30+ Chinese Words That Sound Exactly Like English Words
A hilarious guide to Chinese words that sound like English. From 知识 (cheese) to 那个 (um... the N-word?), these homophones will blow your mind.
6 sections
1Why Do Chinese Words Sound Like English?
It's pure coincidence — but it's hilarious. Mandarin Chinese has about 400 unique syllables, while English has over 15,000. With so few syllables doing so much heavy lifting, it's inevitable that some Chinese words end up sounding like English words. The result? Comedy gold for language learners.
2知识 (zhī shi) — Sounds Like "Cheese"
This is the most famous one. means 'knowledge' in Chinese. But when you say it out loud, especially quickly, it sounds almost exactly like 'cheese' in English. So technically, when you eat cheese, you're eating knowledge. Big brain move.
zhī shi jiù shì lì liàng
Knowledge is power (or is it cheese is power?)
3那个 (nà ge) — The Most Misunderstood Word
This might be the most infamous Chinese word among English speakers. is a filler word meaning 'that one' or 'um...', and it gets used CONSTANTLY in everyday Chinese speech. The problem? To English ears, it sounds shockingly similar to a deeply offensive English racial slur. This has caused genuine confusion (and panic) for foreigners riding the Beijing subway. But rest assured — it's completely innocent in Chinese. It's just 'um'.
nà ge... nà ge... wǒ xiǎng xiǎng
Um... um... let me think
4没有 (méi yǒu) — Sounds Like "Mayo"
means 'don't have' or simply 'no'. It's the default response of every Chinese shopkeeper when you ask if they have something. But to an English speaker, it sounds a lot like 'mayo'. So next time someone says they want mayo on their sandwich, just respond '' — no mayo.
yǒu méi yǒu? méi yǒu.
Do you have it? No.
5猫 (māo) — Sounds Like "Meow"
This one is almost too perfect. The Chinese word for 'cat' is (māo), which sounds exactly like the noise a cat makes in English: meow. Was this designed? Did ancient Chinese people just listen to a cat and say 'that's its name now'? Probably yes.
xiǎo māo mī
Little kitty
6More Hilarious Examples
The list goes on: (niú nǎi, milk) literally means 'cow breast'. (dà biàn, poop) literally means 'big convenience'. (diàn nǎo, computer) literally means 'electric brain'. Chinese is a language that says exactly what it means, no filter. And that's what makes it amazing — and hilarious.
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