American Panda

Content Warning: This section discusses familial pressure and conflict and identity struggles, including references to body shaming.

Chao weaves words and phrases in Mandarin throughout the novel, both spoken by characters or in Mei’s inner monologue. While Mei directly translates some phrases, other references are bolstered by context clues to help readers decipher their meaning. Chao notes at the beginning of the novel that she uses the pinyin system of Mandarin, which features marks above the vowels to indicate pitch. She also notes that she uses the pronunciation of her own family’s accent, which may differ from other pronunciations.

Several words are particularly meaningful in Mei’s journey of identity. Mama Lu calls herself Mei’s muqin, the more formal version of “mom,” indicating her authority. Mei often feels like the pingu, or “ass,” of her own culture for not living up to her parents’ expectations. She misses being her baba’s little girl, his baobei whom he showed open affection for. Later, Mei decides that Christine is her jiejie, her “dirtier, foul-mouthed older sister” (267), when they reconnect. Even Mei’s name has a special meaning in Mandarin: It means “beautiful,” which Mama Lu expects Mei to live up to, as seen in her constant criticism of Mei’s weight and nose size.