'Yì cì xìng kuài zi' literally means 'one-time-use chopsticks' — a compound noun formed from 一次 (yí cì, 'once'), 性 (xìng, a suffix meaning 'nature' or 'quality'), and 筷子 (kuài zi, 'chopsticks'). Together, it refers to chopsticks made of wood or bamboo that are intended for single use and then discarded. These are commonly provided in Chinese takeout restaurants, food courts, and street-side eateries across China and other East Asian countries.

While convenient and hygienic in theory, disposable chopsticks have drawn increasing environmental concern due to the massive volume of timber consumed annually — an estimated 45 billion pairs used in China alone each year. As awareness grows, many urban residents now carry reusable chopsticks, and some restaurants charge a small fee for disposables or offer eco-certified bamboo alternatives.