Back Sojaboon Afrikaans Sojabohne GSW አኩሪ አተር Amharic Glycine max AN सोयाबीन ANP فول الصويا Arabic فول الصويا ARZ চয়াবিন Assamese Glycine max AST Soya Azerbaijani
| Soybean | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Glycine |
| Species: | G. max
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| Binomial name | |
| Glycine max | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| Soybean | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 大豆 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "large bean" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Southern Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 黃豆 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 黄豆 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "yellow bean" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Vietnamese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vietnamese alphabet | đậu tương (or đỗ tương) đậu nành | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chữ Hán | 豆漿 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chữ Nôm | 豆𥢃 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hangul | 대두 백태(or 흰콩) 메주콩 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanja | 大豆 白太 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "large bean" "white bean" "bean for meju" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanji | 大豆[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kana | ダイズ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (Glycine max)[3] is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean. Soy is a staple crop, the world's most grown legume, and an important animal feed.[4]
Soy is a key source of food, useful both for its protein and oil content. Soybean oil is widely used in cooking, as well as in industry. Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include edamame, as well as soy milk, from which tofu and tofu skin are made. Fermented soy foods include soy sauce, fermented bean paste, nattō, and tempeh. Fat-free (defatted) soybean meal is a significant and cheap source of protein for animal feeds and many packaged meals.[4] For example, soybean products, such as textured vegetable protein (TVP), are ingredients in many meat and dairy substitutes.[4][5] Soy based foods are traditionally associated with East Asian cuisines, and still constitute a major part of East Asian diets, but processed soy products are increasingly used in Western cuisines.
Soy has been cultivated since ancient times, and was domesticated in China or another part of East Asia sometime between 3500 and 5000 BCE. Brazil and the United States lead the world in modern soy production. The majority of soybeans are genetically modified,[6] usually for either insect, herbicide, or drought resistance. Three-quarters of soy is used to feed livestock, which in turn go to feed humans. Increasing demand for meat has substantially increased soy production since the 1980's, and contributed to deforestation in the Amazon.
Soybeans contain significant amounts of phytic acid, dietary minerals and B vitamins. Soy may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Some people are allergic to soy. Soy is a complete protein and therefore important in the diets of many vegetarians and vegans. The association of soy with vegans and the misconception that soy increases estrogen production have led to "soy boy" being used as a derogatory term.[7]
- ^ "Glycine max". Encyclopedia of Life (EoL). Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Generally written in katakana, not kanji.
- ^ "Glycine max". Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Rotundo JL, Marshall R, McCormick R, et al. (March 2024). "European soybean to benefit people and the environment". Scientific Reports. 14 (1): 7612. Bibcode:2024NatSR..14.7612R. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-57522-z. PMC 10982307. PMID 38556523.
- ^ Riaz MN (2006). Soy Applications in Food. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-2981-4.
- ^ "Pocket K No. 16: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2014". isaaa.org. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ^ Reynolds G (October 25, 2019). "Why do people hate vegans?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 11, 2025.