Kowtow — The Gesture of Submission That Lost Its Sound
Kowtow is one of the oldest Chinese loanwords in English. Its spelling has been wrong for centuries.
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Retired Words
Retired Words: English words that have outlived their purpose. Ancient month names, Norse gods, silent letters — retired and replaced with simpler alternatives.
Tai Chi — Two Syllables, Neither One Correct
Tai chi is practiced by millions worldwide. The name is a relic of a romanization system abandoned decades ago.
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Peking — A City That Does Not Exist
Peking is the capital of China. Or it was, until the name changed, and English did not notice.
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Kongfu — The Martial Art That Cannot Spell Its Own Name
Kongfu is the most famous Chinese word in English. And it is spelled wrong.
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Toufu — The Bean Curd Nobody Recognizes
Toufu is supposed to be a Chinese word. Neither Chinese nor English speakers recognize it.
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