莢(さや)

さや
noun
pod; shell; hull (of beans or peas)
foodnature
1. pod; shell; hull
The outer casing of legumes such as peas, beans, and edamame that encloses the seeds.
枝豆(えだまめ)の莢(さや)をむく。
To shell edamame pods.
莢(さや)ごと食(た)べられる豆(まめ)もある。
Some beans can be eaten pod and all.
莢(さや)が膨(ふく)らんで中(なか)の豆(まめ)が大(おお)きくなったら収穫(しゅうかく)の時期(じき)だ。
When the pods swell and the beans inside grow large, it's time to harvest.

Written with the kanji 莢(さや) (the grass radical indicates it is plant-related). This word appears frequently in cooking and gardening contexts. Not to be confused with the homophone 鞘(さや) (sheath/scabbard for a blade).

Many common Japanese vegetables include 莢(さや) in their names.

Common collocations

  • 莢(さや)をむく: to shell pods
  • 莢(さや)ごと: pod and all; with the pod
  • 莢(さや)から出(だ)す: to remove from the pod

Compounds

  • 莢(さや)豌豆(えんどう): snow peas; snap peas
  • 莢(さや)隠元(いんげん): string beans; green beans (with pods)
  • 莢(さや)付(つ)き: with pods still on

Similar words

  • 鞘(さや): sheath; scabbard (for swords or knives — different kanji, same reading)
  • 殻(から): shell; husk (for nuts, eggs, shellfish)

Related Words

Homophone: 鞘(さや) (sheath)
Compare: 殻(から) (shell)
general
Added 2026.4.22 18:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
24500/24985_saya