Why Do Taiwanese Call Whale Sharks "Tofu Sharks"?
Taiwanese people love giving everyday things affectionate nicknames — not the official name, but the kind everyone instantly understands, and can't help smiling at. Behind that habit is a very Taiwanese way of turning the unfamiliar into the familiar.
From the world's largest fish to an imported mango and a night-market snack, the way Taiwanese people invent nicknames looks different every time — but the reason behind it is always the same.
Why Do Taiwanese Call Whale Sharks "Tofu Sharks"?
It's the largest fish in the world — over twelve meters long — yet Taiwanese people call it 豆腐鯊, literally "tofu shark." The reason is simple: its flesh is snow-white, just like tofu.
Faced with something enormous, the first thing Taiwanese people noticed wasn't how dangerous it might be — it was what it looked like.
Once it got the nickname "tofu shark," the giant fish stopped being scary — it became almost endearing.
But the second half of the story is different: whale sharks were once heavily fished for shark jerky and fish balls, until Taiwan listed them as a Class I protected, critically endangered species in 2020. Behind this affectionate nickname is actually a story that runs from the dinner table to conservation.
Where Does the Name "Irwin Mango" Come From?
Taiwan's beloved "愛文" mango is actually named after an American cultivar: Irwin Mango. After it was introduced to Taiwan, locals transliterated the name into "愛文" (Ai Wen) and planted it in their own soil.
Today, when people think of Taiwanese mangoes, this is usually the first one that comes to mind. What's interesting is that it came from somewhere else — but Taiwanese people renamed it, gave it a warm-sounding Chinese name, and turned it into a symbol of Taiwan itself. Something foreign, given a new name, put down roots.
Why Do People in Miaoli Call Fish Cake "Hot Dogs"?
In most parts of Taiwan, a night-market snack made from fish paste is called 黑輪 (hei-lun) or 甜不辣 (tempura). But in Miaoli, the exact same snack is called a "hot dog" — locals grow up calling it that, and only realize other counties don't use the name once they leave home.
According to local lore, a vendor once deliberately started calling it "hot dog" because it sold better. The name stuck, and decades later, it's become a shared memory for an entire city.
It's not the most accurate name, but it survived — because everyone uses it, so it became correct. That's how language sometimes works: nobody decreed it; it just became true through repetition.
Why Do Taiwanese People Name Things This Way?
Behind all three names is really the same instinct: turning the unfamiliar into the familiar, the distant into the close.
- Understanding a giant fish through food
- Turning an imported variety into something distinctly Taiwanese
- Letting habit — not a rulebook — decide what something is called
Taiwanese people have an instinct for everyday things: make it sound like one of us. Once something gets a nickname, it's hard to let go. That's probably why these names have lasted for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did Taiwan's habit of nicknaming things start?
There's no clear starting point — it's more of a habit that built up over time through everyday speech at markets and food stalls, where the catchy name stuck around longer than the official one.
Q: Can whale sharks ("tofu sharks") still be eaten today?
No. Whale sharks were listed as a Class I protected, critically endangered species in Taiwan in 2020 — hunting, selling, and eating them is prohibited.
Q: What is this fish-paste snack usually called outside Miaoli?
Most regions call it 黑輪 (hei-lun), and some call it 甜不辣 (tempura) — only Miaoli commonly calls it a "hot dog."
Which Taiwanese nicknames do you remember that fewer and fewer people still use?