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.

Blessings & best wishes.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.