/r/shanghainese

Photograph via snooOG

Shanghainese (上海闲话) is a Chinese language spoken by around 14 million people in the city of Shanghai, China. It is part of Wu Chinese (吴语), a language group with nearly 80 million speakers mostly in Zhejiang, Shanghai and southern Jiangsu.

侬好! Welcome to /r/Shanghainese! This is a community where learners and native speakers can discuss everything to do with Shanghainese and exchange resources for and information about studying it.

Shanghainese (上海闲话) is a Chinese language spoken by around 14 million people in the city of Shanghai, China. It is part of Wu Chinese (吴语), a language group with nearly 80 million speakers mostly in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and southern Jiangsu.

See the wiki for more information about the language and learning resources.


Related Subreddits

/r/shanghainese

2,054 Subscribers

37

New Shanghainese Podcast 上海妈妈嘎山湖

Hi everyone! 

Here to introduce a new Shanghainese podcast that my cousin and I created called 上海妈妈嘎山湖 "Shanghai Moms Chat". Originally from Shanghai, we chit chat in Shanghainese with sprinkles of Mandarin and English about challenges and funny stories while raising kids in the US, and how we have changed since becoming moms. The episodes are published weekly and can be found on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio.

If you're new to Shanghainese, you can listen to it to learn some new words and hear flowing dialogue. If you're already a speaker, you can hear some funny stories and parenting experiences. We welcome topic suggestions and ideas for making our podcast better. You can reach us on InstagramFacebook, and email shanghaimomschat@gmail.com. If you like it, the best ways to support us is by recommending it to a friend or leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. 

Come listen to our experiences and funny stories! Thanks for reading!

大家好!来这个上海宁的圈子里帮阿拉俩姊妹的Podcast频道,“上海妈妈嘎山湖”,做做宣传。我们是分别住在美东和美西的上海表姐妹。平日里我们经常用上海话加一点中英文打电话聊天。聊我们做了妈妈以后的种种变化,分享在抚养孩子过程中遇到的问题和有趣的故事。我们的节目每周都有更新在各大podcast平台,像Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon MusiciHeart Radio.

如果你正在学上海话,正好可以通过收听我们的节目来学习一些新词汇,并感受一下在上海话对话中的用词和习惯。如果你本来就会说上海话,那就来听我们讲一些有趣的故事和育儿经验吧。很期待你们给我们的频道意见和建议,我们的联系方式是 InstagramFacebook, 和 email shanghaimomschat@gmail.com。如果你喜欢我们的频道,对我们最好的支持就是把我们的节目推荐给你的朋友或是给我们的节目留言或评论。

快来一起听听我们的故事吧!谢谢! 😊

上海妈妈嘎山湖 Shanghai Moms Chat

2 Comments
2024/11/24
20:36 UTC

2

The White Yulan Magnolia

As many of you already know, our flower is the Yulan Magnolia, and today, the 25th of October, is the anniversary of its legal promulgation. Every year on this day I take a moment to think about my connection to my family, Shanghai and her culture. So I hope you all similarly enjoy today.

~

Below is a brief outline of the flower.

In 1980 Old Shanghai or even earlier there was already a sense of fondness towards the White Magnolias by us Shanghainese. The details are not entirely clear and partially lost to time, but during 1983, there was measure of public consensus conducted through polling showing support for this flower. In 1984, there were additional suggestions floated of also adopting a junk into the symbol. And by October 1986, this was reiterated by the Municipal government of Shanghai into formal recognition. Although it is unclear on the exact meaning of this flower, over time the following reasons have been given by the community;

* The White Magnolia is the earliest flower to bloom in Spring, and consequently represents Shanghai's prosperity and optimism.

* Similarly, the White Magnolia can bloom right at the end of the last blast of Winter snow; facing upwards towards the sky as the snowfalls crown her. Here she represents strength and resilience.

* The white in the White Magnolia represents the pureness, especially in governance. Here it represents opposition to corruption.

* The white refers to cotton, referring back to the days of Shanghai's textile industry and fashion industry.

* Lastly, the Magnolia is delicious when cooked with pork. I have not tried this myself and think this is just meant to be shared as a joke.

As urban-legends go, it is believed that the White Magnolia was always our symbolic flower even dating back to the days of Shanghai's Old Society. However interestingly, this flower was not always the symbol of Shanghai. During 1929, a similar poll was conducted and the flower that was chosen was White Cotton. This flower was plentiful in the region and was the lifeblood of the textile industry in Shanghai. In those days, it symbolised practicality and bounty; insofar as, utility for meeting one's basic needs and the degree of wealth that stemmed from it.

How the White Cotton slowly evolved into White Magnolia is not entirely clear.

~

Unfortunately, the Shanghai Municipal government made further promulgations regarding the Yulan Magnolia throughout the 1990s; by placing the symbol on a triangle border and gilding it gold. The irony is not lost that the white purity of anti-corruption was directly replaced with gold. And lastly, the the Municipal government legally reserved exclusive usage of the final emblem; with restrictions enforced by penalties for unauthorised usage.

上海圈裏一大半人儕曉得,阿拉個巿花末,是白玉蘭。蓋咾,今朝十一月卄五號末,是白玉蘭個週年晨光。每一年搿日頭裏,我會得靜靜呌個坐下來咾,紀念自家對之上海個關係。所以我請大家一道也第那個做搭之慶祝阿拉個共同海派文化。

~

垃拉八十年代裏,老上海對白玉蘭來講末,有得熱情感。雖然細節勿大清桑咾,但是大部份個故事還垃拉壗。八三橫裏,上海𡍲有得巿花調查咾,多化人支持拉白玉蘭末。後頭開年之伲,勿曉得那能介個,還垃間支持拉高頭加之一艘沙船。後首來,垃拉八六年末,上海政府接受拉阿拉個白玉蘭注意咾,垃拉人大會裏通過哉。但是啥人也無沒擔白玉蘭個意思記下來哉。難朝上海人有得一𡉑大個意見;

* 白玉蘭是春天晨光第一個花盛開垃壗咾,所以代表上海個繁榮發展。

* 外加垃拉冬天急速個晨光,伊個花好朝天上開咾,臘雪也勿怕。難咾,代表上海個力道搭之勇敢。

* 伊個白顏色末是代表純潔咾,政府𣍐得貪鈔票。

* 另外還有講,白顏色是代表白棉花咾,上海老早仔個紡織工業多化結棍。

* 大拉斯閒話裏末,聽說白玉蘭好搭肉片一道炒拉個。自家到是無沒吃過。

根據民間故事末,白玉蘭當之阿拉個巿花呢,垃拉舊社會裏也第那個。但是事實上呢,老早仔個人選擇拉白棉花當之巿花末。因爲覺着埃個比較實惠咾,有用場咾。江南𡍲到處儕是咾,好賺鈔票也。

白棉花那能介個變成之今朝個白玉蘭呢。我也勿曉得。

~

挨下來人大會呢,繼續個通過改進。先是,加上一隻三角形狀個框圈。再是,顏色裏鍍滿之金。蓋咾,純潔個白顏色也就沒脫哉。伊拉到點擔貪腐反對勿拉?最後呢,變成只是個政府個徽章咾,百姓也勿好隨便個用。

1 Comment
2024/10/25
01:01 UTC

24

Is Shanghainese only spoken in Shanghai?

How do the dialects of the neighbouring cities Suzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, Jiaxing, etc sound like compared to Shanghainese? How far does the Shanghainese language reach across Jiangsu and Zhejiang?

15 Comments
2024/10/16
06:26 UTC

9

What is the correct transliteration (writing how it sounds in english) of what Indiana Jones says here? For example: "Jo Quae Ah, Xa Xa Nu." My friend is making a comic and wants to make sure he gets it right.

7 Comments
2024/09/24
18:51 UTC

1

阿拉上海閒話使用人垃拉海外要成立上海閒話咾吳語个保護組織

各位好,阿拉上海閒話个使用人要垃拉海外咾海外个網站成立上海閒話咾整個吳語个保護組織 我成立了一个telegram羣組,歡迎各位加入,用吳語交流,笳山河 阿拉吳語一定要推廣吳語个正字搭吳語个羅馬字,搿个羣組裏頭也會得做吳語正字咾吳語羅馬字个推廣 https://t.me/ngnyu

希望各位多多邀請阿拉吳語朋友進第个羣,垃拉將來阿拉要做更加多个吳語个推廣活動

也歡迎各位朋友去keyman高頭下載吳語个羅馬字輸入法,網站垃拉此地

https://keyman.com/keyboards/taichow

0 Comments
2024/09/12
13:37 UTC

6

The courses about the phonology of Shanghai ese

https://youtu.be/mV_zXjTgOVM?si=UgxnrURC0_KO-I4P I apply the Church romanization to indicates Shanghainese phonology. You can download the church romanization keyboard at keyman. Please search taichow in Keyman website then you will get it. https://keyman.com/keyboards/taichow

0 Comments
2024/09/12
13:50 UTC

9

歡迎各位去下載吳語个羅馬字輸入法

https://keyman.com/keyboards/taichow 網站垃拉此地,首先請你垃拉手機上下載仔keyman,垃拉appstore尋keyman,下載第个軟件 垃拉keyman裏頭尋taichow,下載搿个鍵盤 功能 搿个鍵盤个功能現在是打吳語个教會式羅馬字,㑚用吳語協會式个輸入方式敲字,就好自動轉換輸入吳語羅馬字了 希望各位幫忙多多傳播第个輸入法 謝謝

0 Comments
2024/09/12
13:45 UTC

21

Stereotypes of Shanghainese men and women

Hello everyone. I want to ask how my fellow Shanghainese perceive the Shanghainese male and female gender stereotypes... specifically in regards to how we view ourselves vs how others view us.

I'm sure we are all aware that stereotypically, we are supposedly have the most fierce, unreasonable and stuck-up women. And also that our men are supposedly the most effeminate and subservient men. Hence Shanghainese women make the worst wives, but Shanghainese men make the best husbands. Of course, this is meant to be a joke that most people don't take seriously (even I will joke about this), but I've noticed that some non-Shanghainese genuinely think of Shanghainese with only this stereotype. They expect the Shanghainese man to always ask for permission or cook or hold the woman's bag. Personally, I know a lot of Shanghainese men who do cook, including myself.... but it was never out of subservience. If my partner is busy or was working, I find it very reasonable to cook at home (much like if the roles were to be reversed, which happens too). Or if my partner were to have her period, I think its very reasonable to acquire her hygiene products if she needed it. Some non-Shanghainese will shit-talk the demanding nature of the Shanghainese woman in these situations, whilst also try to humiliate the Shanghainese man.

Personally, I've heard of a few "principles" from the generation above when growing up (some are);

* Men with ability don't fear women with ability - Pretty straight forward as a guy; better yourself as the guy. Don't need to hold women down. Hence both men and women can both reach their full potential.

* Daughters are raised rich, sons are raised poor - Pretty straight forward as a dad; You don't want your daughter to settle for any loser that comes along. And you want your son to suffer early, to not be that loser that suffers for the rest of his life. It sounds sexist, but its meant to counter the way the world generally gives women less choice. In the regular world, your son will always be able to have choice.

So personally from my pov, as a Shanghainese man, I was never told to explicitly cook or clean. No principle directly asked me to be subservient to a woman. But instead from my pov, it required me to be an independent and capable man. However, all actions that result from that are perceived by non-Shanghainese as subservient and is viewed in that very stereotypical manner I mentioned at the start.

So this leads back to the my questions. I am curious if you;
* as a Shanghainese man, grew up with similar perceptions to me, or do you internalise that stereotypical viewpoint that non-Shanghainese have of you . Were you explicitly instructed by your parents to fulfill domestic duties?

* as a Shanghainese woman, grew up with compatible perceptions to mine. Or were you told by your parents to actually be that stereotypically unreasonable woman who deliberately bullies her partner?

大家好,請問搿𡍲個上海圈裏一樁事體。蓋是,人家外地人那能看之上海男女末,搭之阿拉自家個看法咾。搿那個比較法子末,㑚覺着有得啥個區別𠳝?

外地人覺着阿拉有得一種老蹩踋個刻板印象;女人是勿講道理咾,男人是膽子小搭好欺負咾。弄成人家會得開玩笑個講那能勿敢討上海老婆咾,覺着伊忒狠。而且,上海男人末,稱謂上海小男人。雖然大部份個人只是垃拉講孛相末,但是我最近碰着拉一眼外地人,那能真個相信第那個事體。伊拉認爲上海男人歡喜買汏燒呢,是因爲伊是忒瞎老婆咾,只會得跟牢之老婆個領導。事實上是有得交關上海男人肯照顧屋裏個事體,但是我認爲搿儕勿是靠對方逼出來個。我認爲上海男人個決定是根據屋裏個要求。譬如講,對方上班忙末,或者生毛病勿適意末,當然好拏屋裏個事體搞定垃壗。外加,近況反過來末,兩個人換位置也是講道理呀。本人是根牢之搿那個思想來做事體個。

小晨光聽之長輩話兩句;
(大概個講噢)

男人有能力,勿怕女人有能力 - 老簡單個。做男人是全靠提高自家個本事咾,拏自家弄成老來三個。靠壓女人是勿來事個。

囡兒要富養,兒子要窮養 - 一開頭覺着有一眼歧視男人個感覺。但是當爺個是曉得,蓋是要提高囡兒個要求咾,傷勿過囡兒跟牢之外頭個無沒本事個垃圾癟三。長大之,有能力做自家個決定。雖然,也𧟰兒子吃苦末,第個世界上,是早晏會得發生個。還算好,小晨光吃個苦勿算苦末。長大之,撥人家看得起。

蓋末,請問大家個意見。我個解釋思想對㑚個搭介𠳝?

上海男人末,儂垃拉屋裏𡍲做事體是啥緣故?阿是想男女平等個注意或者是對外地人講個一樣𠳝?

上海女人末,我也只好揣咾,阿是㑚小晨光爺孃呌㑚𧟰撥對方欺負𠳝?自家靠自家,做出個事體也是男女平等搿一類個𠳝? 還是外地人認爲個是對個呢?

6 Comments
2024/09/09
11:41 UTC

3

The Shanghai Soochow Ningpo and Taichow Romanization keyboard

0 Comments
2024/07/31
16:04 UTC

8

Shanghainese Romanization Keyboard Download

0 Comments
2024/07/31
15:59 UTC

23

Hello I am doing a Shanghainese Course on the Youtube Channel

Please support me. Hope you enjoy.

https://youtu.be/-I-4GJlxzvY?si=xOrWKK0ulnWDjn2y

2 Comments
2024/07/18
10:16 UTC

5

Shanghainese-English children's board book

Thought I'll leave this link here.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/qinghuiji/i-am-hungry-a-bilingual-childrens-board-book

Someone has created a board book for kids to learn Shanghainese.

0 Comments
2024/04/26
23:31 UTC

3

🎉 Shang Dating meetup: Sydney Edition! 🎎💕

Wanting to meet Shang people in Sydney? Join us for unforgettable meetups tailored for singles aged 22-27 who are keen to connect with Shang culture!

Secure your spot now and get ready for:

💖 Personalized Matchmaking: We'll be your wingman/wingwoman! Attendees will be handpicked based on similar interests. Receive tailored recommendations on who to chat to.

🎤 Practice your Shang speaking skills

🥟 Authentic Shanghainese Cuisine: think activities like dumpling making.

Sign up for our waitlist now for information on our first event dropping soon. Tag your friends who might be interested!

https://airtable.com/appgIBV8c36fEQWVw/pag3sRd8ChyVUl6um/form?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1uo9UB5EcPwVq5AXH\_O4j98amOxtI3izNf5msSo70cJlOmLXrMqOnUuC0\_aem\_AWrdAjUbxXlvCsZ8RwNnr\_2cJ1QHLlk7g9odj\_R9P7uqgG2t\_OYGnGE5jC2zhAlHvudqF4HyHQgOBRKsoHxFJJFI

0 Comments
2024/04/24
11:28 UTC

7

Looking for a native Shanghainese speaker

Hello everyone. I am working on a project right now where I am trying to collaborate with native speakers to create free online lessons and textbooks that are modernized, informative, and easy to follow. I am especially interested in regional dialects/languages and would love to work with anyone interested. If you are interested and can help me, please let me know. Thank you

5 Comments
2024/03/30
03:34 UTC

8

Do You Think There Is a General Apathy Towards Shanghainese by Native Speakers?

Most Shanghainese would generally point to the decline of Shanghainese language in the city to the government’s language policies, but don’t you think there is more to play here? As a substantial cultural group that still makes up half of the city’s population, why are they complicit with giving up their own identity?

3 Comments
2024/03/19
20:18 UTC

2

Shanghainese Disapora Cities and Their Population?

Thoughts?

3 Comments
2024/03/19
19:45 UTC

4

What is the actual Chinese character for this sound in the song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4syFP0TV-1I

At the second verse - 儂在吾身旁, I think that she didn't use 在, if it's true, what is the actual Chinese character for that sound?

4 Comments
2024/03/15
10:39 UTC

5

What is the best way/place to learn shanghainese?

it would be best if it would be for free

5 Comments
2024/03/11
19:03 UTC

2

Tom and Jerry 上海闲话版

大噶好!记得小什光看地市高头Tom and Jerry上海闲话配音版本,煨灶猫😆寻不着Youtube阿么。啥您晓得哈里苦以寻着?Xia 夏大噶!

2 Comments
2024/02/10
16:31 UTC

2

"We come in peace" Translation Initiative

I am the creator of a fictional worldbuilding project in which Wu is featured. Figuring that Shanghainese would be the most easy to access Wu language/dialect on Reddit/, I'm asking if anyone here would be able to help me translate this phrase, "We come in peace" for a poster graphic that I'm trying to make.

Is it just 阿拉為和平而來 ?

4 Comments
2024/02/09
16:41 UTC

12

Quick update to dictionary

Version 1.4https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d-Qi-FZWEXLpNhrMRvPnVe7sfsAdEP8g/view?usp=sharing

Changelog:- Definitions increased 470 to 494 pages. Expanded several thousand slang definitions for entries that previously existed in addition to a bit over a thousand new entries.

eg.

1.3

ts’z yáng p’au p’au  吹洋泡泡 1 To blow up balloon 2 To blow a soap bubble

1.4

ts’z yáng p’au p’au  吹洋泡泡 1 To blow up balloon 2 To blow a soap bubble 3 Exaggeration, to exaggerate 4 Pregnancy

Aspirations for 1.5 in the future:

- Expand samples (still collecting works)

- Maintain terms

0 Comments
2024/01/28
03:15 UTC

7

Thoughts?

4 Comments
2024/01/26
06:45 UTC

7

How do u feel about the latest TV series 繁花(blossom Shanghai)?

In 繁花,almost all casts speak in shanghainese. Have you watched it? Whether it will attract people (especially those were born in Shanghai but have forgot their mother language ) to learn Shanghainese or the culture of Shanghai ?

5 Comments
2024/01/18
15:38 UTC

8

I Need Help With Shanghainese!

https://voca.ro/12765oc4s9Cw
Found this in my wife's wardrobe. I don't understand Shanghainese.

3 Comments
2024/01/11
18:01 UTC

1

Jyutcitzi FAQ

0 Comments
2023/12/09
15:00 UTC

1

從匣子到盒子

上了年歲个上海人多數只有飯盒子个讀法,後頭一眼眼年紀輕个人裡頭飯匣子个讀法就相當平常了。
是當中个原因講弗太清爽,一種可能性係,上海言話盒子跟格子發音接近,跟普通言話个發音錯班忒多。反過來,匣子發音更加接近一眼,逐漸就畀普通言話帶跑掉哉。
合算、盒子、鴿子、癩蛤蟆在了上海言話裡頭,儕係同音字,要麽文讀Kap,要麼白讀Hop。其他讀音弗一樣个場合應該寫个係其他字。

0 Comments
2023/11/04
07:56 UTC

9

學習上海言話个重點係語法。

上海人上海言話講弗好,一個根本个原因係無辦法用上海言話來思考。
因為在了書面高頭个缺失,造成哉上海言話个文法跟語法,儕無辦法傳承下去。
現代上海人在腦子裡頭想一樁事體个辰光,多多少少總歸會得拿普通話个文法來組織思路。
是樣就造成了想个講个弗同調,要麼講不利契,要麼一點也講弗出來哉。
為之講,先文法語法學習好係學習上海言話个重點。
做到想法,寫法,講法一式一樣再能夠融會貫通,再好覺著講上海言話交關著勁。

8 Comments
2023/11/04
06:42 UTC

11

上海閒話裡向形容詞

慢吞吞

篤三三

黑森森

酥答答

癢嘻嘻

硬翹翹

臭血血

騷答答

軟撲撲

福答答

胖乎乎

忺格格

灰濛濛

皺巴巴

辣蓬蓬

雄糾糾

急衝衝

戇怴怴

胖篤

綠色油

傻乎乎

急吼吼

定樣樣

野歪歪

毛茸茸

冷咻咻

醉燻

亮晶晶

暗觸觸

黏掇掇

笑嘻嘻

熱乎乎

灰溜溜

大落落

花插插

甜微微

臭哄哄

色瞇瞇

嬌滴滴

矮墩墩

紅通通

紅些些

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3 Comments
2023/10/07
19:13 UTC

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