chop chop

Where does the word "chop chop" come from? It comes from Cantonese kap kap, passing through Chinese Pidgin English before entering English (1900s).

Chop chop’s story begins in Cantonese: kap kap meant “quickly, quickly.” A reduplicated word meaning 'hurry, hurry'. By 1830s, the word had taken hold in Chinese Pidgin English as chop-chop. Adapted into the pidgin trade language used in Canton's foreign trading ports. It reached English by 1900s as chop chop. Spread into general English slang through sailors and traders. Today, chop chop means an informal way of telling someone to hurry up.

1. Stage 1 · Cantonese · ancient kap kap "quickly, quickly", a reduplicated word meaning 'hurry, hurry'.
2. Stage 2 · Chinese Pidgin English · 1830s chop-chop "quickly; hurry up", adapted into the pidgin trade language used in Canton's foreign trading ports.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s chop chop "quickly; without delay", spread into general English slang through sailors and traders.