Getting around
地铁
请先下后上。
Let people off first, then board.
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 language of public life. People bring many home dialects with them.
In this city
- Language
- Chinese
- Also heard
- Mostly Chinese
- A local word
- 打包 — To go.
- Writing
- simplified Chinese characters
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
店
打包。
To go.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
公司
你好。
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
Food
街
多少钱？
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The language through the day
Mandarin is the shared language of the office and the metro. People bring many home dialects with them.
Around Futian, Nanshan, Luohu, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Shenzhen can run on four lines: “请先下后上。”, “打包。”, “你好。”, 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 Shenzhen, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: 打包. It means To go..
Places you can see
- Lianhuashan — A hill park with a view over the civic centre.
- OCT Loft — A former factory area turned into studios and cafés.
- Shenzhen Bay Park — A long waterfront park facing the bay.
Food
You find kitchens from across China. You order them in Mandarin.
Getting around
The metro is the easy way across a wide city. Signs are in Chinese, and you read them.
Daily life
You ask directions and read notices in Mandarin, whatever dialect people use at home.
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… |
