莢(さや)

さや
noun
pod; shell; hull (of beans or peas)
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(���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���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���)から出(だ)す: to remove from the pod

COMPOUND WORDS:

  • 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)
general
Added 2026.4.22 18:24
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