chinese whispers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “chinese whispers” mean?
A parlour game in which a whispered message is passed around a circle and becomes amusingly distorted by the end.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A parlour game in which a whispered message is passed around a circle and becomes amusingly distorted by the end.
A metaphor for any process where information is passed from person to person, becoming increasingly inaccurate, corrupted, or misunderstood along the chain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'Chinese whispers' is primarily British and Commonwealth. In American English, the game and the metaphor are almost exclusively called 'Telephone' or 'Broken telephone'.
Connotations
In British English, it has long-standing, casual usage but growing awareness of its problematic nature. In American English, the term 'Chinese whispers' is rarely used and may sound archaic or directly offensive.
Frequency
High frequency in UK/international English for the concept, but the specific phrase is declining due to cultural sensitivity. Low frequency in US English; 'telephone game' is standard.
Grammar
How to Use “chinese whispers” in a Sentence
The rumour spread like Chinese whispers.The instructions became distorted through Chinese whispers.It was a classic case of Chinese whispers.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chinese whispers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The news just got Chinese-whispered around the office until it was unrecognisable.
American English
- The story was telephoned around the classroom with hilarious results.
adverb
British English
- The story spread Chinese-whispers-style through the village.
American English
- The rumour travelled telephone-game-fast through the dorm.
adjective
British English
- We're dealing with a Chinese-whispers situation regarding the policy changes.
American English
- The telephone-game effect completely distorted the original announcement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe flawed communication in a corporate hierarchy where a message from management becomes distorted by the time it reaches staff.
Academic
Used in communication studies, sociology, or psychology as a metaphor for the 'serial reproduction' experiment paradigm or the distortion of narratives.
Everyday
Commonly used to explain how a rumour or story has become exaggerated or incorrect after being passed around a group.
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical registers; more formal equivalents like 'information decay' or 'signal degradation' are preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chinese whispers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chinese whispers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chinese whispers”
- Using it in formal writing without explanation.
- Using it in American contexts where 'telephone game' is expected.
- Treating it as a neutral term without awareness of its potentially offensive nature.
- Capitalising 'whispers' (it is not a proper noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is increasingly viewed as culturally insensitive and potentially racist, as it implies something confusing or nonsensical is characteristically 'Chinese'. Many style guides recommend avoiding it.
Neutral alternatives include 'telephone game', 'broken telephone', 'rumour mill', or descriptive phrases like 'distortion through repetition'.
Yes, informally. For example: 'The details were Chinese-whispered beyond recognition.' However, due to the term's problematic nature, this usage is also best avoided.
Rarely. Academics would use more precise terms like 'serial reproduction error', 'information degradation', or 'communication distortion'. 'Chinese whispers' is considered a colloquial metaphor.
A parlour game in which a whispered message is passed around a circle and becomes amusingly distorted by the end.
Chinese whispers is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Chinese whispers: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniːz ˈwɪspəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniz ˈwɪspərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Passed along like Chinese whispers”
- “Got lost in translation”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a message whispered from one person to another in a long line that snakes through China; by the end, the message is completely different, just like the game.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A FRAGILE CHAIN; INFORMATION IS A PERISHABLE OBJECT.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is the standard American English equivalent for 'Chinese whispers'?