dexinwin WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2026— U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted an unusual linguistic link between the United States and China during his welcome remarks for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday, singling out the English expression“gung-ho,”which traces its origins to a Chinese phrase associated with cooperation.
During the formal welcome ceremony, Trump recalled the history of cooperation between the United States and China, particularly their shared experience during World War II. He said the two countries had once been allies and connected that history to the expression “gung-ho,” which he described as having a Chinese meaning related to “working together.”
Trump Brings Up “Gung-Ho”
Trump told Xi that American Marines had adopted the expression “gung-ho” from the Chinese during the wartime period.
In modern English, “gung-ho” generally describes someone who is highly enthusiastic, energetic or eager to take action. Trump, however, emphasized its Chinese connection, explaining that the expression conveys the idea of working together.
The reference stood out during a speech otherwise focused on the broader history of U.S.-China relations and the two countries' current efforts to manage differences and pursue areas of cooperation.
A Word With Wartime Roots
The word “gung-ho” is generally traced to the Chinese phrase“工合” (Gongye Hezuoshe, commonly shortened to Gonghe), associated with the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives movement during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The expression was encountered by American military personnel in China and subsequently entered U.S. military usage. Over time, it became part of the English language and developed its modern meaning of being highly enthusiastic or intensely committed to a task.
Trump's reference focused on the idea of cooperation behind the expression rather than its later English-language meaning.
Trump Links the Word to World War II
Trump's reference came as he discussed the historical relationship between the United States and China.
He said that the pursuit of common interests had connected the two peoples despite the geographical distance between them and their differences.
He also pointed to World War II, when the United States and China fought Japan as allies.
The reference to “gung-ho” therefore served as a bridge between a linguistic connection and a historical episode in which Americans and Chinese cooperated against a common enemy.
“Working Together” Becomes the Key Phrase
Trump emphasized the cooperative meaning he associated with the Chinese origins of “gung-ho.”
He said that, while the expression is used in the United States to convey enthusiasm, its Chinese meaning relates to working together.
Trump then connected that idea with the future of U.S.-China relations, saying that he and Xi would continue working together to build a better future for both countries.
The wording gave the unusual language reference a direct diplomatic context.
Rather than discussing the Chinese language itself, Trump used a word that has already entered English to illustrate a historical connection between the two countries.
The Reference Came During a Major State Visit
Trump made the remarks during the formal White House welcome ceremony for Xi, who is visiting the United States from September 23 to 25 at Trump's invitation.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Xi and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan at the White House on September 24. The ceremony included military honors and remarks from both presidents.
The visit is the second reciprocal meeting between the two presidents in less than six months, according to China's Foreign Ministry and other official accounts.
Trump Also Recalled His Meetings With Xi
At the beginning of his remarks, Trump welcomed Xi and Peng to the White House and thanked Xi for the hospitality he received during his visit to Beijing in May.
Trump said he and Xi had developed what he described as a “great friendship” since Trump first became president in 2016. He recalled meeting Xi in several countries and cities over the years.
He also emphasized the importance of common interests in maintaining communication between the two countries.
A Historical Reference in a Modern Diplomatic Setting
The mention of “gung-ho” was a relatively small part of Trump's broader welcome speech, but it attracted attention because of the unusual connection between an everyday English expression and a Chinese wartime phrase.
The episode also reflected the way both sides have invoked historical memories during the current state visit.
Xi, in his own remarks at the White House ceremony, also referred to the period more than 80 years ago when Chinese and American people fought together against Japanese militarism.
The two leaders therefore presented some of the same historical episodes from their respective perspectives, including the wartime cooperation between the two countries.
From a Chinese Phrase to an English Expression
Today, most English speakers who use “gung-ho” may not be aware of its Chinese origins.
Its meaning in contemporary English has evolved from the original context. It is now commonly used to describe someone who is extremely enthusiastic, energetic or eager to participate in something.
Trump's remarks brought attention back to the word's historical roots and the idea of cooperation associated with its Chinese origin.
In the context of the White House ceremony, the word became more than a linguistic curiosity: Trump used it as a way to connect a historical episode of U.S.-China cooperation with his stated intention to work with Xi on the relationship between the two countries.
A Small Word With a Long History
The reference to “gung-ho” was one of the more distinctive details in Trump's welcome remarks.
Against the backdrop of negotiations involving trade, technology, artificial intelligence and other issues, the U.S. president chose to highlight a single word whose history reaches back to wartime cooperation between Americans and Chinese.
Trump concluded his remarks by expressing confidence that the two sides could accomplish more if they focused on common interests and said he and Xi would continue working together toward a better future.
For a formal diplomatic ceremony, it was an unusually simple message: a Chinese-derived word, a shared wartime history and the idea ofworking togetherbrought together in a few minutes of remarks at the White House.
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