җи
jiDungan
The English word "chicken" can be translated into several Chinese languages, such as Dungan as җи (ji) or Hokkien as 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡. Wiktionary also lists 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 (koe-á, ke-á).
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| җи | ji | Dungan |
| 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡 | koe, ke, kere | Hokkien |
| 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 | koe-á, ke-á | Hokkien |
The terms used for "chicken" vary significantly depending on the specific Chinese language or dialect being spoken.
Which one should you use?
In Hokkien, the form 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡 refers to the bird, while adding the suffix 仔 to create 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 changes the meaning to refer to a chick or a small chicken.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form җи is used in Dungan. The forms 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡, 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 are used in Hokkien and the form 鷄 (gai1) is the standard term used in Cantonese.
How do you pronounce it?
The Dungan form җи is pronounced as ji.
Did you know?
- The Dungan word җи is written using a Cyrillic-based alphabet, reflecting the history of the Dungan people in Central Asia.
- While the page lists 雞 as a noun for a bird, in various Chinese contexts, referring to someone as a 'chicken' can be a derogatory term for a sex worker.
- The Chinese term for 'chicken' shares an ancient root with the Vietnamese word gà and various Proto-Tai languages.
Examples in context
- 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng)Kung Pao Chicken
- 我爱吃鸡肉 (wǒ ài chī jī ròu)I love eating chicken
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 雞, CC BY-SA 4.0.
