There are many foreign words that have entered the Chinese language. These words are called “外来词/外来语 wàiláicí/wàiláiyǔ (loanwords),” which literally means “outside come words.” They are either transliterated, translated literally or even a mixture of both methods. In this article, we are going to take a look at some Chinese words which are transliterated and originally from English.
Before you read the following content, try to pronounce the Chinese before you check the English meaning.
Food:
中文 |
拼音 |
英文 |
|
派 |
pài |
Pie |
|
布丁 |
bù dīng |
Pudding |
|
沙拉 |
shā lā |
Salad |
|
巧克力 |
qiǎo kè lì |
Chocolate |
|
起司/芝士 |
qǐ sī /zhī shì |
Cheese |
|
吐司 |
tǔ sī |
Toast |
|
汉堡/汉堡包 |
hàn bǎo/ hàn bǎo bāo |
Hamburger |
|
咖喱 |
gā lí |
Curry |
|
三明治 |
sān míng zhì |
Sandwich |
|
芒果 |
máng guǒ |
Mango |
|
柠檬 |
níng méng |
Lemon |
Drinks:
|
咖啡 |
kā fēi |
Coffee |
|
威士忌 |
wēi shì jì |
Whisky |
|
白兰地 |
bái lán dì |
Brandy |
|
百事 |
bǎi shì |
Pepsi |
|
可可 |
kě kě |
Cocoa |
|
可乐 |
kě lè |
Coke |
People:
|
模特 |
mó tè |
Model |
|
黑客 |
hēi kè |
Hacker |
|
丁克 |
dīng kè |
Dink |
Clothes:
|
比基尼 |
bǐ jī ní |
Bikini |
|
T恤 |
T xù |
T-shirt |
Dance:
|
华尔兹 |
huá ěr zī |
Waltz |
|
芭蕾 |
bā lěi |
Ballet |
Sports:
|
马拉松 |
mǎ lā sōng |
Marathon |
|
高尔夫 |
gāo ěr fū |
Golf |
Transportation:
|
吉普 |
jí pǔ |
Jeep |
|
巴士 |
bā shì |
Bus |
|
摩托/摩托车 |
mó tuō/mó tuō chē |
Motorcycle |
Music:
|
吉他 |
jí tā |
Guitar |
|
萨克斯风 |
sà kè sī fēng |
Saxophone |
|
麦克风 |
mài kè fēng |
Microphone |
Some other commons words:
|
迷你 |
mí nǐ |
Mini |
|
酷 |
kù |
Cool |
|
幽默 |
yōu mò |
Humor; humorous |
|
秀 |
Xiù |
Show; to show |
Military:
|
雷达 |
léi dá |
Radar |
|
坦克 |
tǎn kè |
Tank |
|
声纳 |
shēng nà |
Sonar |
Medicine:
|
淋巴 |
lín bā |
Lymph |
|
休克 |
xiū kè |
Shock |
|
阿司匹林 |
ā sī pǐ lín |
Aspirin |
|
维他命 |
wéi tā mìng |
Vitamin |
|
荷尔蒙 |
hé ěr méng |
Hormone |
|
基因 |
jī yīn |
Gene |
Chemistry:
|
尼古丁 |
ní gǔ dīng |
Nicotine |
|
可卡因 |
kě kǎ yīn |
Cocaine |
|
咖啡因 |
kā fēi yīn |
Caffeine |
|
海洛因 |
hǎi luò yīn |
Heroin |
|
吗啡 |
mǎ fēi |
Morphine |
Measure words:
|
米 |
mǐ |
Meter |
|
打 |
dǎ |
Dozen |
|
听 |
tīng |
Tin |
|
吨 |
dūn |
Ton |
Can you guess how to say the following words or phrases in Chinese?:
Lemon water
Mango pie
Mango pudding
Cheeseburger
Pepsi coke
A dozen of beers
Mini T-shirt
Loanwords (外来词/外来语，wàiláicí/wàiláiyǔ) are not only interesting but also easy to learn. What other loanwords you find useful and interesting? Please comment below and share with us!
Hero image by Riki Ramdani on Unsplash.
