Jook-sing
Jook-sing (Cantonese for 竹升 penkyamp: Zok1 senk1), is a pejorative term used in the United States and Canada to describe Westernized East Asians, particularly Chinese, who have lost or "denied themselves" their Asian heritage. Jook-sing usually refer to citizens or long term residents of a Western nation who are descendants of immigrant families.
However, some are Asian international students who have spent an extended amount of time in Western societies. "Banana kids" (Heong1 ziu1 zay2) is typically more jocular and trendy lingo to describe acculturated youth.
"ABC" (from "American-born Chinese") and "CBC" ("Canadian-born Chinese") are more generic terms without negative implications completely.
"Jook-sing" literally means "A grain-measuring container made of bamboo". This refers to the fact that bamboos are hollow and compartmentalized, thus water poured in one end does not flow out the other end. The metaphor is that "jook-sings" are not part of either culture. Some so labeled do not consider the term literal and hence, not derogatory, though many do. An example of a jook-sing would be senk1 daw2 (升斗)
"Banana" is an alternative to "jook-sing" with the same basic connotation. The metaphor is that the person is yellow on the outside but white on the inside. (Some describe the skin colour of the Chinese as yellow.)
Values and cultures
"Jook-sing" usually consider China as the mere cause of their appearance and an abstraction possessed by their parents or ancestors. They may know slightly more about traditional Chinese culture, especially the customs, than many non-Asians, but they still consider themselves to be more Western.
Some praise the "jook-sing" for their great pride and patriotism of their birth country. However, some first-generations see them as denying themselves their identity and shamed by the traditions of their families.
Oftentimes, the denial of Chinese-ness is evident in a common childhood fantasy to be born White (or have White parents or siblings) to avoid teasing and name-calling of other non-Chinese children in neighbourhoods and schools. However, with growth towards adulthood, this is usually reconciled with the beginning of an acceptance and embrace of their heritage.
Some "jook-sing" adults, however, sever ties with families and Chinese communities, informally, and mingle only with non-Chinese, mostly Caucasian. They typically view Chinese heritage as a setback to prominent social status.
Related terms
"Egg" is a rarely used term, occasionally pejorative, for the symmetric opposite situation: A Caucasian who has acquired Asian culture.
"FOB" is a pejorative acronym for "Fresh off the Boat" used by ABCs/CBCs to describe recent immigrants. Typically, the recent immigrant doesn't understand the term "FOB" (as they are not fluent in English) and thus don't know when they are being insulted. Conversely ABCs/CBCs typically do understand the term "jook-sing".
See also: Overseas Chinese, Chinese American, Chinese Canadian, ethnic slur
Referenced By
American-born Chinese | Chinatown | Chinatowns | Chinese-American | Chinese-Canadian | Chinese American | Chinese Americans | Chinese Canadian | Chinese expression | Chinese proverb | Chinese proverbs | List of China-related topics 123-L | List of Chinese proverbs
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