Japanese word

豆腐

Pronunciation

Romajitōfu

Meaning

  • nountofu

Example

朝に豆腐を食べます。asa ni tō fu o ta be ma su

I eat tofu in the morning.

Illustration for 豆腐 (tofu)

More examples

味噌汁に豆腐を入れます。mi so shiru ni tō fu o i re ma su

I add tofu to miso soup.

Core concept

Describes soy milk transformed into a soft food that absorbs the flavors of other ingredients.

Common phrases

  • 豆腐を食べるtō fu o ta be ru

    eat tofu

  • 豆腐を買うtō fu o ka u

    buy tofu

  • 豆腐を使うtō fu o tsuka u

    use tofu

Definition in Japanese

大豆を原料とする豆乳を固めて作る食品。dai zu o gen ryō to su ru tō nyū o kata me te tsuku ru shoku hin

Word origin

The Japanese word 豆腐 (tōfu, "bean curd") entered Japanese from Chinese 豆腐 (dòufu, "bean curd"), a term connected with beans and a curdled substance.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, tofu is usually treated as a mass noun, as in "some tofu" or "a block of tofu," rather than "a tofu."

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