English words from Chinese
A small but vivid set of English words with roots in Chinese languages, usually picked up by traders and sailors.
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- Typhoon
Modern "typhoon" is generally traced to a blend of two separate threads: the Chinese expression for "big wind" (taifeng, filtered through Cantonese sailors' pronunciation) and tufan, an Arabic, Persian, and Hindustani word for a violent storm or flood that…
From the Fri, Sep 4, 2026 roundup →