noun

chopsticks

CHOPS-tihks

Chopsticks (noun) means a pair of slender sticks, usually of wood, bamboo, or metal, held in one hand and used to pick up food, especially in East Asian cuisines. Example: “She skilfully picked up the noodles with her chopsticks.”

noun

A pair of slender sticks, usually of wood, bamboo, or metal, held in one hand and used to pick up food, especially in East Asian cuisines.

"She skilfully picked up the noodles with her chopsticks."

"The restaurant offers both chopsticks and forks for diners."

A simple, well-known beginner piano piece played mostly with two fingers.

"He banged out Chopsticks on the piano, much to his sister's annoyance."

How to use chopsticks

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe paired sticks used for eating in many Asian cuisines; also the name of a famous easy piano tune.

Memory tip

The word is almost always used in the plural — you rarely talk about a single "chopstick" unless one of the pair is missing.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

a pair of chopsticks eat with chopsticks wooden chopsticks disposable chopsticks

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Fill the gap

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She skilfully picked up the noodles with her _____.

Etymology

Originally called The Celebrated Chop Waltz, because of the chopping motion of the fingers on the keys.

Frequently asked questions

What does “chopsticks” mean?

The word “chopsticks” means a pair of slender sticks, usually of wood, bamboo, or metal, held in one hand and used to pick up food, especially in East Asian cuisines. In plain terms, the paired sticks used for eating in many Asian cuisines; also the name of a famous easy piano tune.

How do you pronounce “chopsticks”?

“Chopsticks” is pronounced CHOPS-tihks (/ˈt͡ʃɑpstɪks/ in IPA).

How do you use “chopsticks” in a sentence?

Here is “chopsticks” used in a sentence: “She skilfully picked up the noodles with her chopsticks.”

What part of speech is “chopsticks”?

“Chopsticks” is a noun.

How many meanings does “chopsticks” have?

“Chopsticks” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pair of slender sticks, usually of wood, bamboo, or metal, held in one hand and used to pick up food, especially in East Asian cuisines.