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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

ching chong en · INTJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˈtʃɪŋ ˌtʃɒŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • chǐngʹ chŏng
  • /ˈtʃɪŋ ˌtʃɑŋ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Pseudo-loan from Chinese. Onomatopoeic, originally representing characteristic syllables of Chinese, such as Mandarin's qing and chong, Cantonese's cing¹ and cong¹, Hokkien's chheng and chhong, etc., as heard by English-speakers, and reinforced by perceptions of other Asian languages, especially with existing surnames of Chinese origin, such as Ching/Cheng and Chong/Chung.

Meanings

  1. (ethnic, offensive, slur) Mimicking Chinese, Korean, Thai or other East or Southeast Asian speech.
    • Growing up in Nebraska, I was “ching-chong’d” in school and asked why my eyes were so small. Later on, popular kids would compel me to do their homework with overtures of friendship, only to ignore me at recess. 2016 October 21, Crystal Chen, “I ‘Went Back to China’ — and Felt More American than Ever”, in Foreign Policy, archived from the original on 22 Oct 2016:
    • He came up with three or four kids behind him, chanting 'Ching chong! Ching chong! Don't even know how to talk! Don't even know how to fight!' 2008, Alice Pung, Growing Up Asian in Australia, page 91:
    • For example, comedian and talk-show host Adam Corolla and NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal have each previously made ching chong comments in reference to Asians and Asian Americans. 2009, Kent A. Ono, Vincent N. Pham, Asian Americans and the media, page 104:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
ching-chong alternative lexicographic

Relateds

zhing-zhong · durka durka · ooga booga

wikipedia: Standard Chinese phonology#Syllables

ching chong en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈtʃɪŋ ˌtʃɒŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • chǐngʹ chŏng
  • /ˈtʃɪŋ ˌtʃɑŋ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Pseudo-loan from Chinese. Onomatopoeic, originally representing characteristic syllables of Chinese, such as Mandarin's qing and chong, Cantonese's cing¹ and cong¹, Hokkien's chheng and chhong, etc., as heard by English-speakers, and reinforced by perceptions of other Asian languages, especially with existing surnames of Chinese origin, such as Ching/Cheng and Chong/Chung.

Meanings

  1. (ethnic, offensive, slur) A Chinese or other Asian person.
    • “Hey there, Ching Chong, bring the pistol.” In a moment Lee poked the gun butt-first through the door. 1952, John Steinbeck, East of Eden, New York: Viking Press, →OCLC, page 205:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
ching-chong alternative lexicographic
ching chongs Number=Plur lexicographic

wikipedia: Standard Chinese phonology#Syllables