豆芽
dòuyá
The English phrase bean sprout is translated into Chinese as 豆芽 (dòuyá). Wiktionary also lists 綠豆芽 / 绿豆芽 (lǜdòuyá).
Meaning: a sprout of the mung bean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 豆芽 | dòuyá |
| 綠豆芽 / 绿豆芽 | lǜdòuyá |
What does it mean word for word?
The word 豆芽 is composed of 豆 (bean) and 芽 (sprout).
Which one should you use?
豆芽 is a general term for bean sprouts. If you want to be specific, 绿豆芽 refers specifically to sprouts made from mung beans (green beans), while 黄豆芽 is used to specify soybean sprouts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term 豆芽菜 is commonly used to mean bean sprout. In Hong Kong, the term 豆芽 is common.
How do you pronounce it?
dòuyá
Did you know?
- In Chinese slang, calling someone a 豆芽菜 (bean sprout vegetable) can imply they are very thin or frail, much like the delicate structure of the sprout.
- In some parts of China, there is a traditional belief that eating too many 豆芽 can lead to 'coldness' in the body, as they are categorized as 'cool' foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- In Chinese cuisine, the removal of the 'head' and 'tail' of the 豆芽 is a common preparation step in high-end restaurants to ensure a uniform texture and appearance.
Examples in context
- 我最喜欢在汤里加一些绿豆芽。I love adding some mung bean sprouts to my soup.
- 我想吃炒豆芽。Wǒ xiǎng chī chǎo dòuyá.I want to eat stir-fried bean sprouts.
- 这些豆芽很新鲜。Zhèxiē dòuyá hěn xīnxiān.These bean sprouts are very fresh.
- 请把豆芽洗一下。Qǐng bǎ dòuyá xǐ yīxià.Please wash the bean sprouts.
Example conversation
At a grocery store.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这些豆芽多少钱一斤？Zhèxiē dòuyá duōshǎo qián yī jīn?How much is a jin of these bean sprouts?
- 伟 Wei两块钱一斤。Liǎng kuài qián yī jīn.Two yuan per jin.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我要一斤。Nà wǒ yào yī jīn.Then I want one jin.
- 伟 Wei好的，请稍等。Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.Okay, please wait a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bean sprout” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
