Chop chop (phrase)

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"Chop chop" is a phrase rooted in Cantonese. It spread through Chinese workers at sea and was adopted by English seamen.[1] "Chop chop" means "hurry, hurry" and suggests that something should be done now and without any delay. The word "chopsticks" likely originates from this root.[2]

The term may have its origins in the South China Sea, as a Pidgin English version of the Chinese term k'wâi-k'wâi (Chinese: 快快; pinyin: kuài kuài).[1] Or it may come from Malay. See the detailed discussion at Language Log.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Phrase Finder is copyright Gary Martin, 1996-2015. All rights reserved. "Chop-chop". Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary, 2013. "chop-stick, n.2." Accessed on June 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Language Log". Retrieved 19 January 2015.