<p>The reason your friend says "鸡" is low in status is probably because of its association with male genitalia (think "cockerel/cock" in English). I'd guess that's probably a compelling reason not to adopt chicken puns in an official name.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T16:14:33.000Z
2018-05-08T16:14:33.000Z
Lionel Rowe
<p>Once upon a time, the whole brand name is spelled in lengthy version.  Thus, it is obvious translation for the time to use 肯德基家乡鸡（Kentucky homestead chicken) as a more elegant translation for the brand and for marketing. And this translation continue to be used even the brand change it to KFC.  </p>

<p>Nevertheless, public simply use 肯德鸡 regardless of KFC marketing.</p>

<p>It is similar to Mcdonald franchise, that many simply call it 麦记 than the full marketing name 麦当劳。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T14:32:32.927Z
2018-05-08T17:43:24.893Z
2018-05-08T17:43:24.893Z
mootmoot
<p>The full Chinese name of KFC is 肯德基炸鸡, but it was shorten to 肯德基 currently. The word <strong>Kentucky</strong>, was translated into 肯德基 in Chinese intentionally, in order to distinguish with Kentucky State, while 肯德基 and 肯塔基 are same word in English actually. I think it is because that KFC is a influential foreign brand in early period, Chinese may know what it is now when seeing or hearing about 肯德基, so the word 炸鸡 isn't necessary at all. If it was named 肯德鸡, for most people, it would be considered as a low quality translation, and the brand may be regarded as an imitated brand from China, rather than a foreign brand.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-03T12:15:48.403Z
2018-07-04T02:06:54.163Z
2018-07-04T02:06:54.163Z
xenophōn
<p>Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Chinese is 肯德基 (Kěndéjī), which seems to be an approximate transliteration of "KFC".</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NmNQN.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NmNQN.jpg" alt="KFC 肯德基"></a></p>

<p>It surprises me that they opted for 基 (jī) instead of 鸡 (jī), which is pronounced the same but means "chicken" and is therefore pertinent to what KFC does.</p>

<p>I asked my Chinese friend, and he said 肯德鸡 is not a good choice, saying something like 鸡 is "low" in status.  I'm not quite sure what he meant.</p>

<p><strong>Question</strong>: Why is 肯德基 not called 肯德鸡?</p>

<hr>

<p><em>Update</em>: To my surprise, I actually found a local 肯德鸡 street vendor:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/gBc6U.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gBc6U.jpg" alt="肯德鸡风味炸鸡"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>肯德鸡风味炸鸡<br>
  Kěndéjī fēngwèi zhàjī<br>
  Kendeji special-flavor fried chicken</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-03T11:52:47.317Z
Because 肯德基 is a transliteration of [*Kentucky*](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%82%AF%E5%A1%94%E5%9F%BA%E5%B7%9E), and wasn't made with *Kentucky Fried Chicken* in mind. You'll have to find out why they decided to transliterate the franchise from the name *Kentucky* instead of making a pun with「鷄」. My guess is because they used Cantonese to transliterate the name, as Cantonese 肯德基 sounds like *Kentucky* while 肯德鷄 sounds like *Kenta-guy*.
dROOOze
<word-choice><food>
Why is 肯德基 (Kěndéjī) = Kentucky Fried Chicken not called 肯德鸡 (Kěndéjī) when it's pronounced the same and 鸡 means "chicken"?
# Why is 肯德基 (Kěndéjī) = Kentucky Fried Chicken not called 肯德鸡 (Kěndéjī) when it's pronounced the same and 鸡 means "chicken"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-03)

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Chinese is 肯德基 (Kěndéjī), which seems to be an approximate transliteration of "KFC".

[![KFC 肯德基](https://i.sstatic.net/NmNQN.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/NmNQN.jpg)

It surprises me that they opted for 基 (jī) instead of 鸡 (jī), which is pronounced the same but means "chicken" and is therefore pertinent to what KFC does.

I asked my Chinese friend, and he said 肯德鸡 is not a good choice, saying something like 鸡 is "low" in status. I'm not quite sure what he meant.

**Question**: Why is 肯德基 not called 肯德鸡?

---

*Update*: To my surprise, I actually found a local 肯德鸡 street vendor:

[![肯德鸡风味炸鸡](https://i.sstatic.net/gBc6U.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/gBc6U.jpg)

> 肯德鸡风味炸鸡  
> Kěndéjī fēngwèi zhàjī  
> Kendeji special-flavor fried chicken

**Tags:** word-choice, food

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Because 肯德基 is a transliteration of [*Kentucky*](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%82%AF%E5%A1%94%E5%9F%BA%E5%B7%9E), and wasn't made with *Kentucky Fried Chicken* in mind. You'll have to find out why they decided to transliterate the franchise from the name *Kentucky* instead of making a pun with「鷄」. My guess is because they used Cantonese to transliterate the name, as Cantonese 肯德基 sounds like *Kentucky* while 肯德鷄 sounds like *Kenta-guy*.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-05-03. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

The full Chinese name of KFC is 肯德基炸鸡, but it was shorten to 肯德基 currently. The word **Kentucky**, was translated into 肯德基 in Chinese intentionally, in order to distinguish with Kentucky State, while 肯德基 and 肯塔基 are same word in English actually. I think it is because that KFC is a influential foreign brand in early period, Chinese may know what it is now when seeing or hearing about 肯德基, so the word 炸鸡 isn't necessary at all. If it was named 肯德鸡, for most people, it would be considered as a low quality translation, and the brand may be regarded as an imitated brand from China, rather than a foreign brand.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-08. Score: 1

The reason your friend says "鸡" is low in status is probably because of its association with male genitalia (think "cockerel/cock" in English). I'd guess that's probably a compelling reason not to adopt chicken puns in an official name.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-08. Score: 1

Once upon a time, the whole brand name is spelled in lengthy version. Thus, it is obvious translation for the time to use 肯德基家乡鸡（Kentucky homestead chicken) as a more elegant translation for the brand and for marketing. And this translation continue to be used even the brand change it to KFC.

Nevertheless, public simply use 肯德鸡 regardless of KFC marketing.

It is similar to Mcdonald franchise, that many simply call it 麦记 than the full marketing name 麦当劳。


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