Foochow

/ˌfuːˈtʃaʊ/ noun

Definition

An alternate spelling of Fuzhou, a city in southeastern China, or a person from that city; also refers to the Chinese dialect spoken there.

Etymology

Romanization of the Chinese name using older Wade-Giles system (Foo-chow) before modern Pinyin standardization (Fuzhou). The spelling reflects how English speakers approximated the sound of the Chinese pronunciation.

Kelly Says

The spelling 'Foochow' is a window into how English speakers experienced Chinese language—without standardized romanization, travelers would spell Chinese city names wildly different ways, creating alphabetical chaos.

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