җи
jiDungan
The English word "chicken" can be expressed in Mandarin through several forms, primarily using җи (ji) for Dungan. Wiktionary also lists 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡 (koe, ke, kere) and 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 (koe-á, ke-á).
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | 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 refer to the bird known as a chicken.
Which one should you use?
The form җи is used in Dungan, while the forms 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡, 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 and their romanizations are specific to Hokkien.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word җи is used in Dungan. The forms 雞 / 鷄 / 鸡 and 雞仔 / 鷄仔 / 鸡仔 are used in Hokkien.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ji.
Did you know?
- The sound of the word in many related East Asian languages, such as Vietnamese and Tai, shares an ancient onomatopoeic root that mimics the bird's sound.
- In Chinese culture, the chicken is one of the twelve zodiac animals, representing the year of the 'Rooster'.
Examples in context
- 星期日晚上我们在家烤鸡。We will roast a chicken at home on Sunday evening.
- 我最喜欢的炒饭里有鸡肉和鸡蛋。My favorite fried rice contains chicken meat and eggs.
- 我要两碗米粉，加鸡肉。I want two bowls of rice noodles with 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.
