Their literal translations are identical. I suspect that bonsai is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of P'en Tsai hundreds of years ago. The Chinese tend to utilize bolder colors in their containers, however. The use of brighter glazes is a Chinese tradition. I don't ever recall seeing a red or yellow glazed Japanese pot.
Japanese red is a dull brick red and the yellow tends to be more ochre or pastel.
Chinese reds and yellows are more like what you might see on new fire trucks and school buses. Some terms related to bonsai growing will be used extensively throughout this course. I would lke to define them so that we have a standard to refer back to. This may help avoid confusion in subsequent weeks. The transition between trunk and roots that gives the bonsai its widest point.