What does "chinaman" mean?
A dealer in porcelain (china).
Chinaman
/ˈt͡ʃaɪnəmən/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A dealer in porcelain (china).
- Grammar: chinaman is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: chinese, chink, slope.
- Usage evidence: Several cricketers came up to them and asked Pradeep about his effortless action mimicry and his promising chinaman bowling.
How to use "chinaman"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "chinaman" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "chinaman" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "chinaman" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "chinaman" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "chinaman" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chinese" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "chinaman", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A dealer in porcelain (china). obsolete
- 2 A left-arm unorthodox bowling action (left-arm wrist-spin). dated
"Several cricketers came up to them and asked Pradeep about his effortless action mimicry and his promising chinaman bowling."
- 3 A Chinese person, or person of Chinese descent. dated, offensive
"A disorderly Chinaman is rare, and a lazy one does not exist. So long as a Chinaman has strength to use his hands he needs no support from anybody; white men often complain of want of work, but a Chinaman offers no such complaint; he always manages to find something to do.[…]Any white man can swear a Chinaman’s life away in the courts, but no Chinaman can testify against a white man."
- 4 a ball bowled by a left-handed bowler to a right-handed batsman that spins from off to leg wordnet
- 5 A spin bowler who uses such an action.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A sailing ship of the 18th and 19th centuries engaged in the Old China Trade
- 7 (ethnic slur) offensive term for a man of Chinese descent wordnet
- 8 A ball delivered with such an action.
- 9 Addiction from a narcotic, especially heroin. US, obsolete, offensive, slang
"Chinaman half in and half out of the door. Codeine and goof balls, and complete discouragement."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Several cricketers came up to them and asked Pradeep about his effortless action mimicry and his promising chinaman bowling."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "chinaman"?
Common synonyms include: chinese, chink, slope.
How do you use "chinaman" in a sentence?
Several cricketers came up to them and asked Pradeep about his effortless action mimicry and his promising chinaman bowling.
How do you pronounce "chinaman"?
Pronounced /ˈt͡ʃaɪnəmən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From china (“porcelain”) + -man.
Etymology 2
From Chinaman, a dated, now offensive term for a Chinese person. Compare Chinese (“unfamiliar, unexpected”). Named in reference to Ellis Achong, a West Indian player of Chinese descent.
Etymology 3
From Chinese Pidgin English. Calque of Chinese 中國人 /中国人 (Zhōngguórén) ("China + -man"). Applied also to ships by analogy with East Indiaman.