두부
dubu[tubu]
The Korean word for tofu is 두부 (dubu).
두부 refers to the protein-rich food made from curdled soy milk. You may encounter related dishes such as 순두부찌개, which is a spicy soft tofu stew containing ingredients like seafood, vegetables and sometimes minced pork or 두부조림, which is a braised tofu dish simmered in a savory sauce typically made with soy sauce, garlic and other seasonings.
Meaning: protein-rich food made from curdled soy milk (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
dubu
Did you know?
- The word 두부 is used in the slang term 두부멘탈, which literally means 'tofu mentality' to describe someone who is mentally fragile or easily crushed.
- In some Korean contexts, particularly when discussing Buddhist cuisine, 두부 is a central staple because it provides high protein without the use of meat.
- The word 두부 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning its roots are actually Chinese characters rather than native Korean ones.
Examples in context
- 두부 좋아해?Do you like tofu?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes 두부.Tatoeba #11105702 by intertime, translation #2807659 by Hybrid
- 두부 조림Braised tofu
- 두부를 샀어요.dubureul sasseoyo.I bought tofu.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 민준 Min-jun오늘 저녁에 두부 먹을까?oneul jeonyeoge dubu meogeulkka?Shall we eat tofu for dinner tonight?
- 서연 Seo-yeon좋아, 두부 부침 하자.joa, dubu buchim haja.Good, let's make pan-fried tofu.
- 민준 Min-jun서연아, 두부 더 필요해?seoyeona, dubu deo piryohae?Seoyeon, do you need more tofu?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니, 두부 한 모면 충분해.ani, dubu han momyeon chungbunhae.No, one block of tofu is enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tofu” translations and entries 두부, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 두부, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
