Foochow

Foochow is a term used in English to refer to Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province in southeastern China, its people, and its language. In historical Western usage, “Foochow” denotes the city of Fuzhou and the related cultural and linguistic communities; today the city is more commonly called Fuzhou in Mandarin.

The Foochow dialect, also called the Fuzhou dialect, is a variety of Eastern Min within the Min Dong group. It is spoken by residents of Fuzhou and surrounding areas, as well as by overseas communities descended from emigrants from the region. It is not mutually intelligible with Standard Mandarin.

Historically, Western missionaries developed a romanization system for the dialect, known as Foochow Romanized, used in early dictionaries and texts to teach reading and writing.

Foochow cuisine, a distinct branch of Fujian cuisine, emphasizes clear broths, seafood, and preserved ingredients; dishes often feature delicate preparation and light sauces, with the style closely associated with Fuzhou's culinary traditions.

The Foochow community has formed a widespread overseas diaspora in Southeast Asia, notably in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, where communities preserve language and customs. The region’s ports and trade links historically facilitated cultural exchange with foreign traders.