chin-chin

See also: chinchin, chinchín, and chin chin

English

From Chinese Pidgin English chin-chin, a reduplication of Shanghainese 請 / 请 (⁵chin, “please”). Sometimes, especially in Italianate spellings, reborrowed from Italian cincin.

(dated) A salutation, especially a drinking toast.
- 1795, Michael Symes, An Account of an Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava, page 295:
  The two junior members of the Chinese deputation came at the appointed hour. . . . On entering the door of the marquee they both made an abrupt stop, and resisted all solicitation to advance to chairs that had been prepared for them, until I should first be seated; in this dilemma, Dr. Buchanan, who had visited China, advised me what was to be done; I immediately seized on the foremost, whilst the Doctor himself grappled with the second; thus we soon fixed them in their seats, both parties during the struggle, repeating Chin Chin, Chin Chin, the Chinese term of salutation.

chin-chin (third-person singular simple present chin-chins, present participle chin-chinning, simple past and past participle chin-chinned)

(transitive, dated) To greet; to toast.
- 1859, All the Year Round, number I, page 18:
  She ‘chin-chins’ the captain... and then nods her pretty head.
(intransitive, dated) To say 'chin-chin'.
- 1892 Sept, The Cornhill Magazine, page 268:
  We ‘chin-chinned’ over foaming beakers.
- 1966, Widow Hack, page 164:
  For the sake of appearances we chin-chinned and tried to look gay.

Duplication of chin in its various senses. Compare chinwag.

chin-chin (countable and uncountable, plural chin-chins)

(US, informal, archaic) Discussion, conversation, talk.
- 1877, Mark Twain, letter published in Love Letters (1949), p. 198:
  I haven't had so much chin-chin for years.
- 1947, Coast to Coast, page 136:
  Mum and Mrs. Martin had a good chin-chin at the fence about sickness and husbands.

From Chinese 請請 / 请请 (“please–please”), a reduplication of 請 / 请 (“please”), either Shanghainese 請 / 请 (⁵chin), Mandarin 請 / 请 (qǐng), or Cantonese 請 / 请 (cing²).

chin-chin

worship
- 1860, The Englishman in China, London: Saunders, Otley, and Co., page 100:
  belong olo custom pidgin, any man must wantchee go chin-chin Joss new year tim.^[sic]
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
entreat, request
- 1860, The Englishman in China, London: Saunders, Otley, and Co., page 112:
  My chin-chin you, pay my one moon advance wage
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 1882, [William C. Hunter], The ‘Fan Kwae’ at Canton Before Treaty Days, 1825–1844, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, & co., page 20:
  Mr. Talbot chin-chin you come down.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
greet
- 1882, [William C. Hunter], The ‘Fan Kwae’ at Canton Before Treaty Days, 1825–1844, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, & co., page 52:
  My chin-chin you
  My compliments to you.

chin-chin

A greeting.
- 1836 January, “Jargon spoken at Canton: how it originated and has grown into use; mode in which the Chinese learn English; examples of the language in common use between foreigners and Chinese”, in The Chinese Repository, volume IV, number 9, page 434:
  ‘Chin-chin,’ said a man behind the counter, as I entered, ‘how you do; long time my no hab see you.’
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Gow, W. S. P. (1924) Gow’s Guide to Shanghai, 1924: A Complete, Concise and Accurate Handbook of the City and District, Especially Compiled for the Use of Tourists and Commercial Visitors to the Far East, Shanghai, page 104: “Chin-chin: to worship; to reverence; to adore. Also, in politeness, to wish one well; convey good wishes. “Chin-chin Joss.” “He too much chin-chin girlee.””