筷子

筷子 (kuàizi) is the Chinese word for chopsticks — the pair of slender sticks used as the primary eating utensil across China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The default measure word is 双 (shuāng, 'pair'), because chopsticks come and work in twos: 一双筷子 means 'one pair of chopsticks.' Use 根 (gēn) only when talking about a single stick.

The bamboo radical 竹 on top of 筷 tells you the original material; the lower component 快 (kuài, 'fast') is partly phonetic and partly a folk pun — at meals you say 'eat fast.' Cultural note: never stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice — it resembles incense at a funeral and is considered very rude. Common verbs: 用筷子 (use chopsticks), 拿筷子 (pick up/hold chopsticks).