What does the toast "Chin-chin" mean?

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What does the toast "Chin-chin" mean?

Question #104143. Asked by Bronxiteone.
Last updated Oct 03 2016.

Related Trivia Topics: Vocabulary

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The toast "Chin-Chin" simply means "cheers" but is also Japanese slang for penis.

http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=chin-chin

Usually it's associated with Italy and France (where it is spelled "cin-cin"), meaning "to your health" or "cheers." In the U.K., "chin-chin" can mean "hello," "goodbye" and "cheers."

But most likely, the expression came from China. Checking several scholarly sources, it looks like similarly sounding words in Chinese dialects -- words meaning "please-please," as in "happy days" or a cheerful greeting -- were picked up by European travelers long ago.

http://archive.courierpress.com/features/origins-of-toast-are-little-hazy-but-watch-who-you-salute-ep-447605003-324702811.html

Response last updated by Terry on Oct 03 2016.
Mar 25 2009, 6:22 AM

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Answer 1

In Italy, 'cin-cin' in conjunction with 'cent anni' is a toast to goodluck/wealth for a hundred years. The Portugese refer to the sound the drinkware makes but probably for the same lucky reasons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toast_(honor)

What does the toast "Chin-chin" mean?

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