wantchee

Chinese Pidgin English

Alternative forms
  • 灣治 (Chinese characters)

Etymology

From English want.

Verb

wantchee

  1. want
  2. need
    • 1860, The Englishman in China, London: Saunders, Otley, and Co., page 100:
      belong olo custom pidgin, any man must wantchee go chin-chin Joss new year tim.[sic]
      (please add an English translation of this quote)
    • 1862, T‘ong Ting-Kü, Ying Ü Tsap T’sün, or The Chinese and English Instructor, volume 4, Canton:
      㕭灣治𪢍治温卑士羅也
      Jaau1 waan1 zi6 git3 zi6 wan1 bei1 si6 lo4 jaa5.
      You will have to engage a lawyer.
      (literally, “You wantchee catchee one-piecee lawyer.”)

References
  • Gow, W. S. P. (1924) Gow’s Guide to Shanghai, 1924: A Complete, Concise and Accurate Handbook of the City and District, Especially Compiled for the Use of Tourists and Commercial Visitors to the Far East, Shanghai, page 109: “Wantchee: to want; to require.”
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