chopsticks: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “chopsticks” mean?
A pair of thin, equal-length sticks held in one hand and used as the primary eating utensils in many East Asian cultures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pair of thin, equal-length sticks held in one hand and used as the primary eating utensils in many East Asian cultures.
Metonymically, the word can refer to East Asian cuisine, culture, or dining etiquette. In music, 'Chopsticks' is the popular name of a simple waltz for piano.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both, associated with Asian food and culture.
Frequency
Equal frequency, given the global prevalence of East Asian restaurants.
Grammar
How to Use “chopsticks” in a Sentence
[Subject] + use + chopsticks + to + eat + [object][Subject] + struggle with + chopsticks[Subject] + be + adept with + chopsticksVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like manufacturing, importing, or restaurant supply.
Academic
Rare, may appear in anthropological, cultural, or historical studies of material culture.
Everyday
Common, especially in contexts of dining out, cooking, or travel.
Technical
Rare; could be used in design or ergonomics discussions of utensils.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chopsticks”
- Using a singular form (e.g., 'a chopstick').
- Misspelling as 'chopstiks' or 'chopstix'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'eat by chopsticks' instead of 'eat with chopsticks'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never in the context of eating. You might refer to 'a chopstick' if one is broken or if discussing it as a singular object in craft, but the utensil is inherently a pair.
It originates from Pidgin English in the 19th century. 'Chop' meant 'quick' (from Cantonese 速 'quick'), so 'chopsticks' essentially meant 'quick sticks'.
Yes. They vary by region: Japanese are pointed, Chinese are blunter and longer, Korean are often metal and flatter. Materials include wood, bamboo, plastic, metal, and bone.
No, it's a folk etymology. The name likely comes from the 'chopping' motion of the hands playing the notes, not the utensils.
A pair of thin, equal-length sticks held in one hand and used as the primary eating utensils in many East Asian cultures.
Chopsticks is usually neutral in register.
Chopsticks: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɒpstɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɑːpstɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He can't handle his chopsticks. (slang, dated: He is drunk.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound 'CHOP' made by the sticks tapping together as you pick up food.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHOPSTICKS ARE EXTENSIONS OF THE FINGERS (dexterity, precision).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common grammatical form of the word 'chopsticks'?