chin-chin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Playful, Old-fashioned, Upper-class/British-affectation
Quick answer
What does “chin-chin” mean?
A toast or salutation used when drinking, meaning 'cheers'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A toast or salutation used when drinking, meaning 'cheers'.
An informal, somewhat old-fashioned or jocular farewell; a general greeting or salute.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British (or British-affectation) term. In American English, it is very rare, used mainly in ironic imitation of British speech or in historical/period contexts.
Connotations
In the UK: often associated with public school/Oxbridge, upper-middle/upper-class affectation, or theatrical camp. In the US: signifies an imitation of Britishness.
Frequency
Low frequency in UK; extremely low in US.
Grammar
How to Use “chin-chin” in a Sentence
(exclamation)VERB (intransitive): They chinned and drank.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chin-chin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- "We should chin-chin before you leave," he said, raising his glass.
- They chinned-chinned over the port.
American English
- He jokingly suggested they chin-chin to the deal.
- At the Anglophile society, they always chin-chin.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Rare, only in very specific social groups as a humorous or affected toast/farewell.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chin-chin”
- Using it in formal settings, overusing it, using it as a direct synonym for 'hello' in non-drinking contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite old-fashioned and affected. 'Cheers' is vastly more common in both the UK and US.
Yes, historically and in certain affectations, it can be used as a light, informal farewell, similar to 'cheerio'.
It is believed to be a British appropriation and alteration of the Chinese salutation 'qǐng qǐng' (请请), encountered during colonial-era contact.
Not rude, but it can sound pretentious, mocking, or theatrically camp. It is best used with awareness of its specific social connotations.
A toast or salutation used when drinking, meaning 'cheers'.
Chin-chin is usually informal, playful, old-fashioned, upper-class/british-affectation in register.
Chin-chin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪn ˈtʃɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪn ˈtʃɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not an idiom itself, but used as a salutation.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone tapping their glass twice with a spoon, saying 'Chin-chin!' – the sound resembles the repeated word.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH ACT IS PHYSICAL CONTACT (a light, tapping toast).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chin-chin' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?