bean sprout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, Common in culinary/health contexts.
Quick answer
What does “bean sprout” mean?
A sprout from a bean seed, especially from the mung bean, eaten as a vegetable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sprout from a bean seed, especially from the mung bean, eaten as a vegetable.
Any young shoot grown from a bean seed, valued as a crisp, nutritious ingredient, often associated with East Asian cuisine and vegetarian diets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical. The specific variety (e.g., mung bean vs. soy bean sprout) may be more commonly specified in the US due to diverse market offerings.
Connotations
Connotes healthy eating, stir-fries, and salads equally in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to the prominence of Chinese takeaways and stir-fry kits, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “bean sprout” in a Sentence
[Verb] + bean sprouts (e.g., add, rinse, stir-fry)Bean sprouts + [Verb] (e.g., bean sprouts add crunch)[Adjective] + bean sprouts (e.g., fresh, crispy)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bean sprout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to bean-sprout these mung beans for the recipe.
American English
- I'm going to sprout some beans for our salad.
adverb
British English
- [Extremely rare as an adverb]
American English
- [Extremely rare as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- She made a lovely bean-sprout salad.
- The bean-sprout mix was very fresh.
American English
- This sandwich has a bean sprout filling.
- He prefers the bean sprout variety from the local farm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in food import/export, retail (produce section), or restaurant supply.
Academic
Rare, may appear in nutritional studies, agricultural botany, or food science texts.
Everyday
Very common in cooking, shopping, and discussions about food, health, or vegetarianism.
Technical
Used in horticulture/agriculture for the specific growth stage; in culinary arts as an ingredient.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bean sprout”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bean sprout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bean sprout”
- Using singular 'bean sprout' when referring to the ingredient (usually plural).
- Misspelling as 'beansprout' (should be two words or hyphenated: 'bean-sprout').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While common in salads, raw bean sprouts have been linked to foodborne illness due to warm, humid growing conditions. Health authorities often recommend cooking them, especially for vulnerable groups.
The most common type sold in supermarkets is the mung bean sprout, known for its crisp, white shoot with a small yellow head.
Yes, easily. You need mung beans, a jar, water, and a few days. Rinse them regularly. It's a common home gardening project.
Bean sprouts (from mung/soy beans) are larger, crisper, and used in cooked dishes. Alfalfa sprouts are tiny, delicate, grassy-tasting, and used raw in sandwiches and salads.
A sprout from a bean seed, especially from the mung bean, eaten as a vegetable.
Bean sprout is usually neutral, common in culinary/health contexts. in register.
Bean sprout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːn ˌspraʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbin ˌspraʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'bean sprout'. Often appears in descriptive phrases like 'fresh as a bean sprout'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bean that SPROUTed a tail. It's a BEAN that decided to SPROUT and become food.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS LIGHT/FRESH GROWTH (e.g., 'live on bean sprouts and sunshine').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST typical context for the term 'bean sprouts'?