豆
Meanings
General term for edible legumes and their seeds, such as beans, peas, and pulses.
I boil beans and eat them.
These beans are very small.
Specifically refers to soybeans (Glycine max). Often used in contexts where the type of bean is clear.
See also: 大豆
Tofu is made from soybeans.
Colloquial and somewhat vulgar slang for female genitalia, especially the clitoris. Use with caution.
In slang, 'mame' can refer to female genitalia.
Colloquial term for kidney, often used in food contexts (e.g., offal dishes). Usually written in kana.
I ordered kidney at the yakitori shop.
Prefix meaning small, miniature, or child-like. Used in compounds like 豆電球 (miniature light bulb) or 豆本 (miniature book).
We did an experiment using a miniature light bulb.
My hobby is collecting miniature books.
Usage patterns
- 豆を煮るto boil/simmer beans
My mother boils beans every night to make side dishes.
- 豆をまくto scatter beans (as in the Setsubun tradition)
On the night of Setsubun, we scatter beans to drive away demons.
- 豆を炒るto roast beans
We roast the beans first to bring out the aroma before making coffee.
Expressions
- 這っても黒豆insisting one is right even after being proven wrong
- 炒り豆に花が咲くcome back to life; spring back into life
- 陰裏の豆もはじけ時all girls eventually awaken to sex
- 鳩が豆鉄砲を食ったようwide-eyed in shock; dumbfounded