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tawsi

tawsî with stress marks

preserved soya beans

noun taw-SI Chinese origin Less Common

Usage Note

Tawsi are salted, fermented black soya beans used as a flavoring agent in Filipino-Chinese cooking. They are a key ingredient in dishes such as pork or fish with tausi sauce. The ingredient reflects the deep Chinese culinary influence on Philippine cuisine.

Examples

Beginner

" May tawsi sa isda. "

Natural Translation

There are preserved soya beans on the fish.

Literal Translation

Has preserved-soya-beans on fish.

Intermediate

" Nilagyan ko ng tawsi ang nilutong isda. "

Natural Translation

I put preserved soya beans on the cooked fish.

Literal Translation

Put I of preserved-soya-beans the cooked fish.

Advanced

" Nilagyan ng aking lola ng tawsi ang sinangag na baboy upang maging mas malinamnam ang lasa nito. "

Natural Translation

My grandmother added preserved soya beans to the sauteed pork to make its flavor richer.

Literal Translation

Put by-the my grandmother of preserved-soya-beans the sauteed pork so-that become more savory the taste its.

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