chinese checkers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “chinese checkers” mean?
A board game for multiple players where the objective is to move one's marbles from a starting point to the opposite point of a star-shaped board.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A board game for multiple players where the objective is to move one's marbles from a starting point to the opposite point of a star-shaped board.
Can refer to the concept of strategic, multi-directional movement or competition involving several participants, often used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties, though the game itself may be less commonly known/played in the UK. In American English, it is a standard name for the game.
Connotations
Primarily connotes a parlour game or childhood pastime.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “chinese checkers” in a Sentence
'play' + chinese checkers'game' + of + chinese checkersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chinese checkers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We chinese-checkered our way through the afternoon. (informal, rare)
- They were chinese-checkering for hours. (informal, rare)
American English
- Let's chinese checkers tonight. (informal, rare as verb)
- He chinese-checkered like a pro. (informal, rare)
adverb
British English
- The pieces moved chinese-checkers-style across the grid. (rare, metaphorical)
- They proceeded chinese-checkers-quick. (rare, informal)
American English
- They hopped over obstacles chinese-checkers-fast. (rare, informal)
- The teams advanced chinese-checkers-like. (rare, metaphorical)
adjective
British English
- He adopted a chinese-checkers strategy for the project. (metaphorical)
- The chinese-checkers board was set up.
American English
- It was a chinese-checkers kind of competition. (metaphorical)
- The chinese-checkers tournament.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for multi-party competition or complex strategic positioning in a market. 'The merger talks became a game of chinese checkers with three other firms involved.'
Academic
Rarely used; potentially in game theory or studies of folk games.
Everyday
Refers to the physical board game played socially or with family.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chinese checkers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chinese checkers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chinese checkers”
- Using singular 'checker' ('chinese checker').
- Capitalising unnecessarily ('Chinese Checkers').
- Confusing it with 'draughts' or 'checkers' (the American/British game).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. The game was invented in Germany in the late 19th century under the name 'Sternhalma'. The name 'Chinese Checkers' was applied in the United States in 1928 as a marketing strategy to make it sound exotic.
The standard game is designed for two, three, four, or six players. Some boards accommodate up to six players, each starting in a differently colored point of the star.
The objective is to be the first player to move all ten of one's marbles from the player's home point (triangle) to the opposite point (triangle) of the star-shaped board.
No, they are fundamentally different games. Checkers/draughts is a two-player game played on an 8x8 grid involving capturing opponent pieces. Chinese checkers is a multi-player race game played on a star-shaped board involving hopping marbles along lines.
A board game for multiple players where the objective is to move one's marbles from a starting point to the opposite point of a star-shaped board.
Chinese checkers is usually informal in register.
Chinese checkers: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniːz ˈtʃek.əz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniz ˈtʃek.ɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not chinese checkers (used to indicate a situation is simple or childish)”
- “like a game of chinese checkers (suggesting multi-party, complex maneuvering)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHINESE CHECKERS: CHECK your path like in chess, but HOP over marbles like in Chinese solitaire (though it's German!).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MULTI-PLAYER BOARD GAME; COMPETITION IS A RACE TO THE OPPOSITE CORNER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is TRUE about chinese checkers?