chink As a child growing up in St. Louis, Missouri Kimora Lee Simmons was called a "chinky giraffe" because of her height and Asian background. Sarah Silverman, the controversial comedian, used the word in one of her acts causing an uproar with some Asian groups and a demand for an apology. Not sure what chink means? Well, the word "chink" is a derogatory term used to describe those of Asian decent. Though the slang term refers specifically to Chinese people, most people using the word do not (or cannot) distinguish between different Asian types. It is considered highly derogatory and could be seen as the equivalent to calling an African American person a "nigger" or a Hispanic person a "spic." So, how did this label come into existence? Well, the dictionary defines the word chink as a "narrow opening" or "crack, cleft or fissure." Therefore, it seems the word transitioned to a label for Chinese or Asian people in reference to the shape and/or size of their eyes. On the other hand, chink could have also come from the mass amount of Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroad during the turn of the century. They were in charge of piecing together the railroad tracks and the sound of the hammer hitting the rail made the sound, "chink, chink." Moreover, some people think that "chink" is a mispronunciation of the Chinese word "chung-kao" which means "China," or is an abbreviated version of another derogatory term "china-men." Like other ethnic slurs, chink is sometimes used among Asian people to address one another--usually as a way to adopt the word and create a new meaning or context while exposing its negative impact on society. For example, The Chinkees (an all-Asian ska-punk band) chose their name to bring attention to the term and point out that racism still exists. The Chinkees donate 10% of their profits to anti-racism organizations. Also, the comic Kate Rigg has a show called Chink-o-rama which, according to her, is "Way more fun than an essay on semiotics." Variations of the word are chinky, ching-chong and chank. A similar derogatory term is gook.

Comments

[FoolForYou]

A.A.

You disgust me.
What a massive generalisation.

Im pretty certain you dont know every 'chink' out there, so how can you say all those vile things like they are fact?

Has it ever occured to you that Asians, 'slanty-eyed' or not, are human as well? I'm Burmese, I have 'slanty-eyes', yet I can assure you that I have lungs, I have a heart, I have a brain, I have feelings and thoughts and opinions. Hm, just like you it seems.
Why don't you try getting to know them, instead of just observing them huh?

Quit generalising. It only makes you seem stupid.
But of course, it's a bit late for that huh? :)

[A.A.]

First off, I am neither ignorant nor uneducated. I am, however, observant. It does not matter what CENTURY it is, the fact of the matter is: on a daily basis, I OBSERVE asians (only the ones with slanted eyes)and japs acting like sub-human pieces of shit. Chinks--yes CHINKS-- are the most socially ignorant group of people I have ever met! They are physically and mentally retarded when it comes to simple tasks such as forming relationships and (as we all know) driving. As for japs, please do not even get me started. They have to be the most worthless form of feces on this planet. JAPS: you are not fucking cute, so grow up and act like it. Oh, and please stop whaling and over-fishing. I mean, is it really that hard to understand? Let me try to explain: youki no fishiki too muchimi o elsiki fishijima popurationaki will disappearokyo. Get it now? Fuck, the more I think about it, the more I get the urge to watch every slanted eyed bastard on this planet perish.
Oh, and as for every non-asian male that says he "likes" or "loves" one of you, do not piss your pants in excitement. He does NOT love you, he loves that you have slanted eyes and black hair, and he probably thinks you will love him long time. Ha! It's called yellow fever. It is impossible to love someone that is so much like everyone else in their culture. There is nothing special to love! With chinks, if you "love" one, you love 'em all because when you see one, you have seen 'em all! It's not rocket science. Which brings me back to the reason they are all socially retarded, they do not know ANYTHING they can not learn from a calculation(AKA, they do NOT have a thing called COMMON SENSE). Their brains are more robotic than human. They can complete an equation, read a book, and memorize facts. However, they lack the human ability to understand the reason for the equation, they fail to comprehend the deeper meaning of the book, and they are completely unable to relate the cold hard facts to trivial problems in everyday life. I would call them animals, but I have too much respect for those innocent creatures. So, I prefer to call them robots. Dime-a-dozen, empty, cold-hearted, identical robots.

[FoolForYou]

To Oliver:
'I hate them CHINKS! Especially those comming from COMMUNIST CHINA.'

Firstly, learn to spell - its 'coming' dear, try a little harder next time won't you? You nearly had it though, congratulations!

Secondly, grow up. Your ignorant and disgusting views are not welcome here, or in today's world. Learn to judge people on their characters, not their appearances, or their nationality ok? Who knows, you might actually get somewhere in life?

Lastly, I fail to see the point of the Caps Lock.

Peace and love and all the jazz.
X

[FoolForYou]

Ah, the number of times I've been called 'Chink', or been mistaken as Chinese (I'm actually Burmese. =])

I used to get really offended when people would shout 'Chink', but nowadays, my friends and I (from the Philippines, Thailand and Japan) use that term affectionately. Like the definition said, it highlights the fact that racism is still present, but we also see it as a sign of solidarity and stuff. =]

[ajldksdja]

kudos to kris,
because im filipino too,
and im freaking prouddd.
im just sick & tired of people making fun of how other people look like.

and ive been called chink
ive been told to buy them sushi
ive been mistaken chinese/japanese 391280 times,
white only twice, and
mexican only twice
you can really tell the difference to if you put me next to a chinese person and im like really tan too.

all these labels are stupid,
it hurts, but people are always gonna be too shallow to see it.

[Chanelle]

im asian but no one calls me a chink but some guys do make fun of my eyes and ask really immature questions like, "How can you see?" People should just over themselves and stop acting like they're better than asain ppl. in fact alot of chinese ppl are really smart get good paying jobs because they work hard not trying to brag or anything so ppl should stop acting like they're better than us because it's offense and annoying not to mention politcally incorrect.

[byron]

this racist thing is soo stupid seriously i mean stop acting like little kids dude is the 21st century get with the real program i just cant belive how people can be like this is like someone saying "i dont like you because you have blue shoes"
i mean come on

[Rachel]

First of all. I'm a caucasian female with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. I am the only person in my family besides my mom and my grandmother that have slightly "chink" eyes. I don't give a shit how pale I am or the fact that my eyes aren't as big or have large lids like most white people. I have a lot of different blood in me and I think Asians are some of the worlds most intellectually talented people. Sometimes I hate my eyes, other times I embrace the distinction. So those of you that think you have some sort of right to make fun of anyone, you're wrong. Judge yourself before you judge another. I'm so so sick of this universal racism of making jokes and gestures (especially Americans). I live in the United States and I'm just as disgusted and pissed off than any one. No its not fair we can't pick our looks. The comments people have for every difference just shows how fucking proud they are that they can overpower someone. I laugh in their face. Like I care what anyone else thinks about me. Think what you want, but you can't judge me until you know me. How many people I'd love to beat the sense into everyday. But what a wonderful way to tell the world how conceited you are when you make fun of another ethnicity or person. Its called being a low life. Just stop taking up space that a person with a brain could be occupying.

[thesmartest]

some people are really ignorant and uneducated...i know someone who is just tht. please stop this racism, because even though im, not chinese or asian, i know what it feels like to be called a derogatory name and it hurts,(well, sometimes). so just stop.

[Oliver]

I hate them CHINKS! Especially those comming from COMMUNIST CHINA.

[luvgurl95]

MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!!! HAHAHAAHAHAHA HATE IT? LUV IT? BUT U WILL RESPECT IT!

[luvgurl95]

MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!!! HAHAHAAHAHAHA HATE IT? LUV IT? BUT U WILL RESPECT IT!

[luvgurl95]

MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!!! HAHAHAAHAHAHA HATE IT? LUV IT? BUT U WILL RESPECT IT!

[Chelsea.]

okay, being white on my dad's side and a quarter chinese, i get made fun of alot.
I have blonde hair. I hardly look chinese at all; maybe just a little in the eyes.

But still;
it does offend me when people make fun of chinese people because they do it w/o knowing that i'm chinese.
Even though i don't look chinese it still hurts my feelings.

people shouldn't use racial slurs because it makes you look ignorant and like a moron. it doesn't make you look like a rap star or some other shit.

PEOPLE SHOULD STOP USING RACIAL SLURS EVEN IF THEY THINK THEY'RE ALLOWED TO SAY "NIGGER" BECAUSE THEY'RE BLACK, OR CHINK BECAUSE THEY'RE CHINESE. DON'T USE IT IF YOU DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO USE IT.

I'm all for people using it to get rid of the negativeness of it; but don't say "you can't say that because you're not black,chinese, white, hispanic or whatever.

ITS STUPID.

[coco]

I personally don't get offended when people call me chink.....
I actaully look more hawaiian than I do asian.

but racism is starting to act as a disease b/c there are idiots that don't even know the meaning of what racism really is.

and most of you are pretty stupid.
people might get offended by such a word b/c asians are a race that's always being poked fun at.

but if we say shit about white people/blk people, we get whiplashed with "you racist bitch!"

[Karenasaurus]

To "chinks are shit".

...somebody obviously needs to grow up and get a life.

You're in America, bud. Look around you and crawl out from under your rock. There's diversity everywhere, and whether you like it or not, Asians as well as other races will always be present.
And don't tell Asians to "go back to their homeland", because you are most likely NOT a Native American, who were the original settlers of North America. If you're some form of "white", your ancestors were all immigrants.
Don't go around hating on Asians because we made half your stuff, and you know pretty much your whole house plus all your clothes are made in some country in Asia.
If you don't like Asians, we don't you either.
Grooowwww up.

[Brooke!]

I'm not asain but my best friend is. and if there is anyone on here that makes fun of asains or chinese people. you really need to grow up. theyre are way too many cultures and backgrounds to start making fun. and if you dont watch your back. your gunna end up in trouble. because it doesnt matter what your back ground is its the inner beauty that matters and my best friend is the bestest best friend i could ever ask for.

[SØPHiÅ]

ok whoever that chinks are shit person is
U NEED TO GET A LIFE
IM A NIGGA AND IM PROUD OF IT I GOT A TEENY BIT OF MONGOLIAN IN ME AND IM PROUD OF THAT
EVRY1 HAS A RITE TO THEIR FUCKIN OPINION BUT THAT SHIT IS FUCKIN STUPID
WHY YOU HATE NIGGAS EVEN MORE ??
hmm
HOW BOUT YOU GET YOUR RACIST ASS OVER TO THE PROJECTS AND SAY THAT TO EVRY1 THERE
I BET YO ASS IS TOO MUCH OF A PUSSY TO EVEN GO THERE
MAN
IM NOT INTO ALL THIS DRAMA SHIT
BUT THAT GOT ME POPPIN OFF
U JUST A PUNKASS IDIOT
AND JUS STOP WITH THIS RACIST CRAP CUZ THATS JUST STUPID 2
OK
NOTALL ASIANS HAVE CHINKY EYES(I do!!) NOT ALL BLACKS ARE REAL BURNT UP
SO GET OVER IT

[Phebe]

lol I'm asian from Hong Kong...I have big eyes and I hate it when ppl misunderstand me and keep thinking that Hong Kong's is the same thing as Chinese culture -_-"

[the door next door]

lol i get called a chink daily.. im not azian but my eyes are very swinted lol its a cute slanted but a little round and when ppl call me that i smile and dont take it offensive

[Tee]

Racism are gets less if you hang around with the right people. I'm chinese and living in England. All my friends are white and they are interested in chinese culture and they like chinese food.

Racists are bottom class humans, i just ignore them and non racist white people sticks up for me.

[Naomi Chan]

If you call ppl slang terms for their ethnicities youre pretty much tattooing 'STOOOPID' on your forehead. Ima asian and I don't have 'chinky' eyes. So if you call asians 'chinks' its not getting you anywhere and making any point.

[loulou]

okay i am a girl of mixed ethinicity, so i put up with a lot of different racist terms thrown at me, and let me just say, dont go calling someone a nigga or birdcrap or chink if u cant take watever racist term thrown back at you. People cant help the skin they are born into, so why should someone be put down if they have darker or paler skin than you?! All i hav to say to u people out there who are racist to anybody doesnt matter if they were white black chinese or mexican you will be going to hell because when you die, all god will see is your soul not your skin.

[kris]

okay, first of all kudos to LAAAME's comment :D

...second of all, some people should take a chill pill. don't people realize that different asian types DO look different? i have a friend who's chinese, she's freakin BEAUTIFUL!!! she has a beautiful creamy soft pale complexion. me? i'm filipino, & sunkissedtan. my eyes are doublelidded/different that hers. if you met us, even if you were a rascist bitch, you could tell the diff.

asian eyes are distinctive, and asian people should EMBRACE and ACCENTUATE that beauty. if someone calls you a chink, act as though you don't care cuz seriously, like eleanor roosevelt said: "no one can make you inferior unless if you give them your consent"

for me, people hardly say racial slurs. i dont know if it's because i skimboard and they respect that or whatever, but once in a while, when someone DOES say something, i shrug it off cuz i have better things to do than actually give a damn for what they said. yeah, rascism SHOULD stop, i hate it, but that doesn't mean that i wont encounter people who will hate me just because im asian. people should be more in tune with nature. i know whenever i head to the beach, my problems melt away as soon as i feel the seabreeze.

to all you rascist ppl out there: before you generalize ANY race, why don't you go out and meet more people around the country & world. ive traveled ALOT and in case if you hadn't notice... one person is an INDIVIDUAL.... DIFFERENT THOUGHTS, DIFFERENT PASTS & EXPERIENCES that have influenced them into the person they are TODAY... so how can you stereotype someone with ignorance when you dont even know half the shit they've gone through? fast fact: people of the same race act differently than those living in another region of the country/world. if you don't care to learn the different cultures and lifestyles around you, then you just proved yourself to be an ignorant BI-OTCH!

[laaame]

Last time I checked...not ALL Chinese people have "chinky" eyes or are single eyelided. I've seen many attractive Chinese people in my lifetime.
This whole racism thing is getting old, it's all the same, blah blah. Racism will never be put to an end because of all the ignorant fucks out there who have no respect for their fellow human beings. EVERYONE is the same no matter what. We are all brought into the world the same way, we all feel pain the same way, we all laugh the same way, we all cry the same way, WE ARE ALL THE SAME. And if people can't see that, then something must be really wrong with them.
People of different races were not born into this world for others to discriminate against. I don't get it. I don't get how people could hate someone because of their skin color, so I tried to put myself in a racist person's shoes, but I just couldn't find it within me to put hatred towards someone of a different race. Maybe because I was brought up well. Maybe because my parents didn't want their child to be a low-life.