cau3 dau6 fu6臭豆腐
Jyutpingcau3 dau6 fu6
Yalechau dauh fuh
Definition
Stinky tofu; a snack made of deep-fried fermented bean curd.
colloquialfoodplaces
How it's used
The pungent aroma of this snack is iconic to Hong Kong street food culture and is often described as a love it or hate it experience. While it is a popular street snack, the smell is so strong that it is rarely served inside formal restaurants or homes. It is almost exclusively enjoyed as a casual takeaway item from roadside stalls.
Measure word
gau6嚿gauhExamples
Where can I buy stinky tofu around here?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the smell of this snack with the smell of actual rotting food, as the fermentation process is intentional and controlled. Using the word to describe someone's body odor or bad breath is considered highly offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
