chopstick

/ˈtʃɒp.stɪk/ Chinese Origin Food & Drink

Original Word

筷子

Cantonese (faai ji)

Entered English

17th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "chopstick"

'Chop' comes from Cantonese 'kap' (急, hurry), a pidgin English-Chinese term. 'Chopstick' literally meant 'quick stick', combining the pidgin 'chop' (quick) with 'stick'. The utensils have been used in China for over 3,000 years.

Example Usage

"It takes practice to eat rice with chopsticks."

All Chinese Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

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