dau6 fu6豆腐
Jyutpingdau6 fu6
Yaledauh fuh
Definition
Tofu; bean curd, a soft, mild-flavored food made from coagulated soy milk.
colloquialfoodpeople
How it's used
Beyond the literal food item, the term is frequently used in slang to describe someone who is physically weak or fragile. It also appears in the common idiom 豆腐渣工程, which refers to poorly constructed buildings or infrastructure that lack structural integrity. When ordering at a restaurant, you will often hear it paired with specific cooking styles like 煎 or 炆.
Measure word
gau6嚿gauhExamples
Their tofu pudding is very smooth.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing the literal food with the metaphorical usage, as calling someone a 豆腐 implies they are physically soft or lack stamina. Also, ensure you use the correct measure word like 嚿 or 磚 rather than generic counters.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
