Key Facts
- Hangul: 두부; Revised Romanization: dubu
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: sino-korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
- Hanja: 豆腐 (豆 bean + 腐 curd)
Tofu in Korean: How Do You Pronounce 두부?
Two syllables: du-bu. Nothing changes in pronunciation, so both syllables are read as written; the ㅂ between vowels is a soft b.
Example Sentences with 두부
두부를 먹어요.
Dubureul meogeoyo
I eat tofu.
The simplest use: 두부를 plus 먹어요 gives "I eat tofu". The object marker 를 follows the vowel-ending noun.
두부가 부드러워요.
Dubuga budeureowoyo
The tofu is soft.
Here 두부 is the subject, marked by 가, and 부드러워요 describes its texture as soft.
두부 한 모 주세요.
Dubu han mo juseyo
Please give me one block of tofu.
The counter in action. 두부 한 모 means one block, and 주세요 turns it into a polite request, typical at a market.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 두부 한 모 | one block of tofu |
| 두부를 부치다 | to pan-fry tofu |
| 두부김치 | tofu with stir-fried kimchi |
두부 한 모 is the counting pattern to memorize. 두부를 부치다 is the pan-frying verb, and 두부김치 is a dish built from the word.
The Mistake to Avoid
Less specific: 두부 한 개 counts an item without specifying a block.
More specific: 두부 한 모. 모 is the usual counter for blocks of tofu; 개 can count a packaged item. Choose 모 when the block is what you want to count.
두부 Compared with Similar Words
순두부 is the softer kind whose curds are not pressed. Choose it when the recipe calls for that texture; a stew can also use regular block tofu. 콩 is the raw bean, the starting material, not a synonym.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 두부 | tofu | The general term; often block tofu in this contrast |
| 순두부 | soft tofu | Softer tofu whose curds are not pressed into a block |
| 콩 | bean | The raw material |
Where Does the Word Come From?
두부 is written 豆腐: 豆 (bean) and 腐 (curd). The hanja explains why 콩, bean, is the raw material.
At the Supermarket: Choosing Tofu for Dinner
Two housemates are buying ingredients for a stew. They need to choose a tofu type and decide how much to buy.
Hana
찌개에 넣을 두부를 사요.
Jjigaee neoeul dubureul sayo.
Let’s buy tofu to put in the stew.
Yuna
순두부를 살까요?
Sundubureul salkkayo?
Shall we buy soft tofu?
Hana
오늘은 두부 한 모만 사요.
Oneureun dubu han moman sayo.
Let’s just buy one block of tofu today.
Yuna
네, 찌개용 두부가 여기 있어요.
Ne, jjigaeyong dubuga yeogi isseoyo.
Yes, the tofu for stew is here.
찌개용 means “for stew”. The ending 용 on a package labels its intended use. 한 모만 adds 만, “only”, to the amount: just one block. The exchange also shows why 두부 and 순두부 matter at the shop. A recipe asking for cubes of block tofu needs a different texture from loose soft tofu.
Which Tofu Labels Will You See?
두부 is the general word for tofu. In an ordinary shopping request, it often refers to pressed block tofu, but it also appears inside names for other kinds. 순두부 is a type of tofu, rather than an unrelated ingredient. Ask for the named type when texture matters to the dish.
Packages may say 부침용, “for pan-frying”, or 찌개용, “for stew”. The first points you toward tofu suited to slicing and frying; the second identifies tofu sold for adding to stew. These labels describe the intended cooking use. You can recognize them without translating every word on the package.
연두부 means soft, tender tofu that is often sold in a container. It is another label worth recognizing beside 순두부. Both are softer than the firm block a beginner may picture on hearing “tofu”, but the names identify different products. Follow the recipe’s named ingredient when the texture is central.
Counting a Block, a Package, or a Serving
두부 한 모 counts one block. 두부 두 모 counts two blocks: the first 두 is the shortened counting form of 둘, “two”, while the 두 in 두부 belongs to the noun. Keeping the noun, number, and counter separate makes this repeated sound easier to understand.
At a supermarket, a shopper may also count packaged items with 개. The counter 모 is the useful specific choice when you mean a block of tofu; 개 can refer to an item or package. A block, a pack, and a restaurant serving need not be the same amount, so point to the product if the size matters.
What Do Tofu Dish Names Tell You?
두부김치 pairs tofu with kimchi, usually stir-fried kimchi served alongside pieces of tofu. The name joins the two main ingredients. It does not mean that the tofu itself has been made into kimchi.
두부조림 is braised tofu. 조림 names a cooking style in which food cooks in a seasoned liquid. 두부를 부치다 describes pan-frying tofu, while 두부조림 names a finished dish. Learning the cooking word helps you distinguish a menu item from an instruction in a recipe.
Related Ingredients and Dishes
| Korean | Meaning | Why it belongs beside 두부 |
|---|---|---|
| 콩 | bean | Soybeans are the base ingredient of ordinary tofu. |
| 순두부 | soft tofu | Choose this when the recipe calls for loose, unpressed tofu. |
| 찌개 | stew | Tofu is often an ingredient in this kind of dish. |
| 김치 | kimchi | The partner ingredient in 두부김치. |
Use the Korean ingredients lesson to learn the shopping vocabulary around 두부. Food names identify ingredients and cooking styles; a dish name alone does not list everything used to prepare it.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 두부 한 모 count?
- Which package label means “for stew”: 찌개용 or 부침용?
- Does 두부김치 mean tofu turned into kimchi?
Show answers
- One block of tofu.
- 찌개용. 부침용 means “for pan-frying”.
- No. It is a dish pairing tofu with kimchi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "tofu" in Korean?
Tofu in Korean is 두부 (dubu). In a shopping request it often means block tofu. 순두부 names a softer, unpressed type.
What counter do I use for tofu?
Use 모, as in 두부 한 모, "one block of tofu". 모 is the standard counter for blocks of tofu.
What is 순두부?
순두부 is soft tofu: the curds are not pressed into a block, so it stays loose and spoonable. It is best known from a spicy stew.
What verb means to pan-fry tofu?
Use 부치다, as in 두부를 부치다. 부치다 means to pan-fry in a little oil, the usual way to cook slices of firm tofu.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean ingredient words. 두부 appears there next to other pantry words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with soft tofu: 순두부 is the softer relative of tofu in Korean.