bean sprouts: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “bean sprouts” mean?
The young, edible shoots that grow from germinated beans, typically mung beans or soybeans, eaten as a vegetable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The young, edible shoots that grow from germinated beans, typically mung beans or soybeans, eaten as a vegetable.
A common ingredient in East and Southeast Asian cuisines, valued for their crisp texture and nutritional content. Can metaphorically refer to something in an early stage of development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both varieties use the same term.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with 'health food' or 'alternative' cuisine in British English, while more mainstream in American English due to wider availability in supermarkets.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English, reflecting greater integration of Asian cuisines.
Grammar
How to Use “bean sprouts” in a Sentence
[verb] + bean sprouts (e.g., grow, rinse, stir-fry)bean sprouts + [verb] (e.g., bean sprouts add crunch)[adjective] + bean sprouts (e.g., fresh, crunchy, cooked)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bean sprouts” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to bean-sprout these mung beans for the recipe.
- She beansprouts her own pulses to ensure they're fresh.
American English
- You can bean sprout lentils at home quite easily.
- They bean-sprouted a batch for the salad bar.
adjective
British English
- The bean-sprout mixture was ready for harvesting.
- He prepared a bean sprout sandwich.
American English
- The bean sprout industry has grown significantly.
- She loves the bean-sprout flavor in pho.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of food import/export, agriculture, or restaurant supply.
Academic
Rare, except in nutritional science, agriculture, or culinary studies texts.
Everyday
Common in contexts of cooking, grocery shopping, and discussing food preferences.
Technical
Used in botany (describing the hypocotyl stage), horticulture, and food safety (regarding risk of bacterial contamination).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bean sprouts”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bean sprouts”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bean sprouts”
- Using singular 'bean sprout' when referring to the food item (almost always plural).
- Confusing 'bean sprouts' with 'alfalfa sprouts' or other sprout types.
- Misspelling as 'beansprouts' (sometimes accepted but less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They can carry a risk of bacterial contamination like E. coli or Salmonella. Health authorities often recommend cooking them, especially for vulnerable groups.
Bean sprouts come from larger beans like mung or soybeans and are thicker, crisper, and longer. Alfalfa sprouts come from tiny alfalfa seeds, are thinner, more delicate, and have a milder flavour.
Yes, easily. You need mung beans, a jar, water, and a dark place. Rinse them twice a day, and they'll sprout in 3-5 days.
'Sprouts' is a broader category that includes alfalfa, radish, broccoli, etc. 'Bean sprouts' specifies the source, which is important for culinary, nutritional, and safety distinctions.
The young, edible shoots that grow from germinated beans, typically mung beans or soybeans, eaten as a vegetable.
Bean sprouts is usually neutral to informal in register.
Bean sprouts: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːn ˌspraʊts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbin ˌspraʊts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'bean' that has 'sprouted' its first little tail-like shoot. The name describes exactly what it is.
Conceptual Metaphor
EARLY STAGE IS A SPROUT (e.g., 'The project is still in the bean sprout phase').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common type of bean used to produce standard 'bean sprouts'?