soy
soy — noun
1. a small, round, light-coloured bean that grows in pods and is widely farmed as a
a small, round, light-coloured bean that grows in pods and is widely farmed as a food crop; the beans can be cooked whole or processed into products such as tofu, soy sauce, oil, and animal feed.
Farmers in Iowa grow large fields of soy every summer.
uncountable noun — the crop as a mass commodity
Sahil added cooked soy to the salad for extra protein.
The price of soy has risen because of global demand for animal feed.
Tamar bought a bag of dried soy to make her own tofu at home.
Many processed foods contain soy or soy-based ingredients.
文法句型
used as a mass noun for the crop or commodity
用法筆記
In casual conversation, 'soy' is used as an uncountable shorthand for the whole beans, the crop, or the broader commodity. When referring specifically to the individual beans as a visible food item, 'soybeans' is more natural.
常見錯誤
2. a dark brown liquid with a salty, savoury taste, made by fermenting soybeans wit
a dark brown liquid with a salty, savoury taste, made by fermenting soybeans with wheat and salt; used as a seasoning or dipping sauce, especially in East and Southeast Asian cooking.
Ziad added a splash of soy to the stir-fry for flavour.
a splash of soy — informal cooking collocation
This recipe calls for two tablespoons of light soy and one of dark.
light soy / dark soy — two main varieties distinguished
Élise always keeps a bottle of soy next to the stove when she cooks.
The dipping sauce is simply soy mixed with a little vinegar and chilli.
Kofi prefers low-sodium soy to reduce salt in his meals.
- soy sauce
the full, formal term; always appropriate and unambiguous
- shoyu
Japanese-style soy sauce, typically made with wheat; used in Japanese cuisine contexts
- tamari
a wheat-free soy sauce with a thicker, richer flavour; often used in gluten-free cooking
- soya sauce
British English variant of soy sauce
文法句型
used as a mass noun for the sauce
用法筆記
Restaurant menus and recipes almost always use the full term 'soy sauce' for clarity. The abbreviated 'soy' is common in casual speech and home cooking contexts.
常見錯誤
3. a pale, creamy liquid made by soaking, grinding, and straining soybeans with wat
a pale, creamy liquid made by soaking, grinding, and straining soybeans with water; used as a plant-based alternative to cow's milk in drinks, cooking, and breakfast cereals.
Rin pours soy over her cereal instead of cow's milk.
pours soy over cereal — breakfast use of soy milk
The café offers both regular milk and soy for coffee drinks.
soy for coffee drinks — common café menu option
Jude checked the carton to make sure the soy was unsweetened.
Théo uses soy when baking cakes so his vegan friends can eat them.
Some people switch to soy because they cannot digest lactose.
- soya milk
British English variant
- soy beverage
formal or commercial term often used on packaging
- plant milk
broader category that includes soy milk alongside almond, oat, and rice milks
- cow's milk
dairy milk, the traditional animal-based alternative
- dairy milk
formal term for milk from cows
文法句型
used as a mass noun for the milk alternative
用法筆記
In Taiwan and many other places, 'soy milk' (豆漿) can refer to both sweet and savoury preparations, unlike Western-style soy milk which is typically sweetened or flavoured for cereal and coffee.