Chinee

See also: chinee and chinée

English

Etymology

Back-formation from Chinese, using -ee.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃaɪniː/

Noun

Chinee (plural Chinees)

1. (dated, offensive, Chinese Pidgin English, ethnic slur) A person from China.
   • 1870, Bret Harte, Plain Language from Truthful James:

     But the hands that were played / By that heathen Chinee, / And the points that he made, / Were quite frightful to see,— / Till at last he put down a right bower, / Which the same Nye had dealt unto me.

   • 1910 September 10, Bayard Holmes, “Orphanotrophism”, in The Lancet-clinic, volume 104, number 11, page 238:

     We endure our abuses of orphanotrophism even when they are repulsive to the heathen Chinee.

Usage notes

• This spelling was used intentionally, as a pejorative, in the United States in the 19th century. The phrase heathen Chinee was common and is today used to imitate offensive 19th century stereotypes.

Related terms

• Japanee
• Portugee