豆腐

• Pinyin: dòu fu
• Hanzi breakdown: 豆 = pictograph of a ritual vessel for beans; 腐 = 府 (storehouse) + 肉 (meat radical), meaning curdled or fermented

Meaning

Tofu; bean curd. A soft, protein-rich food made from soybeans.

One of the most iconic foods in Chinese cuisine, used in countless dishes: 麻婆豆腐 (mapo tofu), 豆腐脑 (tofu pudding), 豆腐干 (dried tofu). Also appears in the idiom 刀子嘴豆腐心 (sharp tongue but a soft heart). Available in many textures from silken to firm.

Examples

1. 妈妈做的麻婆豆腐是我最爱吃的菜。 The mapo tofu my mum makes is my favourite dish.
2. 这家餐厅的豆腐做得特别嫩。 The tofu at this restaurant is made especially tender.
3. 豆腐含有丰富的蛋白质，对身体很好。 Tofu is rich in protein and very good for your health.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你喜欢吃豆腐吗？(Do you like eating tofu?)
• 这道菜用的是嫩豆腐。(This dish uses silken tofu.)

Don't Say

• 把'吃豆腐'随便用在非食物语境 (Be careful using 吃豆腐 figuratively — it can mean 'to take advantage of someone' or 'to flirt inappropriately,' which may cause embarrassment)

Origin & History

Compound of 豆 (bean) and 腐 (curdled, fermented). Traditionally attributed to Liu An of the Han dynasty, who is said to have accidentally invented tofu while attempting to make an elixir of immortality.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal