Proverb / Kotowaza
大豆は米にまさる
Soybeans have higher nutritional value than rice and are exceptionally beneficial for health.
Soybeans surpass rice
Quick Answer
Soybeans have higher nutritional value than rice and are exceptionally beneficial for health.
- Literal Image
- Soybeans surpass rice
- How to Use It
- Used when discussing the high nutritional value of soybeans or encouraging their consumption as part of a healthy diet.
Meaning
This proverb highlights that soybeans are nutritionally superior to rice, particularly in their protein content. It emphasizes the importance of soybeans as a health-promoting food, compared to meat in terms of its value to the body.
Literal Image
Soybeans surpass rice
How to Use It
Used when discussing the high nutritional value of soybeans or encouraging their consumption as part of a healthy diet.
Tone
Informative and appreciative of nutritional value.
Examples
大豆は米にまさると言われるほど、タンパク質が豊富に含まれている。
Soybeans contain so much protein that it is said they surpass rice.
主食だけでなく、大豆は米にまさるという考えで豆腐や納豆も積極的に食べよう。
In addition to staples, let's actively eat tofu and natto based on the idea that soybeans surpass rice.
栄養学の視点からも、大豆は米にまさるという言葉は理にかなっている。
Even from a nutritional perspective, the saying that soybeans surpass rice makes sense.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of standard nouns for food and a verb for comparison, though the idiomatic context of rice as the staple makes the comparison idiomatic.
大豆
だいず / daizu
soybean
米
こめ / kome
rice
まさる
まさる / masaru
to surpass; to be superior
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
The proverb refers specifically to nutritional superiority; it is not used to suggest that rice is bad or unnecessary, but rather to elevate the status of soybeans.
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Origin
This expression praises the extremely high nutritional content of soybeans, particularly plant-based protein. It is related to the description of soybeans as the 'meat of the field' (hatake no niku).
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.