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 Taiwan)  John Groot   Introduc