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bean; miniature; "bean" radical
Kanji 1640

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

From edamame to natto to tofu, Japan abounds in bean dishes. Learn about the most popular beans in Japan (unexpectedly named 小豆 and 大豆!), one of which is even popular with foxes! Find out which piece of furniture 豆 used to represent, as well as alternate meanings of 豆. Also discover its role as a radical in kanji such as 豊 (790: abundant). Finally, learn a Japanese insult that involves tofu!

Revision history:

May 30, 2021: 

  • p. 1: Significantly rewrote the introduction, which had discussed the etymology in Henshall’s now-outmoded edition.
  • p. 2: Updated the Henshall etymology.
  • p. 12: Updated Henshall’s comments about the etymologies of 登 and 短.
  • p. 12: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.
  • p. 16: Slightly modified the caption in various ways.

May 19, 2014: In a photo caption on p. 15, added the yomi of 豆助, which is まめすけ, as well as a little more information about what that word means.

Sept. 19, 2012: Added 4 photos to pp. 15–17. Also revised the definition of katsuobushi on p. 8.

June 2, 2012: Added a photo to p. 14.

Comments

chooo's picture
mame ga suki
 
eve's picture
はい、美味しいですね!Last night I had a dish from a Himalayan restaurant with 19 types of beans! I didn't even recognize some of them!
 

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JOYO ON-YOMI
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RADICAL豆 (151: bean)
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