What is chinese word for english

Different sources of loan wordsEdit

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Words taken completely or in part from another language are known as loanwords. In the English language, there are many loanwords that have been borrowed from Chinese languages and dialects.

A loanword is not the same as calque, which is an expression from one language that has been introduced into another language as a direct translation. Many English-language calques also have origins in Chinese.

Loanwords and calques are useful to linguists in examining when and how one culture processed its interaction with another.

10 English Words That Are Borrowed From Chinese

1. Coolie: While some claim that this term has its origins in Hindi, it’s been argued that it could also have origins in the Chinese term for hard work or 苦力 (kǔ lì) which is literally translated as “bitter labor.”

2. Gung Ho: The term has its origins in the Chinese word 工合 (gōng hé) that can either mean to work together or as an adjective to describe someone that is overly excited or too enthusiastic. The term gong he is a shortened word for industrial cooperatives which were created in China in the 1930s. During that time U.S. Marines adopted the term to mean someone with a can-do attitude.

3. Kowtow: From the Chinese 叩头 (kòu tóu) describing the ancient practice performed when anyone greeted a superior – such as an elder, leader, or emperor. The person had to kneel and bow down to the superior, making sure that their foreheads hit the ground. “Kou tou” is literally translated as “knock your head.”

4. Tycoon: The origins of this word comes from the Japanese term taikun, which was what foreigners called the shogun of Japan. A shogun was known to be someone who took over the throne and is not related to the emperor. Thus the meaning is typically used for someone who obtained power through might or hard work, rather than inheriting it. In Chinese, the Japanese term “​taikun” is 大王 (dà wáng) which means “big prince.” There are other words in Chinese that also describe a tycoon including 财阀 (cái fá) and 巨头 (jù tóu).

5. Yen: This term comes from the Chinese word 愿 (yuàn) which means a hope, desire, or wish. Someone who has a strong urge for oily fast food can be said to have a yen for pizza.

6. Ketchup: The origins of this word are debated. But many believe that its origins are from either the Fujianese dialect for the fish sauce 鮭汁 (guī zhī ) or the Chinese word for eggplant sauce 茄汁 (qié zhī).

7. Chop Chop: This term is said to originate from the Cantonese dialect for the word 快快 (kuài kuài) which is said to urge someone to hurry up. Kuai means hurry in Chinese. “Chop Chop” appeared in English-language newspapers printed in China by foreign settlers as early as the 1800s.

8. Typhoon: This is probably the most direct loanword. In Chinese, a hurricane or typhoon is called 台风 (tái fēng).

9. Chow: While chow is a breed of dog, it should be clarified that the term did not come to mean ‘food’ because the Chinese hold the stereotype of being dog-eaters. More likely, ‘chow’ as a term for food comes from the word 菜 (cài) which can mean food, a dish (to eat), or vegetables.

10. Koan: Originating in Zen Buddhism, a koan is a riddle without a solution, which is supposed to highlight the inadequacy of logic reasoning. A common one is “What is the sound of one hand clapping.” (If you were Bart Simpson, you would just fold one hand until you made a clapping noise.) Koan comes from the Japanese which comes from the Chinese for 公案 (gōng àn). Literally translated it means ‘common case’.

Your knowledge of English can help you learn Chinese. Sounds strange. Right? You can learn Chinese at home by using your current knowledge base. These Chinese words in English will help you learn the language with ease. So let’s get started!

When it comes to learning a foreign language, you need to put in some extra effort. But sometimes, learning a foreign language brings certain surprises as well. There are several English words that have Chinese origin. Surprised, right?

It means that your knowledge of English can help you learn Chinese. Being a language student it may seem strange to you know. But going through this guide in detail will make the learning path easier for you.

Let us give you an example. The word ‘ketchup’ is commonly used In the English language but has its origin in Chinese. These words make learning Chinese not only easier but also super fun. You can learn Chinese online by seeking the required training from online language learning platforms. Italki is a well-developed and highly structured foreign language learning venture that provides highly qualified and fluent Chinese tutors. The best part is the availability of experienced instructors with real-context instructional practices. You can seek guidance and training via well-structured course plans with related practical exercises to make you speak Chinese fluently.

Below are some of the common Chinese words in English that you already know.

Words related to food and beverages

Pekoe – It is one of the most famous types of tea. This tea is generally produced in India and Sri Lanka. This word has its origin in Chinese discourse called Amoy, spoken in Xiamen, China, in which the tea is called pek-ho. In Mandarin, it is called 白后 (bái hòu), which means ‘white empresses’. This particular name depicts the tips of young buds found in tea plants.

Chop suey – It is a mixed vegetable dish widely available at Chinese restaurants. It has its origin in 杂碎 (zá suì), which means “mixed pieces.” For instance, you will most probably see “pork chop suey” or “vegetable chop suey” in the menu list.

Bok choy – It is a green leaf vegetable with a white stem. It is widely available at Chinese grocery stores. It is also a common ingredient found in Asian foods and cuisines. This word has an origin in 白菜 (bái cài), which means “white vegetable.”

Dim sum – These are small, appetizer-like dishes usually served in brunches at Chinese restaurants. There is a large variety of dim sum available such as meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, cakes, and pastries. This word has its origin in 点心 (diǎn xīn). In literal terms, this word means “touch the heart”. This word is given because the dish is small and attractive.

Ginseng – It is an herbal root used for tea and naturopathic medicine. This word has come from 人参 (rén shēn). It has several health benefits such as healthy blood circulation, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps reduce stress levels.

Won ton – These are meat-filled dumplings, generally served in soups and sometimes with noodles. This word is from 馄饨 (hún tún), which means “irregular pasta.”

Loquat – It is a yellow fruit that originated in China and Japan, sometimes also known as the Japanese plum. This word has its origin in Cantonese, luh kwat which means “rush orange.” In Mandarin, it is 芦橘 (lú jú).

Wok – It is a stir fry pan used for cooking purposes. This word has its origin in Cantonese wohk, meaning “pan.” In Mandarin, it’s 锅 (guō).

Ketchup – This is the most interesting word that has its origin in Chinese. The word ketchup is from a Chinese word called kê-tsiap which originally means the sauce made from fermented fish. In Mandarin, ketchup is 番茄酱 (fān qié jiàng), or “tomato sauce.”

Hoisin sauce – It is dark-colored just like ketchup. It is sometimes, also called oyster sauce. This word has its origin in 海鲜酱 (hǎi xiān jiàng), which means, “seafood sauce,” because by tradition it includes oyster essence or flavor.

Chow – Chow denotes food and the word “chow down” means to eat. This word has various stories associated with its origin. One of the most common explanations is that it comes from the Chinese word for “stir fry,” 炒 (chǎo).

Kung pao – You must have heard kung pao chicken. It is one of the most famous Chinese dishes. In Mandarin, it’s called 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng). 宫保(gōng bǎo) means “palace guard.” This name is given because the dish was the favorite of a famous palace guard in ancient China.

Tofu – It is soybean curd. It comes directly from its Chinese name, 豆腐 (dòu fǔ).

Lychee – It is a tropical fruit with a red shell and white flesh. It is also used to flavor other foods like tea. In Chinese, it’s 荔枝 (lì zhī).

Words related to culture and sayings

Kung fu – It is a famous Chinese martial art. This art form has been made quite famous by Hollywood and is especially associated with Jackie Chan. This word has its origin in 功夫 (gōng fū).

Coolie – The word coolie is used for the laborer. This word has its origin in European colonialism and the past practice of importing low-cost labor from China and India. In Chinese, it’s 苦力 (kǔ lì), which means, “bitter work.”

Gung-ho – It means to display enthusiasm. This word has its origin in Chinese industrial cooperatives, 工合 (gōng hé), which means “work together.”

Tai chi – It is a slow martial arts exercise. It has its origin in the Chinese name for this practice, 太极拳 (tài jí quán), or “shadow boxing.”

Yin and Yang – Yin and yang mean two balancing forces in the universe. Yin is the dark force and represents feminine quality. Yang is the light force and represents masculine quality. It is considered very important to have a sense of harmony between Yin and Yang. This harmony is thought to balance the universe and everything that is present in between. It has its origin in the Chinese term 阴阳 (yīn yáng).

Cheongsam – It is a traditional robe for men. It is mostly worn at weddings or on Chinese New Year’s Eve. This word has its origin in Cantonese chèuhngsāam, equivalent to Mandarin’s 长衫 (cháng shān) or “long dress.”

Mahjong – It is a gambling game in Chinese. It has its origin in both Cantonese màhjéuk and the Mandarin 麻雀 (má què), which means “sparrow”. The picture of the sparrow is usually displayed on the first tile of a playing set.

Qipao – Qipao is a form-fitting traditional dress for women. Its Chinese name is 旗袍 (qí páo).

Feng shui –   It is the practice of balancing energies in the environment and becomes a source of bringing good fortune. Its origin is from Chinese 风水 (fēng shuǐ), meaning “natural surroundings” or “wind and water.”

Typhoon – It is a form of a hurricane. This term has come from the Chinese equivalent, 台风 (tái fēng).

Shar Pei – It is a breed of dog with brown wrinkled skin and with black-blue tongue. Its name comes from 沙皮 (shāpí), meaning “sandy skin.”

Shih Tzu – Shih Tzu is a Tibetan dog breed with a long silky coat. It comes from 西施犬 (xī shī quǎn).

Chop chop – It is a famous phrase used to say ‘hurry up. The term Chop chop comes from the Cantonese word, gāp, which in Mandarin is 急 (jí). Both mean “in a rush.”

These were some of the most common yet very famous English words from Chinese. We are sure you already knew these words. You can also learn Chinese characters to associate them with these words to structure your sentence properly. These words are super easy to memorize due to their association with the English language. You can easily add them to your vocabulary list as you are already familiar with them.

A large number of people question is Chinese grammar easy? With the right piece of training, you can learn Chinese grammar easily. Italki has the availability of trained instructors that are providing their assistance to make sure that language learners do not make any grammatical errors or mistakes.

All languages borrow from other languages. English is full of loanwords from other languages. Most loanwords in English come from Latin, French, or Germanic languages. Did you know that there are also several English words that come from Chinese? We’re going to learn a few of them in today’s post!

An Introduction to Chinese Loanwords

Many of the loanwords in English that have a Chinese origin come from Cantonese and not Mandarin. That’s because most of the early contact between China and the English-speaking world came from the southern part of China where Cantonese is prevalent. At the same time, most of the Chinese immigrants to the US were Cantonese speakers. This explains the abundance of Chinese loanwords in English that come from the Cantonese pronunciation. Now that you’ve got a bit of background, let’s dive in and learn some of those Chinese loanwords!

Chinese Loanwords in English

Food

Chinese restaurants are found all over the world, so it should come as no surprise that a lot of Chinese loanwords in English are related to food. Here are a few of them in English, along with the Chinese characters, pinyin, and their origin:

tofu
wonton
bok choy
chop suey
dim sum
wok
chow mein
lychee
ketchup

豆腐
馄饨
白菜
杂碎
点心
锅
炒面
荔枝
茄汁

dòu fu
hún tún
bái cài
zá suì
diǎn xīn
guō
chǎo miàn
lì zhī
qié zhī

Sino-Japanese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese
Hokkien

It may be hard to see the similarities between the English words and their Mandarin equivalents, as most of these words are of Cantonese origin. That just goes to show you how extremely different Mandarin and Cantonese are. Perhaps the most interesting word on that list is ketchup. It’s hard to believe that something so American actually has its roots in a lesser-known Chinese dialect! Back in the day, the Chinese made a sauce from fermented fish. In the Hokkien dialect, it was pronounced as kê-chiap. English explorers discovered it, tomato was added as a key ingredient, and the sauce made its way to the American colonies. Isn’t that a fascinating story for just one English word?

Culture and Other

The influence of Chinese on English extends far beyond the kitchen. There are several Chinese words that are just too difficult to translate into English, and thus the original is used. Others have been directly translated to create new English words. Many key elements of Chinese culture are better left to be said in the Chinese way, after all! Here’s another list for you:

taichi
kungfu
mahjong
fengshui
yin and yang
coolie
gung ho
typhoon
brainwash
Long time no see
No can do

太极
功夫
麻将
风水
阴阳
苦力
工合
台风
洗脑
好久不见
不可以 

tài jí
gōng fū
má jiàng
fēng shuǐ
yīn yáng
kǔ lì
gōng hé
tái fēng
xǐ nǎo
hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn
bù kě yǐ

Mandarin
Cantonese
Cantonese
Mandarin
Mandarin
Mandarin
Mandarin
Mandarin/Cantonese
Literal Translation
Cantonese Translation
Mandarin/Cantonese Translation

As you might expect, there are a few interesting backstories with these words as well. Take the word “brainwash,” for example. The term was first used by the People’s Volunteer Army during the Korean War. It came to be used in English as a way to describe POWs who were returning home after the war. The term “coolie” is interesting as well. If you translate the Chinese term directly, it means “bitter work.” That’s why the word was originally used to describe laborers who came from China or India to do difficult work for a cheap wage.

As you can see, Chinese has made its mark on the English language with quite a few words and expressions. Do you know of any other English words that come from Chinese? Leave a comment and let us know! We’d love to add to the list. In the meantime, be sure you’re learning a new Chinese word every day with us.