Tofu
/ˈtoʊ.fuː/noun
A soft food made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds into blocks.
Did you know?The English word tofu comes through Japanese, but the food’s name ultimately traces back to Chinese forms for soy curd, showing how a humble staple can carry centuries of culinary migration.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
dòufu
“soybean curd”
8th–12th Century
Japanese
tōfu
“soybean curd”
Late 19th Century
English
tofu
“borrowed term for soy curd”
Modern English
English
tofu
“soy curd, usually sold as blocks”