Fascinating Origin of 15 Chinese Words That Became Part of the English Vocabulary
by The history of English language traces back thousands of years ago. The English language has brought in influences of other languages through Britain’s history of world trade, overseas exploration and expansion. One of the many languages that had added the zest to the English vocabulary is Chinese.
Feng shui
This word came from Mandarin words “feng” or wind and “shui” or water. This is actually an ancient Chinese art or method of designing buildings as well as arranging objects in living spaces to ensure positive energy so that it could bring luck, prosperity and happiness to the owner. The art of feng shui became quite popular in the American and European culture since 1990s.
Cumshaw
The word came from Chinese Amoi dialect “kam si” for feeling gratitude. The word is now used in informal English to refer to gratuity or present.
Yin Yang
This words were from Mandarin word “yin” or feminine and dark as well as the word “yang” or masculine and bright. It basically refers to the passive and active, principles in nature that in Chinese thought eternally interact and complement each other to achieve a perfect balance.
Chinese dishes – Chop suey, chow mein, dim sum, won ton, tofu
Chinese food has increasingly become popular in the US and Europe and I am pretty sure most of you are familiar with some of these Chinese dishes.
- Chop suey for instance, came from Cantonese “shap” or miscellaneous and “sui” or pieces, is actually a popular Chinese dish of shredded meat with vegetables, served with rice
- Chow mein which came from Cantonese word is a famous Chinese stir fried dish made with meat, vegetables and noodles
- “Dim sum” or little hearts are deliciously steamed or fried dumplings served in small portion
- Won ton which means “cloud swallow” in Cantonese is another type of dumplings which looks like little clouds
- Tofu came from Mandarin “doufu” for bean curd
Wok
This word came from Cantonese “wohk” or a round bottomed cooking pot with a long extension (for holding), often used for stir frying. This cooking utensil is often used in China and South East Asia. Nevertheless, wok is now a popular cooking utensil used in many parts of the world, especially for cooking stir fried Chinese dishes.
Gung-ho
This word was from a Mandarin word “gonghe” or a cooperative for industrial workers. Somehow, the word was used informally by the American army during the World War II as a motto which basically means “to work together”. It was even adopted as a war film title in 1943. The word now refers to eager or excessively enthusiastic individuals in ironic sense.
Honcho
The word came from Chinese words “han” or squad and “cho” or chief. During the World War II, British army used this word to refer to the leader of the squad. This word now refers to someone who is in charge of something, a manager or a leader.
Kao lin
This word refers to fine white clay used in making ceramics and medicines especially in treating diarrhea. This word came from the name of a mountain in Gaoling, China whereby such clay was first obtained and exported to Europe in 18th century.
Shanghai
This word was originally taken from the name of a place – Shanghai in China. It was said that this word evolved from the practice of American sea captains who tricked and kidnapped drunk sailors for compulsory service aboard their ships usually bound for China. Now, this word is a slang to refer to the act of inducing or compelling someone to do something by force or fraud.
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Post CommentAnne Lyken-Garner
On July 23, 2008 at 5:11 am
Great research. I like to know how words have come into modern usage.
trengganu-anxious
On July 23, 2008 at 8:05 am
The one about Shanghai is interesting.I would never have thought it has another meaning to it, which is ‘act of inducing or compelling someone to do something by force or fraud’. Very informative Sher
nobert soloria bermosa
On July 23, 2008 at 5:05 pm
very interesting and educational as well,thanks Sher
del
On July 23, 2008 at 8:28 pm
interesting facts. good job.
Liane Schmidt
On September 17, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Interesting, unique article. Nice work!
Blessings & best wishes.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Blue Buttefly
On November 2, 2008 at 3:20 am
Well researched and interesting. Thanks for sharing.
ray
On November 9, 2008 at 12:09 am
original…interesting! good job
Adam Henry Sears
On December 10, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Hi Sher, how are you?
I love Chinese food, but this puts a new twist on some of the words I knew. Cool! Keep up the good work.
Chew Yoke Lim
On August 3, 2009 at 11:37 am
I am afraid the piece on “Chop” is completely wrong, but it may not be your fault as you might have picked that up from other misinformed sources.
The explanation given for the origin of the expression “chop chop” here (and it appears, elsewhere as well) seems to me that it must have been a fanciful conjecture by someone not knowledgeable about the Chinese language, particularly Cantonese.
The expression “chop chop” may be slightly mispronounced, but it certainly is not from the Chinese word (急) ‘kap”, which does indeed mean urgent, but not fast in the usual sense of being quick. There is a sense of anxiety in the connotation to this word. It may also used when referring to a fast flowing stream, and in some other usages, but not, as I say, being quick.
It is, in fact, from a perfectly literary Chinese word (速) pronounced “chuk” in Cantonese (or “su” in Mandarin pinyin). It means quick, fast, rapid, etc.
To express urgency or to demand speed from someone, usually from an employee or other subordinate person, the word is replicated. The replicated words “chuk chuk” are usually used as a command or an instruction.
It is also true that the Chinese word (快) – “kuai” (in Mandarin pinyin) or “faai” (in Cantonese Yale phonetic spelling) also means fast, but the claim that it is the same as “chop” is so tenuous that any person knowledgeable in the Chinese language will be very incredulous.
I also doubt very much that the “kuai/faai” word (meaning fast) is the origin of the word for chopsticks, principally because the Chinese word for chopsticks is a different word in Chinese (筷), although it is also pronounced as “kuai/faai”.
Back to “chop chop” – and how “chuk chuk” became “chop chop” is something I can only guess at.
It is not beyond possibility that the following might have been a
scenario in the old days in the United States.
Many Chinese Cantonese were running laundry businesses then, and when a non-Chinese customer came to collect his washing, the owner might have instructed a somewhat lethargic employee to “chuk chuk” and get the laundry.
And what the customer might have heard was “chop chop”, the closest to the English words the customer knew.
So if someone else has the means to research when and where this expression “chop chop” was first used – and, if it is found that it was first used in the United States (perhaps in the 19th century), then my “guess” may well be correct.