)
Veitch's silver fir (Abies veitchii)
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea (ornamental variety of hinoki cypress)
Japanese arborvitae (Thuja standishii)