common bean; green bean
Refers to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), especially the immature pods eaten as a vegetable. Often used in compounds like インゲン豆.
See also: いんげん豆
I made green beans with sesame dressing for dinner.
These green beans are tender and delicious.
white kidney bean
green beans; string beans; French beans
scarlet runner bean
Katakana spelling is the most common written form for this vegetable; the kanji 隠元 is rarely used.
Hiragana spelling is also seen, but katakana is more typical for this plant name.
Kanji form is etymological and rarely used in modern writing; learners should recognize it but use kana.
Named after the Chinese monk Ingen (隠元隆琦, 1592–1673), who is traditionally credited with introducing the bean to Japan. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name has been associated with him since the Edo period.