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Where does the word "tofu" come from? It comes from Chinese dòufu, passing through Japanese before entering English (1800s-1900s).
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Where does the word "tofu" come from? It comes from Chinese dòufu, passing through Japanese before entering English (1800s-1900s).
Tofu’s story begins in Chinese: dòufu meant “bean curd.” Literally "fermented beans". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Japanese as tōfu. Adopted the dish from Chinese cuisine. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as tofu. Benjamin Franklin mentioned 'tau-fu' in a 1770 letter. Today, tofu means a soft food made from curdled soybean milk, used widely in Asian cuisine.
- Stage 1 · Chinese · ancient dòufu "bean curd", literally "fermented beans".
- Stage 2 · Japanese · medieval tōfu "bean curd", adopted the dish from Chinese cuisine.
- Stage 3 · English · 1800s-1900s tofu "a soft food made from curdled soy milk", Benjamin Franklin mentioned 'tau-fu' in a 1770 letter.