The term “chop-chop” is widely used in English to convey a sense of urgency or to tell someone to hurry up. Many people assume it has its origins in Chinese, but is this really the case? In this article, we’ll explore the history and meaning behind chop-chop to find out where it truly comes from.
The Origins of Chop-Chop
Despite its Chinese sounding nature, chop-chop does not actually come from Chinese. The first known use of chop-chop in print comes from the book “The Thieves’ Cant” published in Britain in 1839. It states:
“If they want one to make haste, they cry ‘Chop, chop!'”
This suggests the term had already been in use in British criminal slang before it made its way into print. From there, it was picked up more widely by British society in the 19th century as a command to hurry up. Some key early uses include:
- “Come, chop chop, or you’ll lose the train.” – John Halifax, Gentleman, 1855
- “Chop-chop, then, and get ready as soon as you can.” – Bleak House, Charles Dickens, 1853
So while the term may sound like it has Chinese origins, it appears to have first emerged as a phrase among criminals and the lower classes in Britain. How exactly it developed is uncertain, but it could be related to other terms in English like “chopped up” (broken down into pieces) and “chapkah” (to toss, throw or move). Whatever its etymology, by the late 1800s chop-chop was being used as a common colloquial term across all levels of British society.
False Connections to Chinese
Despite arising in Britain, chop-chop sounds similar to Chinese terms like kǒu shuō (口说) which translates as “spoken word.” This is likely why many assume it has Chinese origins. However, there is no evidence chop-chop derived from any Chinese terms. Linguists have thoroughly researched its etymology and found no connections to Chinese.
The resemblance to Chinese words is simply a coincidence. English speakers latched onto chop-chop as it sounded foreign and exotic. Its use became popularized at the same time as broader Western fascination with Chinese culture grew in the 19th century. The meaning of “hurry up” or “make haste” aligned with Western stereotypes of the Chinese people at the time as efficient and hard working.
While chop-chop does not come directly from Chinese, it did likely pick up further popularity and cement itself in English due to its coincidental Chinese sound. Had it not resembled Chinese terms, it may not have caught on so widely. But any connections between the words are false – chop-chop has origins firmly rooted in British slang.
Use of Chop-Chop in Contemporary Chinese
These days, chop-chop has made its way back into the Chinese language. While not derived from Chinese originally, Chinese speakers have adopted chop-chop as a loan word. In Mandarin, it’s now used colloquially to mean “hurry up” or “right away.” Some examples of its use in modern Chinese include:
- Chōp chōp zǒu ba! (赶紧走吧!) – Hurry up and go!
- Nǐmen chōp chōp chīfàn (你们赶紧吃饭) – You guys hurry up and eat!
- Wǒmen chōp chōp qù ba (我们赶紧去吧) – Let’s hurry up and go!
So while chop-chop originated in the West, it has been fully adopted into the Chinese language. Chinese speakers recognize it through the long history of contact between China and the West and exposure to Western phrases and slang. It’s a great example of the cross-pollination of language and culture that creates new meanings and usages across different societies.
The Meaning and Usage of Chop-Chop
So in summary, here’s a quick rundown of the meaning and usage of chop-chop:
- Originated as British criminal slang in the early 1800s
- Made its way into mainstream British English by mid 1800s
- Sounds similar to Chinese but is not actually derived from Chinese
- Used in English as an interjection to tell someone to hurry up or make haste
- Loaned back into Chinese in recent decades for the same meaning
- Used colloquially in both English and Chinese now
Some examples of how to use it in English include:
- “Chop chop! We need to get going now or we’ll be late.”
- “Come on, chop chop, get your shoes on so we can go to the park.”
- “I told you to clean your room an hour ago. Chop chop and get it done already!”
So next time you want to tell someone to hurry up, go ahead and use chop chop. You’ll be tapping into a fun bit of linguistic history, even if the Chinese connections are purely coincidental!
Conclusion
In summary, the common phrase “chop-chop” used to convey urgency or tell someone to hurry up does not actually come from Chinese. It originated as British criminal slang in the early 19th century and caught on in mainstream British English due to its exotic sound resembling Chinese. While unrelated etymologically, it has now been adopted back into Chinese as a loan word and is used colloquially in both languages today. So while the Chinese connections are purely coincidental, chop-chop remains an interesting linguistic example of the intersection of British and Chinese culture and slang.