chop suey

/ˌtʃɒp ˈsuːi/ Chinese Origin Food & Drink

Original Word

杂碎

Cantonese (jaahp seui)

Entered English

Late 19th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "chop suey"

From Cantonese 'jaahp seui' (杂碎), literally 'mixed pieces', referring to a dish of meat and vegetables stir-fried together. Popularized in American-Chinese restaurants in the late 19th century.

Example Usage

"Chop suey was one of the first Chinese dishes to become popular in America."

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