I have an easy way around it

A little child says "these xxxs" and then corrects herself "these xxx-words" or "these xxx-things" or something. In the story, I mean. Anyway, by adding the s she has already expressed another word -- in another language -- that means something completely different but relevant anyway, and this then leads to a conversation or misunderstanding or...

This means that the "xxx" is a word in a language he doesn't know well; instead she knows English quite well.

I could imagine that when I'm talking about the plural meaning of a Chinese word, I might use the plural ending I'm familiar with after it -- just temporarily, half-jokingly, to emphasize to someone that I'm talking about the plural. And I am not a little kid but an old man.