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tokwa

tókwa with stress marks

tofu; pressed soybean curd

noun TOK-wa Chinese origin Common

Usage Note

Tokwa is a Hokkien Chinese loanword for firm pressed tofu, a common ingredient in Filipino cooking. It features in dishes like tokwa't baboy and adobo, and is typically fried before being added to recipes to give it a golden crust.

Examples

Beginner

" Pinirito niya ang tokwa. "

Natural Translation

She fried the tofu.

Literal Translation

Fried she the tofu.

Intermediate

" Nagluto siya ng baboy at tokwa. "

Natural Translation

He/She cooked pork and tofu.

Literal Translation

Cooked he/she of pork and tofu.

Advanced

" Bago ihalo sa sabaw, iniprito muna namin ang tokwa para magkaroon ito ng gintong balat. "

Natural Translation

Before mixing it into the broth, we first fried the tofu so it would get a golden crust.

Literal Translation

Before to-mix in broth, fried first we the tofu so to-have it of golden crust.

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