Chinese word

豆子

Pronunciation

Pinyindòu zi

Meaning

  • nounbean

Example

桌子上有一盘豆子。zhuō zi shàng yǒu yì pán dòu zi

There is a plate of beans on the table.

Illustration for 豆子 (bean)

More examples

妈妈把豆子泡在水里准备做豆腐。mā mā bǎ dòu zi pào zài shuǐ lǐ zhǔn bèi zuò dòu fǔ

Mom soaks the beans in water to prepare to make tofu.

Core concept

A tiny seed or fruit seen as a separate, usable piece of food.

Common phrases

  • 一颗豆子yì kē dòu zi

    a bean

  • 吃豆子chī dòu zi

    eat beans

  • 种豆子zhǒng dòu zi

    plant beans

Similar words

豆dòu: Edible beans considered as a food type, often named on food products or packages.
种子zhǒng zi: The part of a plant that can sprout and produce a new plant, as discussed in farming or gardening.

Definition in Chinese

通常指可食用的豆类或其他植物的单个种子或豆粒，也可泛指小而圆的种子或果实。tōng cháng zhǐ kě shí yòng de dòu lèi huò qí tā zhí wù de dān gè zhǒng zi huò dòu lì yě kě fàn zhǐ xiǎo ér yuán de zhǒng zi huò guǒ shí

Word origin

The older character 豆 (dòu, "bean") began as a picture of a food vessel and later came to denote beans; adding 子 (zi, "noun-forming suffix") produces 豆子 (dòuzi, "bean") as a familiar everyday noun.

Usage tips

  • The word can cover different edible seeds, so the surrounding food context usually matters more than an exact botanical classification.

Related words

  • 大豆dà dòusoybeannoun
  • 豆腐dòu fǔtofunoun
  • 豆类dòu lèilegumesnoun

Word lists with this word