One of life's many mysteries?
- Thread starter Eddie
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This is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject
No it doesnt
Chinky is just a nickname, as its a shortenned version of "chinese takeaway"
What context the word used determines if its racist or not.
Saying "i went to the chinky for some spare ribs" isnt racist.
Saying "you ****ing chinky *******" is racist as its being used as a derogatory term, rather than just an abbreviation.
Exactly, Chinky is a nickname for Chinese, the takeaway bit is irrelevant. Although we all know it's in reference to the restaurant, some sensitive types might look upon it as a racist reference like any other racial nickname.
Chink (Chink)
Pronunciation:/tʃɪŋk/
noun
informal , offensive
*
a Chinese person
Origin:
late 19th century: irregular formation from China
From the Oxford Dictionary.
I am of Asian decent (Vietnamese) and I find it OK to use in this context, although a part of me wonders if Britain is truly a majority non-racist country as it describes itself. On the other hand, my dad calls it a chinkie as well.
Pronunciation:/tʃɪŋk/
noun
informal , offensive
*
a Chinese person
Origin:
late 19th century: irregular formation from China
From the Oxford Dictionary.
I am of Asian decent (Vietnamese) and I find it OK to use in this context, although a part of me wonders if Britain is truly a majority non-racist country as it describes itself. On the other hand, my dad calls it a chinkie as well.
Pretty much the best summing up that's come to this thread so far. I'd give you stars, if I could.
Edit:
I am of Asian decent (Vietnamese) and I find it OK to use in this context, although a part of me wonders if Britain is truly a majority non-racist country as it describes itself. On the other hand, my dad calls it a chinkie as well.
I'd say Britain, or at least England, is predominately non-racist, the only stickler is that the British sense of humour confuses things. It's inevitable that some of the things that people find offensive will crop up in jokes and anecdotes, even colloquial slang as preseented in this thread. It's not used in a racist sense, and it's not a mark of Britain condoning racism, any more than jokes about kiddie fiddlers mean that Britain condones paedophilia. The majority of anal PC standards have come from either the USA or Europe, and they just don't gel well with British society.
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That is the funniest thing I have read for quite a while.
I was shouted "chinks" once from someone in the street when I was a student in the UK, so I find the term a bit unpleasant, even though I believe the OP has no intention of any racist insult. I accept that the term is unfortunately also commonly used when referring to a Chinese takeaway.
Funny you should say that, a friend of mine who worked in a Chinese takaway at the time used to get annoyed when people refer to the place as a "chinkie".
Funny you should say that, a friend of mine who worked in a Chinese takaway at the time used to get annoyed when people refer to the place as a "chinkie".
Soldato
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nvm
your wife is a plate of spare ribs??
Already had a chinky this week.
Quite astonished to find quite a few people who so ignorant in this day and age. I guess that's what you get from not living in a multi cultural city or living life behind a screen and keyboard (perhaps travel a bit?). What gives a person who is not chinese the right to say the word chinkies/chinks is not offensive? I firmly bet 9 in 10 that someone of chinese descent will find it offensive.
To the person who said a chinese friend saying chinkies as a reference to chinese takeaway; well you technically allowed. Kind of like black people calling the N word to each other. But does that make it OK for you to say?
don't think so.
To the person who said a chinese friend saying chinkies as a reference to chinese takeaway; well you technically allowed. Kind of like black people calling the N word to each other. But does that make it OK for you to say?
don't think so.
Soldato
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Jeez some nip lovers are getting their knickers in a twist.
Joking...we're talking about Chinese not Japanese aren't we? 
Joking...we're talking about Chinese not Japanese aren't we?
Soldato
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Out of curosity based on the example above, how many of you would stand in a chinese takeaway and say you're in the chinkies loudly enough to be heard?