What does chopstick mean?
A chopstick is one of a pair of slim, usually tapered sticks, traditionally made of wood, bamboo, or plastic, that are held in one hand and used to lift food to the mouth. Chopsticks are the standard eating utensil across much of East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, where they have been in use for several thousand years. In English the word is almost always plural — people speak of eating with chopsticks or needing a pair of chopsticks — and the singular appears mainly when describing an individual stick that has been dropped or broken. Beyond its practical meaning, the word often evokes associations with East Asian cuisine and culture, appearing frequently in descriptions of restaurants, travel writing, and discussions of table manners. Learning to use chopsticks is commonly treated as a small but meaningful skill for anyone engaging with these culinary traditions.
nounOne of a pair of thin, tapered sticks held in one hand and used to lift and convey food to the mouth, originating in East Asia; the word is almost always used in the plural.
- One of a pair of slender sticks used as an eating utensil in East Asian cuisine.
"She deftly picked up the last dumpling with her chopsticks."
"He fumbled with the chopsticks before finally managing to pick up a noodle."
"The restaurant sets each place with porcelain chopstick rests and lacquered chopsticks."
The plural is by far the dominant form in everyday use, since the utensil consists of two sticks; it is conventionally counted with the phrase "a pair of chopsticks".
"Could you bring me a clean pair of chopsticks, please?"
The 'chop' in chopstick has nothing to do with chopping food — it comes from Chinese Pidgin English 'chap chap', meaning 'quick', which is also why we say 'chop-chop'!
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chopstick
The word "chopstick" entered English in the early 17th century through contact between English traders and speakers of Chinese Pidgin English. The element "chop" derives from the pidgin word "chop" (itself from Chinese "kap", meaning quick or hurried), meaning fast, so "chopstick" originally carried the sense of a 'quick stick' — fitting for a utensil designed for swift eating. The same pidgin root survives in the English phrase "chop-chop", meaning quickly, and in "chow chow", another pidgin-derived term associated with food.
Related word forms
How chopstick is actually used
"Chopstick" is nearly always encountered in the plural form "chopsticks", typically introduced by "a pair of" when counting. The singular is used mainly when referring to a single stick, such as when describing one being dropped or broken. The term is neutral in register and carries no particular connotation, though it is strongly associated culturally with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese dining traditions.
Easily confused with chopstick
A chopstick is the utensil itself used to eat, whereas a chopstick rest is the small stand on which chopsticks are placed when not in use.