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chin-chin

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chin-chin¹

  • /ˌt͡ʃɪnˈt͡ʃɪn/
  • /ˈt͡ʃɪnˌt͡ʃɪn/

Rhymes with -ɪn

Where it comes from

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

interjection chinchin · chin chin · cincin · cin cin

  1. dated A salutation, especially a drinking toast. 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

verb chin-chins · chin-chinning · chin-chinned · chinchin · chin chin

  1. dated, transitive To greet; to toast. She ‘chin-chins’ the captain... and then nods her pretty head.
  2. dated, intransitive To say 'chin-chin'. We ‘chin-chinned’ over foaming beakers.

chin-chin²

Where it comes from

Duplication of chin in its various senses. Compare chinwag.

noun chin-chins

  1. US, archaic, countable, informal, uncountable Discussion, conversation, talk. I haven't had so much chin-chin for years.

chin-chin³

noun chin-chins

  1. alternative, countable, uncountable Alternative form of chin chin (“Nigerian snack food”).

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MLA

"chin-chin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/chin-chin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

chin-chin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/chin-chin

Chicago

"chin-chin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/chin-chin.

BibTeX
@misc{chin_chin_2026,
  title = {chin-chin},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/chin-chin},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}