绿豆
lǜdòu
The English phrase "mung bean" is translated into Mandarin as 绿豆 (lǜdòu).
绿豆 refers to the seed of the Vigna radiata plant.
Meaning: seed of Vigna radiata (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 绿 (lǜ), meaning green and 豆 (dòu), meaning bean.
How do you pronounce it?
lǜdòu
When do people say it?
In Chinese culture, a common traditional remedy is to drink 绿豆汤 (mung bean soup) to "clear heat" and cool the body during hot weather.
Did you know?
- In ancient China, 豆 (dòu) did not just mean 'bean' but also described a specific type of ritual vessel or stemmed bowl used for offering food.
- Despite the literal meaning of 'green bean', the seeds of 绿豆 are often processed into a translucent, colorless starch used to make 'crystal' dumplings.
- While 绿豆 means 'green bean', it refers specifically to the mung bean and not the long green snap beans known as 'green beans' in English.
Examples in context
- 用绿豆糊来制作绿豆汤非常简单。It's very easy to make mung bean soup using mung bean paste.
- 我想买一些绿豆。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē lǜdòu.I want to buy some mung beans.
- 超市里有绿豆吗？Chāoshì lǐ yǒu lǜdòu ma?Does the supermarket have mung beans?
- 这个汤是用绿豆做的。Zhège tāng shì yòng lǜdòu zuò de.This soup is made with mung beans.
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Junjie and Jiayi are shopping.
- 俊杰 Junjie佳怡，我们要买绿豆吗？Jiāyí, wǒmen yào mǎi lǜdòu ma?Jiayi, do we need to buy mung beans?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，我想做绿豆汤。Shì de, wǒ xiǎng zuò lǜdòu tāng.Yes, I want to make mung bean soup.
- 俊杰 Junjie那我们就去买一袋吧。Nà wǒmen jiù qù mǎi yī dài ba.Then let's go buy a bag.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好的，谢谢你，俊杰。Hǎo de, xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié.Okay, thank you, Junjie.
