Chinaman

American  

[chahy-nuh-muhn] / ˈtʃaɪ nə mən /

noun

plural

Chinamen

1. Older Use: Offensive. a term used to refer to a Chinese person or a person of Chinese descent.

2. (often lowercase) a person regarded as one's benefactor, sponsor, or protector.

3. (lowercase) a person who imports or sells china.

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idioms

1. a Chinaman's chance, the slightest chance.

Chinaman British  

/ ˈtʃaɪnəmən /

noun

1. archaic a native or inhabitant of China

2. (often not capital) cricket a ball bowled by a left-handed bowler to a right-handed batsman that spins from off to leg

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Sensitive Note

Historically, Chinaman was a neutral compound word, similar to Irishman or Englishman , but it began to take on negative connotations in the 19th century, when many Chinese immigrants went to work in the American West. The expression a Chinaman's chance originally made reference to these Chinese laborers, though the exact origin of the phrase is disputed.

Etymology

Origin of Chinaman

First recorded in 1765–75; China + -man

Example Sentences

Mr. Beckel’s exit from Fox wasn’t his first run-in with racial controversies involving information technology specialists; he was criticized in 2014 for referring to “Chinamen” on air.

From Washington Times

For starters, there is the matter of persistent “Chinamen” stereotyping of the kind described by actor Justin Chon, who walked out of an audition rather than fake a demeaning accent.

From Salon

He’s talked variously of “Chinamen,” ”white interlopers” and “Greek homos,” who stole civilization from Africa.

From Washington Times

As usual, we bring them over here and teach a bunch of Chinamen, uh, Chinese people, how to do computers, and then they go back to China and hack us.’

From Forbes

“Caucasians are not going to let their standard of living be destroyed by Negroes, Chinamen, Japs or any others,” Gompers fulminated on another occasion, expanding his race-baiting from Asians to black people.

From Salon