红豆
hóngdòu
The English phrase "red bean" is translated into Chinese as 红豆 (hóngdòu).
It is a type of legume often used in sweet desserts and traditional Asian cooking.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the adjective 红 (hóng), meaning 'red' and the noun 豆 (dòu), meaning 'bean'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, red bean is commonly referred to as 紅豆.
How do you pronounce it?
hóngdòu
Did you know?
- In Chinese poetry, 红豆 is often a metaphor for 'lovesickness' or 'longing'. This stems from a legendary tale where a person planted seeds of longing that grew into these specific beans.
- While 红豆 describes the bean, the red bean paste used in cakes is called 红豆沙. The word 沙 means 'sand', referring to the smooth or grainy texture of the paste.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, 红豆 is classified by its thermal effect on the body, such as being 'heating' or 'cooling', rather than just by its botanical species.
Examples in context
- 我喜欢吃红豆糕。I like eating red bean cake.
- 我喜欢吃豆沙包。I like eating red bean buns.
- 这款月饼里有红豆沙。This mooncake has red bean paste inside.
- 我想吃红豆汤。Wǒ xiǎng chī hóngdòu tāng.I want to eat red bean soup.
- 这个甜点里有红豆。Zhège tiándiǎn lǐ yǒu hóngdòu.There are red beans in this dessert.
- 红豆的味道很甜。Hóngdòu de wèidào hěn tián.The red beans taste very sweet.
Example conversation
Two friends are choosing a dessert at a cafe.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你想吃什么甜点？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng chī shénme tiándiǎn?Yuting, what dessert do you want to eat?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想要红豆冰。Wǒ xiǎng yào hóngdòu bīng.I want red bean ice.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也喜欢红豆。Wǒ yě xǐhuān hóngdòu.I like red beans too.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我们点两份吧。Nà wǒmen diǎn liǎng fèn ba.Then let's order two servings.
