Getting around
地铁
列车即将关门。
The doors are closing.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Mandarin is the public language. Shanghainese is still heard in families.
In this city
- Language
- Chinese
- Also heard
- Mostly Chinese
- A local word
- 侬好 — Hello.
- Writing
- simplified Chinese characters
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
店
来一杯咖啡。
One coffee, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
家里
侬好。
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
Food
商店
多少钱？
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The language through the day
Announcements and schools use Chinese. At home and in the market around the Bund, the French Concession, Jing'an, you still hear Shanghainese.
Around the Bund, the French Concession, Jing'an, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Shanghai can run on four lines: “列车即将关门。”, “来一杯咖啡。”, “侬好。”, and “多少钱？”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in simplified Chinese characters.
- 你 is the ordinary you. 您 is the polite one, for older people and in service.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Shanghai, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: 侬好. It means Hello..
Places you can see
- The Bund — A row of historic buildings along the Huangpu.
- Yu Garden — A classical garden in the old city.
- French Concession — Tree-lined streets of older houses and small shops.
Food
You try soup dumplings and local breakfasts. You order them in Mandarin.
Getting around
Metro lines cross the river. Station names appear in Chinese, and you read them.
Daily life
You use Mandarin at the counter. A family conversation nearby may be Shanghainese.
A few everyday phrases
Chinese
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | Nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| 谢谢 | Xièxie | Thank you |
| 早上好 | Zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning |
| 我叫… | Wǒ jiào… | My name is… |
