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

[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.

[patty]

Asians most of the time are so intelligent im hispanic tho and the asains get good jod dont make fun of them

[keye]

what the heck people. who cares. the chinks are going to invade the world anyway soon coz they got the money. those eyes will be the in thing. i don't think chinks shud be offended by the term. if you do hate it, it just mean that you are hating yourself. i know that chinks go to great extend to get the eye lid fixed, thier flat nose fixed. why oh why. and i do know chinks are racist too, they don't like blacks or people of color who are darker than them.

in summary; just get over it guys.

[Angie]

Oh, the joys of anonymity. It really shows people for what they really are.

[Taylor]

One of my sisters has squinty eyes and I call her chink. Im tall so she calls me golly green giant.

We don't take it personally, though.

[kit]

why do people keep swearing and fighting on here?
this is a site made to help girls. not a fightclub where they are all left feeling hurt!
xxx
please stop!

[Tori]

Im black and asian and people always call me chink cuz my eyes. IT gets on my nerves.

[Leigh]

ok, girl who wrote the message below me,
why dont u build a bridge and get the hell over it?!
that was ur ancestors, its not like u were out there working on a fuckin farm, i understand that its wrong and i agree with that, but weve made up for it and we arent doing that any more, so get the fuck over urself and the fact that u think ur sooo much better than everyone else because ur great great great grandma was forced to pull some weeds a hundred years ago.

and by the way, if u feels soooo bad about being called a niger or a spick now, THEN WHY THE FUCK DO U CALL UR FRIENDS THAT!!!
honestly, think sometimes, its good for u.

AND JESUS CHRIST, CAN U FUCKIN SPELL OUT A WORD THE RIGHT WAY!! ITS NOT GOING TO KILL U AND IT JUST MAKES U LOOK LIKE AN IMBECILE!

and now im done.

[???]

ok chink is not da same as nigger or spic ok! chink is simply a racist term for the shape/size of the asain eyes, nigger and spic on d other hand have a FUKIN history u stupid fucks! damn stop tryin to make some big aregument over something so small do me a favor BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET DA FUK OVER IT, u guys try to make it seem like wat u've been through is SO DAMN equal to wat us fukin blacks and hispanics been through WEN UR NOT!!! FUCK DA RACIST WORLD, POWER TO MI BEUTIFUL BLACK PPL AND BONITA LATINAS!

IM DONE

[Baka le Chuu]

@ christina: Someone has issues. Freakin' low life. ;O

[christina]

why are you being racist for saying that chinks are shit, you wont like it if someone calls you shit just because where you come from

[Chinks Are Shit]

I fucking hate chinks. But I hate niggers even more.

[dave]

My wife is a chink...but most of them just annoy me.

[wisedome]

Okay peep this, Jah made you and I take that and embrace it. It's not always about what people call u, it's more so whatu answer 2. Know who you are and always b proud of where u come from, and f*** a HATER!!!!

[Don't Worry About It]

Ugh i hate racial slurs. It's seriously a disgrace to the 21st century :/ To anyone who ever uses racial slurs as a way to describe anyone...you're pathetic and so ignorant. I really hope you grow up.

[samirah]

y is this word so offensive..its not like calling a black person a nigger cuz they are not put down like us and they were not slaves.... its just a word anyway...get over it

[Emile]

I love "chinks". I think Asians are gorgeous, from /all/ regions of Asia, and though this is stereotypical, almost every Asian I know has a heart of gold and is actually their OWN person, who doesn't kiss the feet of American sub-standard beliefs and trends. I'm not Asian at all, but I get pissed off when people say "ching chong chaaaang" or something to represent some Asian language, and no language REALLY sounds like that. I also hate people generalizing Asians to all be from CHINA, and I hate people forgetting Asia isn't just China and Japan! The middle east, the equator-countries, the Koreas, Mongolia, Russia, India, THEY'RE ASIAN, TOO.

Okay... I'm done.

[Jenny]

When was it okay for somebody to call Asians "chink"? Why does people have to be so ignorant and think that it's not racist? People stumble when they say the N word, yet, they can freely say "chink"? Some Asians go to my school, and one stupid fool (that is Asian) thinks that it's funny when people call him chink. Sure. That motherfucker is probably hurt inside, but he is so whitewashed, he wouldn't say SHIT to them.

[AWESOMENESS]

hey SATAN idiot. Don't be telln Ally how to live her life and what to say. She obvi dint mean it in a racist way. U need to stop being an a-hole and let ally share her story

[What]

Ok not to jump into anyones business but if u Ally come back an notice this then dont reply to the idiot under me and waste ur time because they are just lookin for some quick attention

[Satan]

Hey Ally,

You're ethnicity is Chinese. You don't need to go around telling everyone your nationality. Everyone knows Singaporeans are mostly chinks.

You're a fucking racist for trying to make that distinction.

A chink doesn't always have to do with looks.
Sometimes it has to do with a mentality like yours.

Satan

[JACKJACK]

OK...IM PHILIPINO AND CHINIES...I LUV BEING ASIAN AND I AM DAMN PROUD OF IT...SO WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME CHINK,ZIPPERHEAD,FLIP OR PANFACE I PERSONALY TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT...I LUV BEING ASIAN AND I SHOW MY ASIAN PRIDE!!!!!EVEN MY FRIENDS AND I CALL EACH OTHER THAT SO YA...I AM PROUD TO CALL MYSELF AN ASIAN!!!!!

[fried rice]

I'm asian and my entire family is asian.I myself was called chink once but my mom at work had been called chink multiple times and had the words "I HATE CHINKS!" on her personal white board!
I'm trying to say racism has gone to far and any one who is racist should just leave people alone. I mean even in the declaration of independence "I hold these truth to be self evident that all men are created equal." or something like that.

Peace out and fight the war agianst racism

(please note that im still in elementry school so sorry for spelling or gramar)

[Bisexual and bi loved]

Wow u guys need to stop with the name calllin and i guess whoever wrote the def for the word forgot about Cracker -4 White lazies and rednecks too. Anywayz lets stop with the damn name callin cus u guys kno our asses need these fuckin asians cus they make shit for us and they smart as fuck and they give good ass massages and they got good hair and i love the way they make that good ass chicken that i eat every damn weekend and the the asia-town bar in alabama and thats where u can find me baby , love our asian and stop hating on them...i kno i dont want my dell or my damn cell phone taken away cus asia dont like america cus of the shit our white crackers say to em, LOVE U ASIANS YES I DO OOH

[The Sockmonkey]

Stephanie, for your sake I hope that boy gets pooped on or something. Dark skin and Asian eyes are very beautiful traits. As for the term "chink", I'm not Asian, but I think it's highly offensive. My thrid cousins are Japanese (I've never met them sadly...my mom and her cousin,their mom, don't keep in touch any more) and one of my bestestest friends is Chinese.

[Stephanie]

I'm black and Korean, but my eyes only slant when I put my hair in an ponytail. Even a very loose one, so when I was in the fourth grade a boy said that I would never be pretty because I had dark skin and chinese eyes and they are both minorities. I cut my hair off because my feelings were hurt, but now (10th grade) I'm like yeah I'm half Korean! Yeah I listen to korean music and if you don't like it screw off! Chink and nigger are very mean words, but they are only wrong when they are used in the wrong context. You just have to learn to look over the words. I did when an old white lady called me a Chinky-nigger.

[J. L3ii]

My freshman year, there was a gurl in my class who called me a chink. Every time she said it i would deny it and laugh but i really hated it, because i didnt think i was asian in the least bit. I havent seen my dad since i was little and i didnt find out til this summer that i was partially chinese, korean and japanese. Now when people call me that i jus say "yea nd im damn proud 2". but sum ppl arent as proud as i am so it shouldnt b used at all, jus like when ppl use the n word i get mad

[Amy]

people at school often call me a chink although i am not asian. i just look like it. i find it offensive and highly disrespectful. it doesnt make other people look very good.

[jackie]

I AM A CHINK AND I'M DAMN PROUD OF IT!IF ANYONE HAS A PROBLEM WIT DAT THEN GO SCREW YOURSELF!

[waynebradyhater]

wayne bady is a chink

[jackie]

damn!!!!i HATE racism....i'm asian and i hate it when people r racist 2 me...i'm philipino and chinies and i'm damn proud of it so any of u racist bitchez out there...FUCK YOU!!!!!!!

[kelly]

wow.this term is really mean.i am not asian but i still find this term very offensive

[christie]

ok even though i'm not Asian, im black i hate it when people use any racial profiling. That is completely and utterly moronic to make fun of a person because of the way they look. Ok n people you don't have to say it's like calling a black person a nigger or white person white trash, because it is not calling a black person a nigger it is saying that they are worthless and ignorant just because of their color.This is just making fun of the way they look. and people who use these words are ignorant and can't see the beauty and uniqueness of it.

[Raella]

"Though the slang term refers specifically to Chinese people, most people using the word do not (or cannot) distinguish between different Asian types."

'Asian TYPES'? What are we, variations of a sandwich? I could have sworn that even Australians, Americans and the English were respectfully described as of Anglo ancestry, not 'different white types'. Try different ethnicities under the umbrella 'Asian', girl.

[gianna]

people who are all like "it's just a word don't get mad" or anything similar, like along those eyes, are the people who would go around calling people 'chinks' or 'niggers'. my best friend is black and her sister said the n-word one day and after she got all mad, her sister was like 'it's just a word i don't see why all black people get so offended over it. all that stuff's in the past. get over it' *she and her sister have different fathers, her sister is half white* but honestly, i still see how bad it is. whether or not those words are still used in a bad way, they still have a derogatory meaning and shouldn't be used, even jokingly by people of an asian or african-american background. i may not just be caucasian or w.e but it's still offensive and i would never use the word. it's not just a word to describe someone's eyes, it's a word that hurts a lot of people when used. those of you who think that it's something to just 'get over it' need to realize how hard it can be to overcome a situation in which a racial slur was used against you negatively. i've seen the impact it's had on people of mixed, different, and even the same race and nobody should have to experience it. and i care about other people being offended even if they're not my friends.

[JENNA]

this is arsh as ****. People cant help been born into the background ! the are some on could make something up about us and we would flip so only be fair this is discrimination !!

[Ally]

Hiya..I'm Ally and I'm Singaporean-Chinese.I'm from Singapore,NOT CHINA.I know that people from other countries may label each other 'chink' and whatever but do that in Singapore,probably the entire nation(excluding kids) will pounce on you before you even say 'chink' 1 more time.Whoever thinks that 'chink' is just a name and all,to describe your eyes..how 'bout i call you some rude word that BOTH labels your nationality and your eye shape?Chinese don't all have 'small eyes' and even so,it doesn't mean that we're poor and all that shit..So to 'WHITE' and whoever who thinks its no big deal,go do some self-evaluation.

[yooyoyo]

the chinese word for china is "zhong guo" not chung kao?

[Maddie]

Oh gosh, I hate this. My two guy friends and I, we're Asian, and we have to deal with this.

They say that all Asian kids are smart, have small... personal areas (for the guys), and they all know how to use chopsticks.

It's annoying. I have 'chinky' eyes, but am I Chinese? No, I'm not.

I'm Filipino and I'm freakin' proud.

And to those people who say get over it, what if people called you 'white trash'?

What if they called you 'nigger'?

I don't take racism toward my race peacefully, and I KNOW you wouldn't.

[Kiki]

Hey, I'm Chinese. I was adopted when I was 7 months old to my new American Family, and I don't look one bit Chinese (except for my dark hair and tanish-lightish skin). i have never been called a Chink, but when one day I am, I'll be hell-raising. Racial slurs are never ok, and just because some of you guys think this:
"its just a different word to describe your eyes. get over it."
"wtf. people call me round eye and i dont get mad."
"if she wasn't my friend i wouldn't have cared"
Well, obviously that's not the case. Just like anyone else, I'm proud of where I'm from. All of you that said stuff like that above, how'd you like it if people started dissing everything you were proud of? Even if the person isn't your friend, help them and support them in: THE WAR AGAINST RACISM!!

[noodle]

i have faced racism. people calling me names and shit. so dont judge me bitch.

[T]

"wtf. people call me round eye and i dont get mad."

Well, i guess you have never faced racism. What the word stand for is more than 'the shape of your eyes' it is a degrating word to discriminate upon the asian culture.
So shut the fuck up if your ignorant.

[none of your buisness]

My friend is Asian and whenever she goes by these guys they whisper chink over and over the teachers don't think much of it but they annoy her about it and say chong ching chang or whatever and she's cried to me its like calling someone a cracker or a nigger if she wasn't my friend i wouldn't have cared but she is.

[white]

meh. its just a different word to describe your eyes. get over it.

[noodle]

wtf. people call me round eye and i dont get mad.

[darcy]

i myself am asian and take it highly offensive when people say that. all i know is that if somebody came up to my face and said it, or said it around me to an asian person, i would confront them about it. it probably wouldn't be 2 pretty but that's just the way i am and NOBODY makes fun of other people who didn't do anything to them.

[Jane]

This word is highly offensive, especially for other Asians who don't exactly have "chinky" eyes.