Long-form explorations of how Chinglish and English from China were born, traveled, and conquered the world.
📝 7 stories in this collection.
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 5 min read
From Changnan to Your Cabinet: How China Became 'China'
There is a peculiar quirk in the English language that exists for no other country on Earth. You can write china with a lowercase “c,” and suddenly you are no longer …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 6 min read
Two Names, One Dress: The Qipao vs. Cheongsam Story
In a vintage clothing store in London, a silk dress hangs on a mahogany hanger. Its tag reads “authentic 1930s cheongsam.” In a Shanghai boutique, an almost identical …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 7 min read
The Kung Fu Explosion: How Bruce Lee Changed English
In the history of language, there are rare moments when a single person rearranges the vocabulary of an entire culture. Shakespeare did it. Dickens did it. And in 1973, a …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 8 min read
Chinese Words That Conquered the English Dictionary
In 2018, a small announcement appeared on the Oxford English Dictionary’s website that caused a minor earthquake in the world of linguistics. Among the 1,400 new words added …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 6 min read
The Great Tea Split: Why Half the World Says 'Tea' and Half Says 'Chai'
There is a test you can perform on any person in the world to determine how their ancestors traded with China. You do not need a DNA sample. You do not need a history book. You …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 6 min read
Why Cantonese Dominates Chinese Food in English
If you have ever ordered dim sum in San Francisco, slurped wonton soup in London, or stir-fried bok choy in Sydney, you have spoken Cantonese. You probably did not realize it. The …
📅 Aug 15, 2026 · ⏱️ 8 min read
The History of Chinglish: From Treaty Ports to TikTok
In 1793, a British diplomat named Lord Macartney arrived in Beijing to negotiate trade relations with the Qing Empire. He refused to kowtow before the Qianlong Emperor. The mission …