A legume is a plant that keeps its seeds in a pod — a long, thin case you can split open. Beans, peas, and lentils are the ones learners meet first. Peanuts are legumes too, even though shops sell them with the nuts; they grow in pods in the ground. Both the plant and its seeds can be called legumes.

A legume is a plantlegume是一種植物 that keeps its seeds in a pod把種子包在豆莢裡 — a long, thin case you can split open豆莢是一個長長、細細、可以剝開的殼。Beans, peas, and lentils豆子、豌豆和扁豆 are the ones learners meet first是學習者最先接觸到的例子。Peanuts are legumes too花生也是legume, even though shops sell them with the nuts雖然店裡把它跟堅果放在一起賣; they grow in pods in the ground它其實是在土裡的豆莢中生長的。Both the plant and its seeds植物本身和它的種子 can be called legumes都可以叫做legumes。

In a science book the word is careful and botanical. In the kitchen, people often just say beans, peas, or pulses.

In a science book在科學書裡, the word is careful and botanical這個詞用得很嚴謹、偏植物學。In the kitchen在廚房裡, people often just say大家通常就直接說 beans, peas, or pulsesbeans、peas或pulses（豆類）。

Though actually, if you know a little French, be careful: French légume means “vegetable,” any vegetable, not just this kind of plant. English borrowed the word but kept the older, narrower sense — the pod plants. Tomatoes, carrots, and cabbage are not legumes.

Though actually不過, if you know a little French, be careful如果你懂一點法文要小心: French légume法文的légume means "vegetable,"指的是「蔬菜」, any vegetable, not just this kind of plant任何蔬菜都算，不只是這種植物。English borrowed the word英文借用了這個字, but kept the older, narrower sense但保留了較舊、較窄的意思 — the pod plants指豆莢類植物。Tomatoes, carrots, and cabbage番茄、紅蘿蔔和高麗菜 are not legumes都不是legumes。