a-tok-á is a  Taiwanese phrase for Westerner, Caucasian. First ' a ' an address word, last an ending preposition. Both carry no meaning. Phrase origin likely developed during mid-late 19th century when substantial number of westerners appeared on bustling streets, making their presence known to locals. Notable westerners in northern Taiwan  ( July 4 1898 Dadaocheng) Layard (British) Ortiz (Spanish) Chabert (Dutch) Heintze (German) Ohly (German) John Dodd (Father of Formosa Oolong Tea)  Recommend read:  Taipei Tea Guild behind the FORMOSA TEA and the birth of First Taiwanese Bank John Dodd 陶德 Historian  take on  ' a-tok-á'  phrase origin "..., and the old capital Tainan (1858), and Tamsui (1862) in the north, became treaty ports. Tall, whiskered, and ruddy-faced traders, sailors and missionaries soon appeared on market streets, to be stared and pointed at with great curiosity. (Adogha! Big nose!)"   Taiwanese Feet (My Walk Around Ta...