Zhing-zhong

Zhing-zhong (精装) is a Zimbabwean slang word meaning cheap, Asian-mostly-Chinese of inferior quality.[1] The word made its appearance at the onset of Chinese penetration into the Zimbabwean economy at the turn of the 21st Century.[2] It stems from the way the Chinese language sounds to a Zimbabwean hearing it for the first time, and from the names of the Chinese manufacturers on the labels of many cheap, low-quality products. Zhing-Zhong now also means anything that is low-quality, even a person unfit for their occupation or station in life can be described as "zhing-zhong".

The term carries strong connotations of widespread discontent over the continued de-industrialisation of Zimbabwe, and the replacement of its products with Chinese ones. In some quarters, "Zhing-zhong", or simply "zhing", is a slur on the Chinese. Perhaps mindful of this, the Government of Zimbabwe is reported to have banned the word.The word zhing zhong according to Thulani Chikanda refers to products from China even if it is of high quality,it is not about being cheap but about the origin. Thulani Chikanda also argues that this word was merely a petition to the government to tell China to improve quality on products[3]

Ironically, the original Chinese word (精装) means "deluxe" and is often used in Chinese advertisements.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "zhing-zhong" definition from Double-Tongued Dictionary
  2. ↑ http://www.ipsnews.net/2004/10/economy-zimbabwe-quotzhing-zhongquot-gets-the-thumbs-up-from-consumers/
  3. ↑ Blog reporting ban on saying, Zhing-zhong

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