Chink

• chink

There are several possible origins of the term:

• From the Chinese courtesy ching-ching,^[1] a reduplication of Mandarin 請 / 请 (qǐng, “please”). Compare chin-chin, Italian cincin, Portuguese tchim-tchim, tim-tim, Spanish chinchín, French tchin-tchin.
• From the alteration of China.^[2]
• From the alteration of Qing (also spelled Ch'ing).^[3]

See also Hokkien 親家 / 亲家 (chhin-ke, “any relative by marriage (to a Chinese family)”).

• IPA^(key): /t͡ʃɪŋk/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Chink (plural Chinks)

1. (derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) A person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.
   • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 51”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

     Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued.

   • 1920 October 17, George Herriman, Krazy Kat, comic strip:

     [Ignatz Mouse:] A new Chink in town, and acting mighty queer too – I suspect foul play.

   • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

     He scratched his head. "Well, damn me," said he. "I never thought I would take orders from a Chink, but he says 'hist!' and by crums you've got to hist and no back talk either."

2. (derogatory, by extension, offensive, ethnic slur) A person of perceived East Asian descent.
3. (offensive, ethnic slur) A meal of Chinese food.
   • 1995, “Daddy's on the Drink” (track 12), in Shame-Based Man‎^[2], performed by Bruce McCulloch:

     Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!

• (Chinese person): Chinaman, gook, ching chong
• (Chinese meal): chinky (UK)

• → Hawaiian: Kinikiu

Chink (comparative more Chink, superlative most Chink)

1. (derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) Chinese, or perceived to be Chinese.
2. (derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) East Asian.

• Hinck, Kinch