十三点&(se2&sei1&di1)
<img STYLE="MArGin: 0px 2px -4px 0 MAx-WiDTH: 100%; HeiGHT: auto" ALT="" src="/blog7style/images/common/sg_trans.gif" real_src ="/buzzword/images/icons/3.gif"
TITLE="十三点&(se2&sei1&di1)" />&
Bubble-brained, wacky,
This phrase means literally “13 points.” Again, there are quite a
few explanations about how the term has become such a widely used
phrase among Shanghainese speakers.
In pai gow, or Chinese dominoes, it’s a bummer if you take two
cards that don’t add up to 13 points. In one kind of poker game, if
all your cards add up to 13 points, you’ll be labelled as an
“idiot.”
In the Chinese classic novel “The Butterfly Lovers,” the hero Liang
Shanbo is so dumb that he has for a long time failed to realize
that his closest classmate and pal, who disguised herself as a man,
is actually a beautiful young lady. And the hero’s name reads
almost the same as the figures 2, 3 and 8 in Shanghai dialect,
which add up to 13.
So, one may say that Shanghai people have long shared the
triskaidekaphobia (abnormal fear of number 13) with most
Westerners, but for quite different reasons.
Some others, however, believe this term came from the English word
“society,” which was once used in the city to mean “social
butterfly” or “society woman.” The English word pronounces nearly
the same as the figure 13 in Shanghai parlance and the latter, in
modern usage, implies the characteristics of such women. As a
result, the term is used to refer more often to women than
门槛精 (men2
kei1 jing1)
Sharp-minded, shrewd
In Shanghai dialect, people find quite a few terms and phrases that
are actually portmanteaus of the English word and the Chinese
character or phrase.
Here, the phrase 门槛精 (men kei jing) is used by locals to mean
someone who is very smart, sharp-minded or shrewd. In other words,
a sharp cookie. And many people believe it’s a combination of the
English word “monkey” and the Chinese character&
“精" , which here means “sharp, shrewd.”&
The term can be used in both a commendatory or derogatory sense,
depending on the circumstances. For instance, “He’s 门槛精 (men kei
jing), so he’s not likely to lose the deal” or “Be careful when you
deal with him, he is very 门槛精 (men kei jing).”
戆大 (gang3
Idiot, fool, simpleton
Some people believe this phrase comes from the English word
“gander” because they sound alike and share almost identical
meanings. However, others argue that it is an aboriginal term. In
this phrase, the first character “戆" means “stupid or simple,” and
the second means “big or elder.”
In rural areas of Shanghai, people say that the eldest child in a
family is usually more honest, obedient or simple-minded, but the
second child tends to be smart, shrewd and mischievous. Thus, 戆大
(gang du), as the “simple-minded elder,” is now used to describe
anyone who’s a fool or simpleton.
翘辫子 (qao2 bi3 zi1)
Kick the bucket, turn up one's toes, die
When English
speakers say "kicking the bucket," Shanghai locals would say "翘辫子
(qao2 bi3 zi1)," which means literally one's "pigtail standing on
its end or pointing upward."
colloquialism derives from a local phenomenon common in the mid
20th century when trams operated in& Shanghai.
Such trams usually had one or two poles installed above to draw an
electrical current from overhead wires.
However, these
trolley poles would often disconnect when the trams changed
direction or lanes. As a result, the poles would be left standing
on their ends pointing skyward, like two pigtails sticking out on a
person's head. The& disengagement would cause a
loss of power and the trams would come to a halt, or be "dead" as
people would& call it.
Later, locals
began to use the term 翘辫子 (qao2 bi3 zi1) in a humorous manner to
describe someone who's died.
Today, this
Shanghainese phrase has a derogatory connotation.
别苗头 (bi2
Compete, vie for superiority or limelight
This phrase
translates literally as "distinguishing the seedlings," as local
farmers do to determine in which field their crops are growing
However, the term
was later used to mean competing with each other for superiority or
limelight.
For instance, in
the 1930s and 1940s, Shanghai ladies were known for being showy and
pretentious. They all craved the limelight. As a result, they were
often seen 别苗头 (bi2 miao3 do) or competing with each other in
almost& all aspects of life and particularly in
terms of dress, wealth, appearance, knowledge, family success and
talent. Everyone wanted to attract more attention and admiration
and leave others standing.
Today, the phrase
may be used to describe both men and women when they are trying to
outshine or outdo others.
骂山门 (mo3
sei1 meng)
Shout abuses in public
This phrase
contains two terms, "scolding" and "mountain gate." The "mountain
gate" refers to the entrance to temples or monasteries which are
located on steep mountains.
In ancient times,
such institutes were usually built in places far away from markets
or business areas. If someone& went all the way to
the entrance of such sacred places to call names, the purpose was
to make it known to the public and maybe to the deities, as
Also, when people
did this, they didn't really call "names." Instead, they launched
their verbal attacks by innuendo. But most of those who were
present could guess who were the targets.
Today, people no
longer go to the "mountain gate" to 骂山门 (mo3 sei1 meng) and the
phrase may be used to mean shouting abuse in public, with or
without naming the people who are on the receiving end.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 56 | Views: 1239
笃定(do1& ding1)
Confident, serene, certain, sure
People believe
that this term is related to a bridge in neighboring Wu County.
When a master was building the bridge the county magistrate passed
by. The magistrate didn’t think the bridge was being built
correctly and warned that it could collapse later.
Three months
later, the magistrate sent one of his aides to check the bridge.
When the aide got there, he saw many people leisurely sitting on
the bridge. He asked them: “Isn’t this bridge dangerous?” Someone
answered: “No. This bridge was built by a master. It has perfectly
vertical piers and a flawless arch. It’s called 笃定 (do ding).”
Since then,
locals have been using this term to describe people who are in a
peaceful state of mind or resting assured. It may also be used to
show one’s confidence as “I can 笃定 (do ding) finish my job on
In order to
further underscore one’s confidence, people have added 泰山 (ta san),
the name of a famous mountain in east China, to this term to create
the new phrase “笃定泰山" (do ding ta san) to mean fully confident and
100 percent sure.
Another variation
of this phrase is a reduplication: “笃笃定定" (do do ding ding). It may
be used to mean someone is doing something in an unhurried manner
or with a measured pace.
半吊子(bu1
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 58 | Views: 1233
吃生活 (qe1
sang1 wo2)
To be beaten up, be hit (accidently)
This phrase has
two parts: the first part 吃 (qe), meaning "eat," and the second
part 生活 (sang wo), meaning literally "life." However, this does not
mean "eating up a life," because in the vernacular, 生活 (sang wo)
may also mean "chore" or "job."
For instance, if
you want to know whether your friend has land a job, you may ask:
"Have you found a 生活 (sang wo) ?"
Actually, this
phrase has nothing to do with either "eat," "chore" or "job." At
least, not directly. It means being beaten up and usually it’s the
parents who beat their kids or the elder ones who beat the younger
ones as a punishment.
Some people
believe this phrase came from the confusion between 生活 (sang wo)
and what the locals call draught animals. The sense came from
beating the animals with a stick or whip to drive them on.
Others say that
the meaning of "being beaten up" came from the tools used to do a
job, such as rulers, spades or brooms, for they were frequently
used by masters to hit their apprentices or parents to beat and
punish their children.
Most locals,
however, have no idea about the origin of this term, but they all
use it to mean "being beaten up."
Sometimes, it is
used to mean that one is hit by something accidently, while doing a
job or carrying out a task. For example, when someone hits his own
thumb while hammering a nail, he may say: "My left thumb 吃了一记生活 (qe
le ye ji sang wo)," meaning "My left thumb was accidently hit (by
the hammer)."
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 74 | Views: 1321
老妖咯 (lao2
Outlandish, exotic, weird, gaudyIn the mid-1990s,
with their wallets getting fatter, Chinese people began to travel
overseas and initially, neighboring countries such as Singapore,
Malaysia and Thailand were the most popular destinations.
During their overseas tours, they found many new things that
shocked them, but what came as the biggest shock was probably the
performance by “katoeys” or ladyboys in Thailand. It was so
outlandish and bizarre, they called the performers “老妖咯” (ren yao)
or “human-elf.”
On returning home, they tended to describe such performances to
their friends in an animated manner. And listeners were awed by
such stories with their eyes wide open and jaws dropped.
In Shanghai, some people gradually began to use the term 老妖咯(lao
yao e) (meaning literally “very elfish”) to describe anything that
is outlandish or exotic.
Today, Shanghainese also use this term to describe whatever makes
them feel weird. For example, if someone finds it difficult to fix
a thing or a problem, he may say, “This is 老妖咯(lao yao e).”
Shanghai locals also use this term to mean gaudy or ostentatious.
For instance, one may say: “Look, that person’s dress is 老妖咯(lao
Helpless, troublesome, vexatious, thorny
In Shanghai dialect, this term translates literally
as “eating sour,” but it doesn’t mean eating something sour at all.
It is often used to describe a situation in which one feels
helpless or some people or something that one finds annoying but
cannot think of an effective way to deal with.
Few can tell you the origin of this phrase, but many may liken the
feeling the phrase describes to the unbearable sensation caused by
eating something so sour it could cause vomiting and deplete one’s
If that’s true, then the phrase is related to “eating something
sour” after all.
炒冷饭 (cao3
lang3 vei1)
Rehash, repeat old content, flogging a dead horse
Shanghai locals are mostly rice eaters. So, if
there’s any leftover cooked rice, they tend to 炒冷饭(cao lang vei),
meaning to “stir-fry the cold rice,” usually by adding a spoon of
edible oil, a pinch of minced green onion or even an egg. As a
result, 炒冷饭(cao lang vei) is a common meal among many
Shanghainese.
But when the phrase is used figuratively, it means to rehash old
materials, repeat old content or reproduce an old idea. It’s like
flogging a dead horse or putting old wine in a new bottle in
So, this colloquial term has a connotation of clich&, banality,
bromide and lack of excitement.
Despite the fact that many Shanghainese do eat 炒冷饭(cao lang vei)
from time to time, few like it in speeches and writing. Locals also
tend to use a vulgar alternative to express their dislike of this
type of 炒冷饭(cao lang vei): “Why do you always eat today’s fresh
rice, but fart yesterday’s gas?”
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 77 | Views: 792
上只角，下只角 (zang3 ze go, wu3 ze go)
Uptown, good neighborhood, slum, ghetto, rundown
area, bad part of town
During the 1930s and 1940s, Shanghai people began to divide the
city into 上只角 (zang ze go) and 下只角 (wu ze go). The two dialectic
terms translate literally the "upper corner" and the "lower
corner," meaning the luxurious area and the rundown area,
respectively.
上只角 (zang ze go) referred to the west and southwest part of the
city, mainly the former French Concession area that sprawled along
today's Huaihai Road and part of the Xuhui District. This part of
the city boasted luxurious villas, posh shops and dazzling
nightclubs and it was inhabited by the rich and expatriates.
下只角 (wu ze go) covered mainly the east areas of the city, the home
of polluting factories and slums where the city's poor and working
people lived.
So, some people say that Shanghai used to be a "city tipping toward
the southwest."
The rapid urban development in recent decades has blurred the old
demarcation lines between the former 上只角 (zang ze go) and 下只角 (wu
ze go). Many new luxurious residences and ritzy shopping malls have
sprung up in the former 下只角 (wu ze go) districts.
As a result, in modern usage, 上只角 (zang ze go) and 下只角 (wu ze go)
are often used to describe a nice or better part and a rundown or
worse part of the city, respectively, without specific geological
indications.
吃香 (che1 shiang1)
Popular, respected, esteemed
This term translates literally as "eating incense."
Some people believe that this Shanghainese phrase came from a
practice in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).
At that time, there was a special department in the imperial court
that took care of the promotion and job assignments for officials.
To seek an earlier promotion or a better job, many officials tended
to offer bribes to the department in the name of an "incense fee,"
just like people offering it at a temple. It was said that those
serving in the department could collect more money from the
"incense fee" than the annual pay they received from the imperial
court. Therefore, they were nicknamed as the "incense eaters," a
position envied by many others.
Later, the term 吃香 (che shiang) has been used to mean something
popular or any people who enjoy high respect and esteem.
吃瘪 (che1 bi1)
Eat humble pie, eat boiled crow, forced into submission, forced to
admit defeat, be overwhelmed
Whenever you are in a situation that you have to
"eat humble pie" or "eat boiled crow," Shanghai people would
instead say that you have to "eat flatness" or 吃瘪 (che bi). This
Shanghai dialectic term may also mean someone is defeated or
overwhelmed. For instance, one may say: "In the face of the final
court ruling, the plaintiff has to 吃瘪 (che bi)."
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 78 | Views: 910
煞根 (sa1 gen1)
Extreme, absolute, rock bottomSome people believe
this Shanghainese phrase is actually a pidgin term for the English
word &shocking,& partly because they share a similar pronunciation
and partly because they are related in their meanings.
So, when the phrase was first introduced into the Shanghai
parlance, it was used to mean something shocking or
unexpected.
Today, the phrase is widely used by Shanghai locals to mean
anything that reaches its extreme. For example, one calls a
rock-bottom price a "煞根" (sa gen) price, and if someone says that
he had a "煞根" (sa gen) dinner last night, he means the meal was
"shockingly" sumptuous and he ate to his heart content.
The term may also be used to describe someone's remarks or
observations that are absolutely clear and direct to the point. So,
if someone is described as a "煞根" (sa gen) person, he must be a
person who is inclined to make pithy comments and lay bare the
truth or root causes of matters of concern.
If your boss asks you to do a "煞根" (sa gen) job, he is asking you
to finish off the work and make it a complete success.
促狭 (co1 ke1)
Tricky, mean, sinister, vicious, hard to deal
withMany say this is another pidgin English term
widely used by Shanghai locals. This term, 促狭 (co ke), sounds very
similar to the English word "trick" and shares some meanings of the
word "tricky."
The Shanghainese phrase is now almost always used with a derogatory
connotation. It may be used to describe a person who is mean and
tricky. It may also be used to depict a move made by your opponent
which makes it very difficult for you to respond or counteract,
such as in play of chess. So, you may say he or she has made a 促狭
(co ke) move.
When 促狭 (co ke) is used to describe remarks and texts, it means
they are malicious or have a double meaning.
However, occasionally, the phrase can be used among close friends
in a playful and lighthearted manner. For instance, if your friend
pulls your leg in a mischievous manner, you may say: "You are so
腻心 (ni3 xin1)
Dirty, filthy, nauseating, disgusting, revoltingWhen
a native Shanghainese sees something that&s filthy or disgusting,
he would call it 腻心 (ni xin). The first character in the Shanghai
dialectic phrase means literally "oily," "icky" or "fed up." The
second character means the "heart." So, if you feel that something
is "icky" or "fed up" in your heart, it must be disgusting in one
way or the other.
However, this phrase may also be used to describe a person if he or
she is wearing very dirty clothes or clothes of disgusting taste,
or acting in an unpleasant and revolting manner. In such cases, one
may say, "He's such a 腻心 person."
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 78 | Views: 885
放野火 (fang1 ya3 hu)
Spread rumors, defame, slander&
Wildfire and grass together have found their way into many Chinese
sayings and even poems, such as "Wildfire can't burn them out, next
spring they'll grow back again," "A little spark may kindle a great
fire" and "starting a wildfire" as in this Shanghai colloquial
& During early spring outings in this area, some
people tend to start a wildfire by lighting the grass in the field
that has withered and dried during the winter. The fire spreads
very fast.
The fast-spreading fire can be quite spectacular, particularly at
night. For the fire starters, it's just for fun, but sometimes it
can lead to disasters.
& Later, locals began to use the term 放野火 (fang ya
huo) or "starting a wildfire" to describe the act of spreading
rumors, which many believe travel even faster than the
& Today, the phrase may also be used to mean
bad-mouthing or vilifying someone by spreading rumors about the
轻骨头 (qing1 gwo1 dou)
Giddy, flippant, frivolous,
light-minded& According to the
ancient Chinese divination, the weight of a person's bones plays a
crucial role in determining his or her fortune. For instance, a
person with heavier bones could become a noble, general or
high-ranking official, while those with very light bones are doomed
to pass through this world as beggars or prostitutes.
& Since bones play such an important role in
fortune-telling, they have been introduced into a number of
colloquialisms in the city and its surrounding
& For example, you may call someone 贱骨头 (ji gwo
dou) or "cheap bones" if he behaves like a dirt ball or in a
you may call a thief "‘贼骨头" (ze gwo dou)
because he has the "" and you may describe someone
as "作骨头" (zo gwo dou), meaning he or she is making a fuss or being
unreasonable and troublesome because they are "fidgeting with the
& Today, if someone is 轻骨头 (qing gwo dou), instead
of being "light-boned" as this phrase translates literally, he or
she is light-minded, giddy or flippant.&
有花头 (you3 hu1 dou)
Subterfuge, capable or efficient, attraction, having an
affair& In this phrase, the term 花头
(hu dou) originally means a decorative design or flower pattern.
Later, it was used to mean the trick or essence of something.
& Today, the phrase implies subterfuge or hidden
tricks. But it may also mean the attraction or a hope of success,
as "this project 有花头 (you hu dou)," meaning it's attractive and may
& However, when one uses this phrase to describe a
person, it means either he or she is "having something on the ball"
and "having an affair," especially outside of marriage.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 85 | Views: 895
来三 (lei3
Capable, competent, feasible, doable
This term, which
translates literally as "come three," doesn't have anything to do
with the numeral "three." Instead, some people believe it's a
homonym for "lanshan" or "blue dress."
Lanshan, a robe
with broad borders at the collar, cuffs and hem, was once the
official dress for scholars who had passed the county- and
provincial-level civil examinations during the Ming () and
Qing () dynasties. Particularly, during the Qing Dynasty,
it was decreed that the robe must be made of blue fabric.
imperial examination system, scholars who had passed county,
provincial or imperial court tests were guaranteed official
positions in governments. Influenced by the Confucian precept that
"study of books excels all other pursuits," scholars all studied
for the single goal of passing the exam and becoming an official.
As a result, "lanshan" became a symbol of success and social
In the Shanghai
area, the word "lanshan" was gradually used to mean anyone who was
capable or competent. Today, locals still use 来三 (lei sei) in this
sense, but they also use it to mean something that is feasible or
doable. For instance, you may hear locals ask: "Lei sei va?"
meaning "Can it be done?" or "Can you do it?"
三吓头 (sei1
Bluffer, four-flusher
colloquialism literally means "three scares." Many believe it comes
from stories about a well-known historical figure called Niu
Niu was a sworn
friend of Yue Fei, one of the most respected Chinese heroes and a
famous general who fought the invasion of the State of Jin during
the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Niu was very strong and he wielded a
pair of huge axes. In battle, almost no one could withstand his
first three strikes. But after that, Niu became extremely
vulnerable because the three strikes exhausted him.
老克拉 (lao3 ke1 le)
High class, sophisticated, cognoscenti
This is generally
considered to be pidgin English meaning "old class." In the early
and middle 1900s, locals called people and things related to the
upper class "old class" or 老克拉 (lao ke le). The term later came to
mean anyone with sophisticated taste and extensive knowledge about
the finer things in life. It can also describe things. For example,
one might call a well-tailored garment 克拉斯 (ke la si) or
Today the term
老克拉 (lao ke le) can be used interchangeably with another Shanghai
colloquialism 老懂经 (lao dong jing), which usually means someone who
is knowledgeable in a given subject, one of the cognoscenti. But
the second term can be shorted to 懂经 (dong jing), which becomes an
adjective meaning conversant with, stylish and fashionable. So,
someone who is "very 懂经" is someone with specialized knowledge or
refined taste.
In the 1960s, a
special kind of shoe, with a black cloth upper and white plastic
sole, became the vogue and people called them "懂经 shoes."
Today, however,
these two are more often used among middle-aged and elderly
老黄牛 (lao3
wang2 niu)
Irresponsible person, someone who habitually fails to keep his
promises, uncomplaining and diligent person
The ox used to be
common in Shanghai's rural areas and it has found its way into many
colloquial terms. The phrase 老黄牛 (lao wang niu) combines the first
character "老" (old) and the term "黄牛" (ox). The second part, "黄牛,"
today often is used to mean a scalper, one who buys something cheap
and resells at a high price. The most common are ticket
But when the "ox"
is used with "old," it means a person who never keeps his promise
or always says he will help you do something, but never does.
Despite its
negative connotation when it means an irresponsible person, the
term can also be positive in describing a person who works as hard
as an ox and never complains.
老油条 (lao3
you2 diao)
Slacker, wily old bird
This term is a
combination of the first character "老" (old) and the phrase "油条"
(fried dough stick). The fried dough stick is Shanghai locals'
favorite breakfast snack. When used with food, the Chinese
character "老" doesn't mean "old" anymore. Instead, it means well
done or overdone.
In Shanghai
dialect, 老油条 (lao yu diao) can be used literally to mean a
well-fried or over-fried dough stick, or it can be used
figuratively to mean a person who always goofs off at work or who
is wily and can always find a way to avoid chores and
responsibilities.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 89 | Views: 1006
拆穿西洋镜
(ce1 cu1 xi1 yang4 jing)
To see through a trick, figure out the true nature, strip off the
camouflage
This phrase
literally means "exposing the Western mirror," referring to a
street peep show popular during the first half of the 20th century.
The show was staged in a big wooden box, a mirror at the top of the
box reflected light coming through a few holes onto a picture
displayed at the back side of the box. Viewers, usually young
children, paid two cents to peep through holes in the front of the
box at pictures that seemed to move -- they were manually pulled
through at the back. Most depicted foreign scenery and fashionable
Western ladies.
Once the box fell
from its stand and broke, people found that the magic show was very
simple: a box, a mirror and a few pictures.
Today, the phrase
"拆穿西洋镜" (ce1 cu1 xi1 yang4 jing) means to see through a trick and
expose the true nature of something. Another related phrase in
Shanghai dialect is "看西洋镜" (kyu xi yang jing), literally "watching
the Western mirror." It means to get a look at the excitement or
watch the fun.
迪(这)记走远了
(de2 ji1 zou3 yu3 le)
To take a long and circuitous route, make a big deviation, get into
deep trouble
This phrase,
which literally means "now it’s straying far away from the
destination," came into use during the early 1990s, when the city
started to build elevated roads and "spaghetti" junctions to ease
traffic problems.
At first, cab
drivers were not familiar with the new routes and often missed the
right exit ramps. As a result, they had to take a long, circuitous
route to get back to the right place. Annoyed passengers grumbled
迪(这)记走远了(de2 ji1 zou3 yu3 le), as they worried about being late and
paying a higher fare.
Today, cabbies
know their way around better, but the phrase remains. It has come
to mean something that has greatly deviated from its original
purpose or something that has gone very wrong. It can also mean
that someone has gotten into deep trouble. For instance, when
someone is arrested for a serious offense, you may say he or she
迪(这)记走远了, meaning, "This time he (she) is getting into deep
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 94 | Views: 1011
给力/不给力 (gei3 li4 /bu4 gei3 li4)
An expression gaining popularity in both online posts and
publications in China. It evolved from a north China dialect, “不给力”
which roughly translates as disagreeable.
团主 （tuan2 zhu3）
group purchase foreman
While there is a group purchase, there is the person who initiates,
organizes and manages the process on behalf of the group.
团饭 (tuan2 fan4)
group purchase fan
Young urbanites who are fond of using the group purchase method to
benefit from heavily discounted prices.&
砍价师 (kan3 jia4 shi1)
bargaining agent
As group purchase is gaining popularity, some people operate online
as an agent for the buyers to bargain with the sellers.
蹭网族 (ceng4 wang2 zu2)
wireless-network thief
This refers to those who frequently gain illegal access to the
Internet using their neighbor’s wireless network services.
苏梅(su1 mei2)
It is a Chinese transliteration of the English expression. The
Chinese originally stands for the surnames of two famous poets in
China’s Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) who set the trend in a new
style of poems.
宽裕教育 (kuan1 yu4 jiao4 yu4)
pressure-free education
Japan has gradually reduced the amount of class time and the
contents of textbooks since the 1970s, which is called ”yutori
education,” or “pressure-free education.” However, due to the
rising criticism that the education policy lowers children’s
scholastic ability, Japan is taking steps to reverse the policy and
textbooks become thicker again from this semester.
超级细菌 (chao1 ji2 xi4 jun1)
drug-resistant superbug
A new gene in bacteria, known as NDM-1, allows the microorganisms
to become drug-resistant superbugs or super bacteria. The new
superbug is believed to have first appeared in India, with cases
already reported in Hong Kong and Japan.
僵尸粉 (jiang1 shi1 fen3)
zombie follower
Also known as “spam fans,” these are fake followers of a
microblogger. They usually set-up multiple accounts to follow a
certain blogger and are paid to enhance the “popularity” of that
particular microblog.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 100 | Views: 993
勿管三七念一
(fo2 gwu3 san1 qi nie2 ye)
foolhardy, reckless, audacious
This literally
means "disregarding three seven 21." Traditionally, people in
Shanghai and nearby areas used the pronunciation
of& "念" for figures 2 or 20. Thus, "Three seven
21" is the abbreviated version of "three times seven equals 21." It
comes from the Chinese Multiplication Rhymes, a mnemonic device for
memorizing the multiplication tables. Almost every pupil learns it
by heart. The simplest version goes: "one one one, one two two ...
two two four, two three six ... three seven 21, four seven 28
This is one of
the basics of arithmetic. So, if one forgets or disregards basics,
he or she must be out of their mind or doing something
irrational.
The term 勿管三七二十一
(fo2 gwu3 san1 qi nie2 ye) suggests forgetting the usual rules or
reason, doing whatever one wants, behaving in a foolhardy, reckless
or audacious way.
A longer version
is勿管三七二十一meaning "disregarding whether it's three seven 21 or four
seven 28."
三六九捞现钞
(san1 lo jiu3 lao1 yi3 cao1)
grab fast cash
The figures 3, 6
and 9 have special meanings in Shanghai parlance.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 102 | Views: 1116
额角头碰天花板
(nge2 guo2 dou2 bang3 ze2 ti1 ho1 bei)
Incredibly lucky, hit the jackpot
Like other
Chinese, many Shanghai locals believe in physiognomy or face
reading to reveal characteristics.
And according
this kind of divination, a broad and protruding forehead is not
only a symbol of wisdom, but also a sign of good luck.
So, if someone
says that you have a "high forehead" in Shanghai dialect, he means
you're a lucky dog.
This term,
额角头碰天花板 (nge guo dou bang ze ti ho bei), means literally "with
one's forehead hitting the ceiling of the house."
Since a forehead
cannot touch the ceiling, the phrase means that someone is
incredibly lucky or unexpectedly successful.
死蟹一只 (xi1
ha1 yi1 ze)
At wit's ends, finished, done for, basket case, dead
For Shanghainese,
autumn is the season for fresh water hairy crabs, a delicacy. It's
the sine qua non for a traditional family dinner celebrating the
Mid-autumn Festival.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 111 | Views: 1228
Finish, kill, eliminate, eighty-six, trounce
Originally, this
phrase meant simply to get something done or to finish a task.
However, it was later adopted by Shanghai gangsters during the
1930s and 1940s and used to mean to kill, eliminate or eighty-six
In recent years,
this phrase has been combined into a new Shanghainese term called
"拿伊做脱" (nei yi zu te), meaning literally "kill him" or "put him to
Local fans always
shout "拿伊做脱" (nei yi zu te) in stadiums when the city soccer team
is playing. Though they shout in Shanghai dialect, visitors know
what they mean and fans believe this call for blood can boost the
home team's morale and performance.
The phrase 做脱 (zu
te), when it doesn't target a person or a living creature, is still
used to finishing a job or having something done.
做人家 (zu3
Form and support a family, thrift, frugality
This phrase has
two meanings. When one reads the phrase with an accent on the first
character 做(zu), which is a verb, it means to form and support a
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 121 | Views: 1096
轧三胡 (ga3
Chat, gossip, shoot the breeze
In the late Qing
Dynasty (), there were three celebrities -- businessman, a
painter and a prostitute -- sharing the same surname "Hu" in
Shanghai. Naturally, their names were frequently mentioned in local
gossip. So, later, talking about the three "Hu" or 轧三胡 (ga sei wu)
became a popular term used to describe people gossiping.
That's one of the
several etymological stories about the Shanghainese phrase 轧三胡 (ga
Another story was about a Chinese musical instrument called "二胡" or
a twostringed fiddle. It's difficult to master the skill of playing
"二胡" and someone learning the instrument could produce a lot
of& noise and soon lose interest in it. Irritated
by the strident sound, people tended to ridicule a poor
player& by saying "三胡" (three-stringed fiddle)
instead of "二胡". Later, the term of playing "三胡" or 轧三胡 (ga sei wu)
came to mean chatting idly or shooting the breeze.
In current usage,
轧三胡 (ga sei wu) means to chat, engage in idle conversation or
打朋 (dang3
Joke, poke fun, disturb
Young friends,
particularly male friends, like having a mock fight among
themselves. One may use his knuckle to give a light knock on
another's head and the other may give a kick to another's backside.
As long as it's not overdone, 打朋 (dang bang) or "hitting a friend"
is a game among close friends as
a means to maintain or even deepen their friendship.
Later, the phrase
came to mean making jokes or poking fun among friends, colleagues
or acquaintances.
Today, 打朋 (dang
bang) means exactly the same. But it may also be used to mean being
not serious. For instance, you may hear some Shanghainese say:
"Don't 打朋 (dang bang) and be serious."
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 129 | Views: 1023
A manly man, a brave man, a faithful friend
literally means a "mold" that is used for forming or shaping
things. But in Shanghai parlance, it is often used figuratively to
mean a man who acts chivalrously and upholds justice. It may also
refer to a brave man who doesn't flinch in face of danger or a man
who is loyal to his friends and ready to help them despite
difficulties.
When used alone,
模子 (mu zi) always has a positive connotation. It is used to praise
a man for commendable behavior. For instance, when a man lends a
hand to help someone in dire trouble, despite possible risk to
himself, one may call him a 模子 (mu zi).
However, 模子 (mu
zi) may be used to mean an ordinary person or even a low-life when
it is coupled with various adjectives in the Shanghai dialect. For
example, people may say someone's a 大模子 (du mu zi), which means a
person of a big size, or 小模子 (xiao mu zi), a person of a small
马大嫂 (ma2 da2 sao4)
House chore-doer, a person who does the strenuous work around the
house (especially shopping, cleaning and cooking)
This phrase,
"sister-in-law ma," reads like the name of a common housewife, but
it's homonymous with the three Chinese words "shopping, cleaning
and cooking," typically the main household chores.
In Shanghai
dialect, this term is often used to describe a "house husband" who
is willingly to do a lot of housework to show his love and
consideration for his wife. 马大嫂 (ma da sao) is the paradigm of a
"good Shanghai man," known for domestic skill and extreme concern
for his spouse. So, a "good Shanghai man" or a 马大嫂 (ma da sao)
husband is the dream of every Chinese woman.
Shanghai men sometimes proudly tell others
that they are a 马大嫂 (ma da sao) at home.敲竹杠 (kao1 zo2
Take advantage of someone to
overcharge, fleece, put the lug on, extort
This literally
means "knocking the bamboo tube."
In the old times,
when copper coins were the main currency, people in southern China
used bamboo tubes to store coins. So, instead of a "cash register,"
store clerks put bamboo tubes on the counter to stock coins.
When a mafia
money collector or rascal used a stick to knock the bamboo tube, it
meant he was collecting a "protection fee" or putting the lug on
the shop owner.
Others say the
term 敲竹杠 (kao zo gang) comes from the pidgin English "bamboo chow
chow" used more than 60 years ago. It meant beating or blackmailing
someone while wielding a bamboo walking stick.
Today, it may
mean making someone to pay through the nose or robbing somebody
blind by trickery or coercion.
揩油 (ka1 you2)
Get petty advantages, take liberties with (women)
This literally
means "getting gravy" and describes exploiting an opportunity to
reap some petty gains for free or at the expense of others. Many
people say this is a signature behavior of common Shanghai
urbanites who are very shrewd in business and keen on taking all
possible opportunities for trivial advantages. For instance,
mothers on a bus could hide their kids who exceed the height
restriction to avoid buying a ticket. or, someone might queue up
several times just to get more than one taste of free food sample
at a promotion.
While some
disparage this habit, others say it's a sign of the "smartness" of
Shanghai locals.
In current usage,
the term may also mean taking liberties with women, such as
touching them without their permission. Here, the term 揩油 (ka you)
is a synonym of another Shanghai phrase 吃豆腐 (che do fu), meaning
philandering or taking advantage of a woman.
Make a fuss over a trifle, a highmaintenance person
This term often
describes anyone who is fussy, unreasonable and troublesome. It
commonly refers to someone who kicks up a row, makes things
difficult or points out faults in an antagonistic way.
It can describe
naughty and mischievous children. But it may also apply to
highmaintenance females, either as friends or lovers. For instance,
a Shanghai man might say, "My girlfriend is a very 作 (zo) lady."
This isn't necessarily derogatory and may imply she is lovely in a
high-maintenance manner. Some Shanghai men love high-maintenance
women as long as they don't tear the house down.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 133 | Views: 1147
眼睛打八折
(ngai2 jing1 da1 ba1 ze1)
Discounted eyesight, blind to the obvious
The phrase means
literally "20 percent discount for one's eyes." In current usage,
it is a pejorative often used to scold or deride anyone who fails
to see something obvious, usually due to carelessness. For
instance, if you accidently bump into someone in the street, the
guy might shout, "Are your eyes at 20 percent discount
(眼睛打八折)?"
Actually, when
the phrase was fi rst used in Shanghai parlance, it referred to a
person who wears glasses. If one wears a pair of glasses, they
might be called "four eyes" by Shanghai locals with a half-humorous
tone. In the past, people believed that only those with poor
eyesight would wear glasses. So, when one's eyesight was
particularly bad, people doubled the number of "eyes" and said the
person was "wearing eight eyes."
"Wearing eight
eyes" sounds similar to the phrase 眼睛打八折(ngai jing da ba ze) and
the sense of "discount" in the latter suits very well the thoughts
of business-minded locals. So, next time in this city when you see
someone slipping up due to the fact that he or she misses something
obvious, you may describe the person as one with discounted
(chang1 si1)
Chance, ability, luck
Most people
believe this Shanghainese term comes from the English word
"chance." They share similar pronunciation. It is said that the
term was fi rst used as jargon in playing billiards. For instance,
if you leave the cue ball in a spot that benefi ts your rival, you
probably would say, "Hey buddy, I've given you a good chance."
This kind of cue
sport was once popular among locals and there were numerous
billiard clubs around the city until they gradually closed in the
late 1960s. But the term has survived, although it is rarely used
alone. It often appears in two common phrases "枪势足" (chang si zo)
and "混枪势" (wun chang si). The former suggests "doing extremely
well" because of either one's good ability or good luck. The latter
means "muddling along," "drifting along" or doing one's job in a
perfunctory manner.
轧闹猛 (ga1
nao2 mang1)
Join in the fun, take part in the merriment, add
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 137 | Views: 1111
淘浆糊 (dao3
jiang1 wu1)
Muddle through, muddle along, feign ignorance, fool
Some people say
this Shanghainese colloquialism has an origin involving tailors and
brothels many decades ago, but others believe it comes from local
jargon used at the mahjong table. Anyway, the phrase staged a
strong comeback in the language in the late 1980s and early 1990s
and has since become one of the most widely used phrases in the
Shanghai dialect.
characters in the phrase may translate verbatim as "stir" and
"paste," thus offering an image of stirring something as murky as a
paste or starch.
Many agree the
phrase reflects the mundane thinking of urban dwellers struggling
to survive in the mudsill of society in a megacity like Shanghai.
They can't afford to be ambitious or play the hero. So in many
cases they just have to muddle through a thorny situation, feign
ignorance or fool someone else by blurring the line between right
and wrong.
Today, this
phrase may also be used to describe someone who's making irrelevant
remarks or doing something in a perfunctory manner. For instance,
in order to avoid offending either parties in an argument, one may
refrain from making an unequivocal statement and so he goes off at
a tangent.
撬边 (qiao1
Friendly persuasion, false bid, shill
originally means to sew the hem of a dress. It's not a big job but
it is necessary to complete the garment. Later, it was used to
describe some young women hired by evil merchants to help boost
their shady businesses.
Now it may mean
offering friendly persuasion to help seal a deal. However in many
cases the phrase still has a pejorative connotation. It implies a
false bid or feigned enthusiasm in an attempt to dupe others into
participating in a swindle, or buying a substandard or overpriced
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 137 | Views: 1150
(yang3 jing1 bang1)
Pidgin English, nonstandard, poor imitation
Nearly a century
ago, Yangjingbang (洋泾浜) was a small creek flowing into the Huangpu
River, the main waterway of& Shanghai. The creek
separated the International Settlement and the French Concession.
The French Municipal Council in 1915& decided to
fill in the creek, turning it into a road named Avenue Edward VII.
In 1946, the road was renamed Zhongshan Road E. and today it's
called Yan'an Road E.
After Shanghai
was opened up as a trade port in the mid-1800s, Yangjingbang Creek
became a venue for Chinese and Western merchants to talk business.
Most of them, of course, talked in pidgin: Chinese English or
English Chinese. Later, people called& the
language "Yangjingbang."
Some Yangjingbang
English is still in use today, such as "people mountain, people
sea" and "long& time no see."
Today, people
still use Yangjingbang to mean pidgin English or non-idiomatic use
of a language. But, the term& may also
be& used to refer to an unauthentic or poor
imitation of something. For instance, when a Chinese is awkwardly
handling& forks and& knives in a
Western restaurant, people may say he is acting "Yangjingbang."
放白鸽 (fang4 be3 ge1)
Stand somebody up, empty talk
Shanghai people
call pigeons 白鸽(ba ge) or "white dove." So, this term means
literally "flying a white dove."
past,& "flying a white dove" meant a badger game
or a fraud, particularly in trade. After showing customers the
example of& one's& commodity and
ensuring that the order was prepaid, the seller substituted the
goods with low-quality or fake products. So, the&
real goods remained in the seller's possession.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 144 | Views: 1168
海派 (hei1 pa1)
Shanghai style, Shanghai School
In current usage, this term is used to describe any products,
particularly cultural, produced with distinctive local
characteristics in Shanghai. They include paintings, novels,
operas, plays, fashion and cuisine. Such products all feature an
avant-garde, innovative, liberal or East-Meets-West style. In the
past, however, the term had a derogatory connotation.
It was first introduced in the mid-1800s to describe a school of
artists living in Shanghai region. Under the influence of modern
business and trade, the artists produced paintings and the like
depicting modern and mundane topics. In the 1930s, the term was
used by scholars in the north to criticize the commercialism of
their mainly Shanghai resident southern counterparts.
Many famous writers were involved in vehement debates in the 1930s
regarding the terms of 海派 (hei pa) and 京派 (jing pa) or "Peking
style." The latter was scorned for its close attachment to
bureaucracy and the political capital. In following decades, the
phrase seemed to slip into oblivion in Shanghai parlance but it
made a come-back in the early 1980s. Today it is widely used in a
positive sense, particularly in the eyes of locals.
三脚猫 (se1 ja4 mao1)
Dabbler, Jack of all trades but master of none
Shanghai's answer to a Jack of all trades in the West is a
"three-leg cat" as this colloquial phrase translates literally.
People believe the term originates from the term "三脚猫，" or "treble
hook boat anchor," which was used by small boats plying local
rivers. According to a story about this phrase, a martial arts
performer once used the heavy anchor as a weapon to demonstrate his
Others later tried to do the same, but all failed. So people began
to use "treble hook boat anchor" to describe any amateurish
dabblers in martial arts.
Since the "treble hook boat anchor" shares the same pronunciation
of 三脚猫 (se ja mao) in Shanghai dialect, the "anchor" was later
replaced by "cat," and "hooks" by "legs." Today, locals always use
"three-leg cat" to describe a Jack of all trades but master of
翎子 (ling1 zi)
Hint, lead, suggestion
This term means literally the long bird feathers used to decorate
the helmets of warriors in Chinese operas. The movement of the
feathers can indicate the mood of the actor or can be used to
provide a lead for interaction among performers on the stage.
So today when Shanghainese speakers say "接翎子” (je ling zi) they
mean "take a hint" or "follow a lead." When they say "豁翎子" (huo
ling zi), they mean to "give out a hint." However some people
believe this term comes from the English word "leads" as they share
similar pronunciation and are related in their
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 153 | Views: 1243
吃豆腐 (che1
Philander with or take advantage of (a woman), tease, make fun
Soy bean products are a favorite food of Shanghai locals. So,
eating tofu, as this phrase literally means, is common at dinner
tables. However when it is used figuratively, the phrase means men
taking advantage of, or philandering with, women.
People believe that the term was created by some jealous wives. In
the past, a typical tofu shop was usually a husband-and-wife
business. While the husband busily made tofu out the back, the wife
sold it over the counter in front. If she was young and attractive,
male customers would linger at the counter in an attempt to strike
a conversation with her or crack some off-color jokes. When they
went home, the wives would shout at them: "Why did it take you so
long to buy a bowl of tofu? Were you eating it at the shop?"
Afterwards, the phrase began making its way into Shanghainese
speech and became a popular colloquialism meaning men taking
advantage of women. Today it may also be used among people of the
same gender, especially men, when it describes one teasing, making
fun of, or bullying another.
名堂 (ming3
Name of the game, result, reason, trick
This Shanghai phrase is said to come from the name of a hall used
by ancient emperors to hold meetings, ceremonies and lectures. But
the place was long lost and late comers could not figure out what
it looked like and how it functioned.
So, the term implies something mysterious or inexplicable. For
instance, when people try to find out what's going on in a place,
they're to find out the 名堂 (ming dang) there. It can also be used
to mean achievement or result. So if someone has done no "名堂," he
hasn't accomplished anything remarkable.
When the phrase is used in association with&
reason or trickery, one will find it in sentences such as "there's
a 名堂 (reason) in it," "there's a 名堂 (catch) in his remark," and
"that old man can't learn any new 名堂 (tricks)."
ghost, devil, dude
Some people believe this term is another marriage of an English
word and a Chinese character. They say the first character in the
phrase comes from the English word "cheat" and the second, "佬",
meaning a person.
In the Shanghai dialect, the term is usually used to address
someone in a demeaning or abusive manner. For instance, after an
unpleasant meeting with a person, one may say: "I just saw a 赤佬
(ghost)." People also call naughty or impertinent kids "小赤佬,"
meaning a "little devil."
Among people with close personal ties, the phrase may also be used
as a casual and playful form of greeting.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 171 | Views: 1245
扎台型 (ze1
dei2 ying1)
Seek the limelight, show off, dapper
This phrase comes from the theatrical term台型 (dei ying), meaning
the image and performance of an actor or actress on stage. To win
audiences, actors must pay great attention to their costumes,
movements, gestures and tones during a performance. If some fans
cheer an actor for his work on stage, one may say they help him 扎台型
(ze dei ying), or they help him win acclaim.
In current usage, the phrase means to attract attention and
admiration or to show off in front of others. It may also be used
to describe someone who has dressed up stylishly. For instance, one
may say to a friend who is neatly dressed: "Hey, your dress (or
suit) is very 扎台型 (ze dei ying) today."
To reinforce the belief that many Shanghai colloquialisms are
related to English or other foreign languages, some people claim
that this phrase 台型 (dei ying) is a transliteration of the English
word "dashing."
老鬼 (lao3
Expert, well versed, skillful
In Shanghai dialect, the Chinese character 鬼 (ghost) is pronounced
"ju" instead of "gui" as in Mandarin. So, this term means literally
"old ghost."
In modern usage, the term is used to describe someone who is an
expert in a certain field, particularly good at something or
skillful in handling difficult situations. It usually has a
commendatory connotation.
There is another widely used colloquialism, 老鬼三 (lao ju sei), which
is closely related to the term&老鬼 (lao ju) but has
a different meaning. 老鬼三 (lao ju sei) can be used to mean a wily
guy or any object, especially if it's heavy or bulky.
But when women talk about 老鬼三 (lao ju sei) in private, it means
something totally different. For example, when a lady says "My 老鬼三
(lao ju sei) is here," she means "Aunt Flo is visiting."
一天世界 (yi1
ti1 si4 ga4)
Littered or scattered everywhere, a total mess, all over the
Few people know the origin of this phrase which translates
literally as "one-day world." However it is widely used by Shanghai
dialect speakers to mean something is littered or scattered
everywhere, especially in a disorderly and confused manner. It may
also be used to describe a place in a total mess and where
everything is turned topsy-turvy.
For instance, when a kid has turned the house upside down, you may
say he has thrown the house into 一天世界 (yi ti si ga), or a "one-day
When the phrase is used with the verb to
"laugh," it depicts a scene where either everyone in a group bursts
into loud laughter at the same time or one individual who is
laughing himself or herself into fits.白相 (be2
Play, play with, dally with, dupe,
manipulate
The term comes from a Suzhou colloquial phrase used to describe
children playing around. Now it usually means people playing, doing
something to kill time, or playing with something or someone.
It has also come to mean duping, manipulating or dallying with
someone for one&s own interest or simply for fun. For instance,
Xiao Wang said that his brother was not serious with that girl, he
was just "be xiang"(白相) with her. In this sense, it has a slightly
derogatory connotation. From the same origin, Shanghai locals have
inherited two more popular terms "白相人" (be xiang ning) and "白相罐"
(be xiang gu).
The first adds the character meaning "person"to the original to
denote a person who is good-for-nothing, but a "connoisseur"for
wining, dining, gambling and visiting prostitutes. The second means
toys. Another related colloquialism is "好白相" (hao be xiang) or
"good play"literally. It means cute, cool, or amusing, such as "the
baby is very 好白相" meaning "the baby is quite cute."
洋盘 (yang2
Sucker, dupe, easy target
There are several sources of this Shanghai colloquialism. One is
that it derives from the calculating device, the abacus, used in
stock markets for decades. Abacus in Chinese is called "算盘" or
"calculating board," hence "开盘" (kai bo) meaning "opening
transactions" and "收盘" (se bo) meaning "ending transactions." 洋盘
(yang bo) first meant a beguiling "calculating
board"used& to cheat inexperienced traders. Later,
it became the name for an easy target or victim of
market& subterfuge due to inexperience or
ignorance. Some believe it came from the English
phrase& "young boy," because "young boy" sounds
like the pronunciation of 洋盘 (yang bo). The
Shanghai& expression also has the implication of
greenness and immaturity implicit in the English phrase.
推板 (tei1
Low quality, substandard, indecent, short (of)
Most people believe this term originates from the nomenclature of
boat transport still thriving in the Yangtze River Delta area.
Others, however, argue that it derives from the English phrase "too
bad" as the pronunciations are similar and the meanings
The colloquial term frequently describes something not good or of
substandard quality, or people who are indecent or dishonest.
Also, it can be used to mean "short or short of."For instance, when
someone says "this cable 推板 (tei bei) 5 centimeters," he means the
cable is 5 centimeters too short.&
When someone decides to buy a product in a store and tells his
friend that he 推板 (tei bei) 50 yuan, he means that he is 50 yuan
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 199 | Views: 1404
饭泡粥 (fan4
pao1 zhou1) Rice garrulous, talkative,
The verbatim
translation is "porridge made of soaked rice" and refers to a
favorite breakfast of Shanghai locals.
They usually
recook leftover rice from the previous day by adding water, then
boiling it to get the desired consistency.
Because of the
prolonged bubbling sound of the boiling rice water, people adapted
the term to describe anyone who is garrulous, talkative or
figuratively, it has a slightly derogatory connotation as 饭 (rice),
the first character in it, pronounces similarly to the Chinese
character 烦, or "weary." So, next time someone keeps nagging you
and babbles on and on, you may call him 饭泡粥.
瘪三 (bie1
sei1) Bum, beggar
The term is
believed to derive from another Pidgin English expression widely
used in Shanghai's semi-colonial era more than 60 years ago. It
came from sayings such as "beg sir," "beg say" or "empty cent"
uttered by beggars or tramps wandering the city.
Category:&|&&|&&| Trackbacks: 213 | Views: 1489
I (me), we (us)
Most out-of-towners believe this is the most obvious term of the
Shanghai dialect. It is perhaps partly because of the resonant
pronunciation of "a la," which makes the Shanghai language sound
noisy, and partly because of a widespread egotistic image of
"arrogant" and "snobbish" Shanghainese.
However, many linguists insist that this term did not originate
from Shanghai. Instead, it was imported from Ningbo, a port city in
neighboring Zhejiang Province. The native farmers and fishermen
living in today's Songjiang District area used, and still use, "我伲"
(u ni) to mean "we" or "us."&
The "a la" sound came from the typically loud Ningbo merchants in
the Shanghai markets. At one time, people from Ningbo formed the
largest regional group of business people in the city. Gradually,
people in Shanghai began to use "a la" to mean "I (me)" and "we
(us)." Today, if you use the aboriginal "我伲" (u ni) to mean "we,"
people would immediately say you are a bumpkin. City people all use
"阿拉" (a la) instead.
(mao2 je1 nv3 xu4)
son-in-law to-be
The term means literally "hairy-feet son-in-law" in the Shanghai
dialect. When a young woman brings her fiance to meet her parents
for the first time, the young man is upgraded from a "boyfriend" to
a "hairy-feet son-in-law."&
Some people say the "hairy feet" derives from an ancient story
about a sick young woman and a spellbinding frog with hairy feet.
But in modern usage, "hairy feet" is believed to come from the
Shanghai vernacular "毛手毛脚," or being "clumsy, reckless or
careless." As a callow newcomer in the family, the young man, eager
to make a good impression on his future family, tends to behave in
a clumsy and awkward way.
Typically, a "hairy-feet son-in-law" never forgets to bring
favorite presents to his future in-laws on each visit, volunteer to
do house chores at the new home, and do everything he can to please
the family.
act coquettishly, play the woman, act like a spoiled
This is another signature term of the Shanghai dialect. It is
believed to derive from the English word "dear" and today is often
used for women or children who speak or act in an overly gentle or
endearing way to charm or emotionally trap others.
When it is used in a negative sense, it
usually describes a woman who exploits her feminine wiles to lure a
desired sex partner. But it may also be used to portray those
acting in a pretentious manner. For instance, when one tells a
friend that he is going to pay for their dinner next day to
demonstrate his generosity, the friend retorts: "Don't 发嗲 (fa dia),
I have already picked up the bills for our three previous dinners
together."
Apr 11 十三点 (se2 sei1
已投稿到：
以上网友发言只代表其个人观点，不代表新浪网的观点或立场。