bon·sai 
(bŏn-sī, bŏnsī′, -zī′)
(bŏn-sī, bŏnsī′, -zī′)n. pl. bonsai
1. The art of growing dwarfed, ornamentally shaped trees or shrubs in small shallow pots or trays.
2. A tree or shrub grown by this method.
[Japanese, potted plant : bon, basin (from Early Middle Chinese bən; also the source of Mandarin pén) + sai, to plant (from Middle Chinese tsəj; also the source of Mandarin zāi).]