There are several possible origins of the term:
* From the Chinese courtesy ching-ching, a reduplication of Mandarin 請/请 (qǐng, “please”). Compare chin-chin, Italian cincin, Portuguese tchim-tchim, tim-tim, Spanish chinchín, French tchin-tchin.
* From the alteration of China.
* From the alteration of Qing (also spelled Ch'ing).
See also Hokkien 親家/亲家 (chhin-ke, “any relative by marriage (to a Chinese family)”).