筷子

• Pinyin: kuài zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 筷 = 竹 (bamboo) + 快 (fast, phonetic); 子 (zi) — noun suffix

Meaning

Chopsticks. A pair of thin sticks used as eating utensils in Chinese cuisine.

The primary eating utensil in Chinese culture. Made from various materials including wood, bamboo, plastic, and metal. Using chopsticks properly is considered a basic social skill in China.

Examples

1. 你会用筷子吃饭吗？ Can you eat with chopsticks?
2. 请给我一双筷子。 Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
3. 中国人用筷子吃饭。 Chinese people eat with chopsticks.

Usage Guide

Context: dining, everyday, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 筷子拿得很好！(You hold chopsticks very well!)
• 你需要筷子还是叉子？(Do you need chopsticks or a fork?)

Don't Say

• 不要把筷子插在饭里 (Never stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice — it resembles incense for the dead and is very taboo)

Origin & History

Originally called 箸 (zhù), the name was changed to 筷 because 箸 sounded like 住 (to stop), which was considered unlucky by boatmen. 筷 sounds like 快 (fast), a more auspicious word.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal