Chop chop (phrase): Difference between revisions
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"'''Chop chop'''" is a [[phrase]] first noted in the interaction between [[Cantonese]] and English in British-occupied south China.<ref>https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Penny_Magazine/E1oFAAAAQAAJ?q=chop+chop&gbpv=1&bsq=chop#f=false</ref> It spread through [[Chinese people|Chinese]] workers at sea and was adopted by [[British people|British]] [[Sailor|seamen]].<ref name="phrases">{{cite web|url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chop-chop.html|title=Chop-chop|publisher=Phrase Finder|accessdate=19 January 2015}}</ref> "Chop chop" means "hurry" and suggests that something should be done ''now'' and without delay. The word "[[chopsticks]]" likely originates from this same root.<ref name="oed">Oxford English Dictionary, 2013. "chop-stick, n.2." Accessed on June 26, 2013. [http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/32282]</ref> |
"'''Chop chop'''" is a [[phrase]] first noted in the interaction between [[Cantonese]] and English in British-occupied south China.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Penny_Magazine/E1oFAAAAQAAJ?q=chop+chop&gbpv=1&bsq=chop#f=false |title=The Penny Magazine |date=19 May 1838 |issue=393 |page=190 |article=Chinese English |publisher=Charles Knight & Co. |location=London }}</ref> It spread through [[Chinese people|Chinese]] workers at sea and was adopted by [[British people|British]] [[Sailor|seamen]].<ref name="phrases">{{cite web|url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chop-chop.html|title=Chop-chop|publisher=Phrase Finder|accessdate=19 January 2015}}</ref> "Chop chop" means "hurry" and suggests that something should be done ''now'' and without delay. The word "[[chopsticks]]" likely originates from this same root.<ref name="oed">Oxford English Dictionary, 2013. "chop-stick, n.2." Accessed on June 26, 2013. [http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/32282]</ref> |
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The term may have its [[Word origin|origins]] in the [[South China Sea]], as a [[Chinese Pidgin English|Pidgin English]] version of the Cantonese term chok chok (Cantonese: {{lang|yue-Hant|速速}}; [[jyutping]]: cuk1 cuk1) which in turn is similar in usage to the [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] term k'wâi-k'wâi ({{zh-cp|c=快快|p=kuài kuài}})<ref name=phrases/> or may have originated from [[Malay language|Malay]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/02/20/280186897/quick-what-are-the-origins-of-chop-chop|title=Quick! What Are The Origins Of 'Chop-Chop'?|website=NPR.org}}</ref> |
The term may have its [[Word origin|origins]] in the [[South China Sea]], as a [[Chinese Pidgin English|Pidgin English]] version of the Cantonese term chok chok (Cantonese: {{lang|yue-Hant|速速}}; [[jyutping]]: cuk1 cuk1) which in turn is similar in usage to the [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] term k'wâi-k'wâi ({{zh-cp|c=快快|p=kuài kuài}})<ref name=phrases/> or may have originated from [[Malay language|Malay]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/02/20/280186897/quick-what-are-the-origins-of-chop-chop|title=Quick! What Are The Origins Of 'Chop-Chop'?|website=NPR.org}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:01, 15 January 2021
"Chop chop" is a phrase first noted in the interaction between Cantonese and English in British-occupied south China.[1] It spread through Chinese workers at sea and was adopted by British seamen.[2] "Chop chop" means "hurry" and suggests that something should be done now and without delay. The word "chopsticks" likely originates from this same root.[3]
The term may have its origins in the South China Sea, as a Pidgin English version of the Cantonese term chok chok (Cantonese: 速速; jyutping: cuk1 cuk1) which in turn is similar in usage to the Mandarin term k'wâi-k'wâi (Chinese: 快快; pinyin: kuài kuài)[2] or may have originated from Malay.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Chinese English". The Penny Magazine. London: Charles Knight & Co. May 19, 1838. p. 190.
- ^ a b "Chop-chop". Phrase Finder. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 2013. "chop-stick, n.2." Accessed on June 26, 2013. [1]
- ^ "Quick! What Are The Origins Of 'Chop-Chop'?". NPR.org.
External links
The dictionary definition of chop-chop at Wiktionary
