Talk:Chopsticks

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[edit] Chopsticks as martial arts weapons ?!

"Chopstick can be used as a throwing projectile weapon in the hands of an martial art expert. If thrown right, the chopstick can penetrate solid objects (or even flesh)". Now, this is too unbelievable to be just hanging around without a reference. F15x28 02:04, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

Quite. Sounds more like a reference to a Bruce Lee movie... Someone mind taking this off? LyTe 11:55, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

- Actually, I expanded it. It is actually very true. A form of martial arts, called Hashijutsu, was formed around the use of defense using chopsticks. see my edit for more info. ~ Porphyric Hemophiliac § 05:43, 7 August 2006 (UTC)
  - Ok, but the first reference just sounds contrived, like it's taken directly from "the big boss" or "enter the dragon" (I don't quite remember which one was it, think it was "enter"), where bruce lee is using sharpened chopsticks as projectiles. while your ref was quite interesting and seemingly based on somthing, the first is just inadequate and insufficiantly backed (name of style, prominent uses, etc.,). LyTe 20:06, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
- I can attest to that. My friend actually owns a pair of throwing chopsticks. They are specially prepared with led inside to make them heavier so they can fly better (which does make them a bit more cumbersome to eat with). The technique is basically just knife or bo shuriken throwing, nothing too complex and definitely possible. Besides, where would the idea come from in the first place? Check out shuriken. Ion seal 23:22, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Minor change

"the back of your hand should face the ceiling at all times". God, that is confusing. Replaced by "the palm of your hand should face down at all times". F15x28 01:58, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The "Open a Mac mini" link

The "Pry open a Mac mini using several disposable chopsticks" link does not really relates to Chopsticks. The chopsticks wasn't used in any way similar to how it is used to eat. That person could have just used some other sticks instead. Shall the link be removed?

I agree. That link has nothing to do with chopsticks, it is really just how to open a mini with sticks (that happen to be chopsticks). I am deleting it.

amRadioHed 04:57, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Eating quickly?

"the bamboo-objects for eating quickly"...I don't know how I feel about this statement. Although the morpheme "kuai" (chopstick) is similar to that of "kuai" (fast/quick), is it not much more likely that the former uses the latter for it's phonemic properties only, where the bamboo radical indicates the desired meaning?The-dissonance-reports 17:15, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Acquired skill?

In practice, their use is an acquired skill that can take some mastery.

Actually, I was using chopsticks competently within two days of my arrival in Korea. After a week, I could manipulate them as well as any Korean. Has anyone had a similar chopstick experience, or am I simply gifted? :)

Also, I notice this article talks a lot about sharing a Chinese meal in the United States. This should probably be moved elsewhere; this is an article about chopsticks themselves, and the "hygenic problems" are probably only problems in Western cultures. Over here, everyone just picks out of common dishes with their chopsticks. --Stephen Gilbert

You are not alone, learned to use them in a few days also, but it does say mastery which is not the same as being really good. -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 18:44, 2004 Sep 1 (UTC)

Another test is to think about whether a phrase like In practice, their use is an acquired skill that can take some mastery. would appear on an article on, say, the fork or the spoon. I'm not really sure the sentence belongs in the article, but that might just be me. CES 04:08, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

It took me a year to learn to clean a rice bowl to the last grain. That's a skill that a Chinese child has usually mastered by the end of their third year - my Chinese friends congratulated me telling me that I was now 3 years old! They used their sticks to pick out of common dishes, but didn't stick them in their mouth, rather they 'threw' the pieces into their mouth from a short distance away. JohnSankey 08:51, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Different ways of holding chopsticks

As I understand it, there are actually several different styles for holding chopsticks - a Korean friend learned to use them "wrong" and his parents called him a barbarian.

Some description of alternate styles (or at least a note that there are such) should be put in by someone who knows how to explain it.

One way to do it is to hold the chopsticks in an "X". You shorten the gap between the lower part of the sticks to pick up food. However, I don't think such a description is really necessary. --Kjoonlee 03:13, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

When attending a very basic course on cultural differences, a chinese quest speaker told us that chopsticks should be held at the middle in China. Holding them at top signals feelings superiority (in a rude way) and holding them at bottom is "the way of beggars". So in the how-to-use section might be in need of correction etiquette-wise.--MK

Not very likely, IMHO. You need to hold them at the top for increased reach. (You do need to leave a small margin for comfort, though.) --Kjoonlee 03:13, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

I've heard a different "meaning" stating that holding them at the top(far) means that one will be married far and marry someone from far, while holding them near the bottom(close) means the vice-versa Sjschen 04:11, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chopsticks (music)

Page also needs a (disambiguation) link to Chopsticks (Music), or (Piano) or something, but I can't think of where to put it at the moment. --justfred

Disambiguation links should always go at the top of the page between the article title and the first paragraph. 12.22.250.4 18:35, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Southeast Asia and chopsticks

I have a problem with the jumbling together of all of Southeast Asia here (but I'm not qualified to sort it out). It's just that the faux pas section REALLY depends on the country! Couldn't someone divide it by country who knows how?Sara Parks Ricker

[edit] How to use a fork

We need an article on how to use a fork. --User:Juuitchan

[edit] Chopsticks in Japanese

"Hashi" of chopsticks and of bridge are different words. The accents (or tones) are clearly different in standard Japanese. The former is Hight-Low and the latter is Low-High. --Nanshu 23:25 1 Jul 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Wood for chopsticks?

Is there any truth to the story that the Japense have bought up vast swaths of the Amazon rain forest in order to cut down trees for chopsticks? It's probably an urban legend, but if it's true, it might be useful to add here. I don't want to add it without proof. RickK 02:43, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)

It is nothing more than an urban legend. According to [1], tropical trees are too fragile for chopsticks, and Chinese products hold a share of 90% of the Japanese market. In addition, at least Japanese products are efficiently made of thinned wood and other woods that cannot be utilized for other purposes. --Nanshu 00:38, 3 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Though i have no idea whats true, others claim that it's not from leftover wood

http://www1.pref.tokushima.jp/kankyou/seikatsubunka/awalife/july01/chopsticks.htm

http://www.geocities.com/ecosig_2000/waribashi.html -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 22:41, 2004 Sep 1 (UTC)

I haven't seen anything in many years, but I clearly recall a tv program (a long time ago) saying that the wood was grown in Minnesota in the U.S. That's far from tropical rainforest; it was purpose-grown, not leftover; and it wasn't bamboo. Incidentally, although Japanese people consume unimaginably large numbers of wooden, disposable chopsticks at restaurants and when eating bentos, they also typically have reusable chopsticks in the home. And disposable knives, forks and spoons are made from petroleum.

+++++ End of Fg2's comment +++++

Both sites represents one side of the so-called old "waribashi controversy". But unfortunately, neither provides scientific or statistic basis. So I presume they just show the widespread belief. In addition, waribashi accounts for less than 1% of total wood consumption of Japan. [2] --Nanshu 03:55, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

There has been a lot of uninformed debate on the use of waribashi in Japan. Here are some reliable articles: http://www.asahi.com/column/hayano/eng/TKY200411260108.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6856958/site/newsweek/ D.Pattenden, Kobe, Japan

[edit] Thailand

I believe that chopsticks were used in Thailand until King Rama V travelled to Europe in the 19th century after which he introduced eating with spoon and fork.

I've finally found some references to Thai chopsticks that say something other than that they are not used there: Eating the Thai Way states that they are used for eating noodles. Other sites say they are used only for eating soup. In thai they are called "ตะเกียบ" ("ta kiap", "ta-giab", "dhà'gìap", etc). — Hippietrail 09:55, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Well, the reason why most sites say chopsticks are not used in Thailand is because it is not used. Traditionally, Thais ate with their right hands (direct picking -- requires a bit of practice) until the western spoons and forks came in. In fact, the practice of eating by hand can still be found in rural part of the country, especially in the Northeastern part. Yes, chopsticks have been used for some (not all) of the Chinese-style food, mainly noodles. This is mere Chinese influence and personally I believe it came with immigration of Chinese people. The situation is similar to Western countries these days where people start using chopsticks when eating oriental food -- It is limitted to that particular type of food and it would not be correct to say that traditionally westerner eat with chopsticks. --Jakris 05:30, 5 Mar 2005 (UTC)

As a Thai; I use chopsticks since I was a child. Thai people always use

Spoon and fork for almost all Thai food
Soup spoon for soup
Chopsticks and soup spoon for noodles (both Thai and Chinese noodle) and also with Chinese or Japanese food
Hands mostly on Isan food such as Larb or Som tam

manop 06:35, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Length of Korean chopsticks

Also, the page states that Korean chopsticks are short. I always remember Korean chopsticks as being the most difficult to use because they are long and thin. Hippietrail 07:56, 6 Jan 2004 (UTC)

You're holding them sideways. - Nunh-huh 00:41, 3 Apr 2004 (UTC)

In common households, I believe chopsticks are longest in China, and shortest in Japan. I'm going to change the article to say that Korean chopsticks are medium in length. Kjoonlee 05:54, 2004 Dec 6 (UTC)

Japanese chopsticks often vary in length - the eldest gets the longest. And, you should see Japanese cook's sticks - half a meter long sometimes! JohnSankey 08:55, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Nanotechnology

In future, they will use nanotechnology and contain embedded video displays, which will be used for advertising (according to Neal Stephenson in The Diamond Age. ( 17:26, 3 Dec 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Food preparation utensils Category

I'm pretty sure chopsticks are not used in the preparation of food. They are used in the eating of food - if you have a category for that. — Hippietrail 08:24, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Other countries might be different, but Japanese cooks use chopsticks as well as a bewildering variety of other utensils. Chopsticks are useful for stirring food during boiling or frying, turning meat or fish when broiling, picking up food to place on dishes, etc. Fg2 07:04, Sep 5, 2004 (UTC)

I actually have an extremely long pair of "cooking chopsticks" at home that I use in much the same way that many cooks use metal tongs. Picked it up from Martin Yan & too much PBS as a child. Lanzetta 02:55 14 Feb 2005 (PDT)

Yes I've seen them myself now, in a Mongolian barbecue restaurant. I guess it's a secondary type of chopstick, there being no category for the primary type. Also, I have found that the Japanese name for "cooking chopsticks" is "saibashi" or "菜箸". I get the feeling that information on cooking chopsticks could be added to this article to to further improve it.

As for Chinese, all I've been able to find is "公筷" (or possibly "筷用"), but I can't read enough Chinese to be sure. Can anyone enlighten me please? — Hippietrail 10:10, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)

"公筷" is the pair of chopsticks that a group of people collectively use at a meal ONLY for picking up and placing food into their bowl/plates. This is practiced for sanitary reasons and ensures that the saliva on the chopstick of individual diners do not reach the shared dishes. -- Sjschen 18:50, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

Chopsticks, either very long or very short, are commonly used in the preparation of food in many Chinese households and restaurants. I sure many other chopstick using cultures do the same. -- Sjschen 18:50, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Viet Nam

This article could benefit from a bit on Viet Nam, e.g. what kind of (Type) is used? Kokiri 22:13, 28 Aug 2004 (UTC)

[edit] How to hold 32 chopsticks

IMO the dark shadows in the "How to use" image make it hard to understand. At first glance it appeared to me that the first picture showed a hand holding two chopsticks (in a very odd manner) and the second more than two chopsticks! The shadows are unnecessary anyway, as they don't convey any relevant "third-dimension" information. It would be great if someone could remove the shadows from the image. - dcljr 20:50, 29 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I have edited this pic to remove the unnecessary shadows and rounded the hands to look less choppy (no pun). This is image is from the french wiki and needs to be uploaded and corrected there too. Drhaggis 19:27, 4 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Great! Thanks... well, hang on. The numbers still have shadows on them. And they don't match the numbered list below it. Actually, the first picture doesn't seem to match any of the instructions. But other than that, it looks great. - dcljr 09:25, 5 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I was so focused on doctoring the photo, I didnt actually read the body text. Shame on me. I have corrected the copy to have 4 steps + hints to match the updated pic. - Drhaggis 05:21, 6 Sep 2004 (UTC)

It has been noted on the icelandic talk page for this article that the article speaks of the rarety of holding chopsticks with the left hand yet the instruction photo demos the holding of chopsticks with the left hand. -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 08:26, 2004 Sep 6 (UTC)

This article does contain the line "In modern times, biases against left-handed eating are becoming less severe, and so chopsticks might be held with either hand." I am not the hand model, nor the original creator of this pic, but I am left handed and use chopsticks in the left hand. Drhaggis 03:17, 7 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I read that part, but it would be more natural to have a the pictures show the right hand since the article mentions the bias. -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 10:19, 2004 Sep 10 (UTC)

The picture is now shadow free and right handed. I also limited the width of the pic in the article to be a little neater. Drhaggis 18:59, 10 Sep 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Vietnamese etiquette

Theres not a word about it, how does it differ from the others? -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 19:04, 2004 Sep 1 (UTC)

[edit] bamboo == wood?

This article lists all the main types of chopsticks as "wood", however bamboo is according to all other sources i've read by far the most common, does it mean to say bamboo (which is classified as wood) or does it mean "oldschool" wood (so to speak). -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 23:18, 2004 Sep 4 (UTC)

[edit] Language Box

I have seen a number of language boxes lately like the one in this article ... is it really necessary to have these, especially when the article does a nice job discussing the origin of the word "chopstick" in Asian languages? This is an English-language encyclopedia, not a foreign language dictionary afterall. CES 04:08, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)

It can discuss it as well as having the box. -- Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason 15:09, 2004 Oct 6 (UTC)

[edit] Hygiene

For hygeine's sake, when obtaining food from the serving dish, the chopsticks are inverted the other ends to pick up the food. I've spent quite a long time in China, and I never saw this done. Was I unobservant, was I eating with barbarians, or is this wrong (as well as misspelt)? Markalexander100 04:06, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I have, however, been shown to do this by Japanese... — Hippietrail 05:03, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I am restoring the text about inversion of chopsticks, with better grammar. User:Hippietrail claims to have seen it among the Japanese, and I know for a fact that the custom is practiced by some Chinese. —Lowellian (talk) 22:41, Dec 28, 2004 (UTC)

Apologies, I missed this thread. Please see my message under 'Chinese Etiquette and Inversion of Chopsticks'. - Descender 06:12, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

More etiquette problems: Do not stand chopsticks in a bowl of rice or anything else because the act is part of a traditional funeral rite. is mentioned both in the general and Chinese etiquette sections. An anon user indicated that this restriction is not universal, while my guide to Vietnamese culture says that it's impolite to do it, but doesn't say why. Does anyone know how universal or otherwise this is?

And to complicate things, my Vietnam book mentions using serving spoons when retrieving food from shared dishes, but doesn't mention the reverse-sticks manoeuvre. Markalexander100 06:21, 17 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Mongolia

So is Mongolia a "chopstick country" as mentioned in this article? Are chopsticks traditionally used for eating in Mongolia? We were given (Chinese plastic) chopsticks at the Mongolian BBQ restaurant last week and the BBQ chef was using a giant pair of chopsticks. I've also found the Mongolian word for chopsticks and [included it on Wiktionary]. — Hippietrail 10:56, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I am under the impression that common "Mongolian BBQ" retaurants in the US are actually Chinese-run, and serve food quite distinct from the cuisine of Mongolia, which relies on boiled meat.--Pharos 06:18, 25 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Cantonese IPA

To Ran: Please stop removing Cantonese IPA from all articles that have it. It is your own preferencing for not using it. But then it's stated on Wikipedia that IPA should be used wherever applicable to mark pronunciations. -- 20:26, January 26, 2005, UTC

User:Ran changed the text by removing IPAs.

BEFORE

k'uai-tzu
Cantonese IPA	fɑɪ3dzɪ2
Cantones e Jyutping	faai3dzi2

AFTER

k'uai-tzu
Cantonese Jyutping	faai3zi2

Comparison

This has already been discussed to death at Talk:Political divisions of China. -- ran (talk) 20:57, Jan 26, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Chinese chopsticks made of plastics

The article mentioned that Chinese chopsticks are made of wood, without mentioning plastics ones are in fact getting more popular. It didn't mention ivory ones used to be popular too. -- 20:28, January 26, 2005, UTC

[edit] Why do those countries use chopsticks

Does anyone know why those 4 countries use chopsticks but all countries south (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan) of them use their hands traditionally? This got brought up at lunch today by a Bangladeshi coworker. I have no idea other than maybe the himalyays stopped them. -Dave

I don't but I think a history section, about when chopsticks developed and why they developed in the country's they did, and why different countries use different types (ie rounded vs pointed) would be a great addition.

Also most of the countries of Southeast Asia: Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, probably Burma too? — Hippietrail 01:38, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

It's probably related to curry and rice. The rice cultivar used in curries is "indica." They're long-grained and non-sticky. Rice used in Korea and Japan is "japonica." They're short-grained and sticky. (I don't know about China, but stir-fried rice seemed long-grained to me.)

Sticky rice is easy to pick up and eat with chopsticks or spoons. Non-sticky rice with curry is eaten with bare hands.(I don't know much about how stir-fried rice is eaten in China.) --KJ 05:39, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

I don't know why India and such countries use their hands to eat, but I do know that at least in China food is eaten with sticks and not a fork or a knife because Confucius said they remind too much of butchering (and I guess he was not the only one). This needs a better look, I do not know if this is why they started doing so, and whether it is 100% correct.

[edit] Chinese Etiquette and Inversion of Chopsticks

I've removed the following line from the Chinese Etiquette section:

 For the sake of hygiene, when obtaining food from the serving dish, the chopsticks may be inverted to the other ends to pick up the food.

I believe this is a confusion with Japanese etiquette [3]. This line was probably inspired by this article [4] As far as I know, there is no such thing in Chinese etiquette.

It is common to pick food directly from the common dish, and not to mention, picking food for others without inverting chopsticks.

- Descender 05:59, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

Really? I did this too at home (particularly when no common chopsticks are used and guests are invited) -- Jerry Crimson Mann 06:16, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

To my experience only common chopsticks are used to serve this purpose.. Using the other ends of the chopsticks where your finger holds to get food doesn't sound hygenic to me either.. :-| — Insta ntnood 08:17, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

Actually this is not an uncommon practice in my experience, especially in restaurants when you don't want to wait for the waiter to fetch a common pair. (btw I'm from Hong Kong) Since the original wording says "may", I don't see a problem with it. Turidoth 19:37, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

I was out with my Chinese girlfriend and her family this past weekend and they used the top ends of the chopsticks to take food off of the serving plate. When I asked about the cleanliness of the top end, it was pointed out to me that people hold the chopsticks in the middle so the tops are clean. --Beirne 04:49, August 2, 2005 (UTC)

this is almost unknown in korean etiquette as well. koreans use the chopsticks normally to pick up the food from the center banchan plates. the etiquette list seriously needs to be corrected, cleaned up, shortened, duplicates combined. Appleby 16:45, 21 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wood or bamboo? Environmental impact

Quote
Environmental impact
Every year 15 billion chopsticks are used and thrown away by consumers in China. To produce these 1.3 million cubic meters of wood is used. In order to encourage that people use and throw away less, as of April 2006 a five percent tax is added to the price of chopsticks. This measure is part of the first tax package in 12 years. end quote
It seems to me most "wooden" chopsticks are actually made from bamboo, at least the Chinese ones are. Environmentally, I think there's a big difference. LDHan 16:46, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

On the other hand, almost all the disposable chopsticks in Japanese restaurants in the US are made of wood. The kind that you have to rip apart the two halves. Since this stat is about usage in China, I'd agree that the bamboo may be a more common material. Kowloonese 00:58, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

I checked further. Associated Press mentions 70 million cubic feet. That equals 2 million cubic meters. Some sources state that it is for 15 billion pair of chopsticks. Other sources say 45 billion pair. Apparently by wood is meant the total of poplar, birch and bamboo. --JohJak2 12:19, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

Can someone supply the source of this information? LDHan 12:47, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] History problem

Removed the last part of this:

Scythian invaders of Canaan before and contemporary to Moses and Joshua.

The Scythian invasions are usually placed in the 7th century B.C., while Moses and Joshua are at least three centuries before that... AnonMoos 18:52, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Emphasizing certain words

I think there certain things that should be stressed, meaning they should be in bold, (like, for example, the word "never") so that it will draw attention.

[edit] Left handed

Does the hand holding the chopsticks matter? What if someone holds the chopsticks in his left hand?

This is like asking "what if a left handed holds the pen in his left hand?"
I think the answer has been very obvious. -- G.S.K.Lee 21:03, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Using chopsticks with lefthand is, traditionally, considered to be one of the most significant social blunders that one can make. It is such a serious problem that many "old" Chinese will refuse to sit at the same table; because it is considered to be extremely unlucky.

Obviously, it is very easy for natural left-handers to use chopsticks with their "other" hand; and, as a consequence, any refusal to do so is considered to be an active and deliberate decision to be very, very rude.

However, when examined from the point of view that most folk-practices have extremely sensible origins, one needs only to have a single experience of sitting around a crowded, small meal table with a rude "persisting to use left hand" social mis-fit to understand the sensible nature of this practice.

It should also be understood that this social demand for right-handed chop-stick use has no grounds in relation to the implement.

By contrast, the demand that all who use a Chinese writing brush (maobi) is made because it is quite impossible to write Chinese correctly with such a brush using the left hand. (Old China Hand)

[edit] Chopsticks are used in Singapore

Chopsticks are also used in Singapore, most likely because Chinese are the ethnic majority there. In an informal setting, Singaporeans often use a Chinese soup spoon in the left hand to bring the food to the mouth, and use the chopsticks a bit like a fork (if you were using spoon and fork) to place or push the food onto the spoon. This is a particularly practical way of eating noodle soups which are common lunchtime foods. My Singaporean friends looked at me oddly and commented that I eat like a Chinese when at first I ate in the Chinese style which is to scoop the rice into the mouth with the bowl held up. (Interesting given that they were all ethnic Chinese, and I am Anglo-Australian! I soon learnt their way and now my Aussie friends look at me weirdly!)

Note that Singapore is a multi-cultural society of various Asian descent (predominantly Chinese, Malay and Indian) so food is wonderfully, ethnically diverse. This means that use of chopsticks is contextual. So Singaporeans of Chinese descent would not request chopsticks in an Indian or Western restaurant for example.

[edit] No Pain

In the sentence: "A 2003 study found that regular use of chopsticks may slightly increase the risk of osteoarthritis, a painful condition where cartilage gets worn off, leading to pain in the hand joints, particularly among the elderly.[2]"

The linked article did not indicate pain in this specific case, just in general case. In fact the only mention of pain in the specific case involves them not having any.

jptdrake 01:20, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chopstick?

Why no discussion of the etymology of the English word chopstick? Certainly it can't be a direct translation, can it?

I think there was a brief bit about it being from a Chinese pidgin, but it must have been removed. It didn't have a citation, you see. --Kjoonlee 12:16, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

According to Merriam-Webster Online and the OED, the chop in chopstick seems to come from a Chinese-English pidgin. "Chop" means quick, and the first syllable of 筷子 is pronounced like 快 (which means quick) so it fits. --Kjoonlee 12:22, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

BTW, chop can currently be found in the British phrase "chop chop," meaning "hurry hurry." --Kjoonlee 12:22, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Cool. I always got the impression that it was some horrid word made up by American railway managers during the 1800s. BJason

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