If you’re lucky enough to be in China for Chinese New Year, there’s a great opportunity to travel during the 10 day break, and get to know a little more of the county other than Shanghai center. Students who come to study Chinese in Shanghai will have this time off, and many people who work in the city will also be given the holiday. Though very much an a key feature of Chinese culture, Spring Festival provides an essential break to many Chinese workers and a chance to eat drink and be merry (吃喝玩乐chīhēwánlè). Though whilst some of these celebratory actions go on in public, namely copious amounts of fireworks and firecrackers, the majority of the time celebration takes place behind closed doors, thus I’d say this period of time has alternating waves of noise and silence as shops and some restaurants close, and people share quality family time together.

So rather than sit around and wait for the Chinese people to celebrate the start of the next lunar calendar, why not take the opportunity of a break to get to know another city or two? For those of you who aren’t keen to brave a long train journey all the way to Yunnan or some of China’s further reaches, there are plenty of options to consider closer to home.

One nearby destination that is ideal for people to visit when they come to Shanghai to learn Chinese is Hangzhou. Renowned for its lake and temples, this city is significantly smaller than Shanghai, and only 40 minutes away by high-speed train. This is the perfect place to get away to for a few days around the holiday period; great scenery, tourist attractions and interesting local Zhejiang culture combine together to give you and experience that you won’t forget.

Aside from Hangzhou and its Westlake, another popular choice is Suzhou, which is to the north of Shanghai. Described as the Venice of China, Suzhou is a mass of interlocking canal roads and bridges, and the pace of life and culture there is a world away from Shanghai. In fact, Chinese people say the sky has heaven, but earth has Hangzhou and Suzhou or 上有天堂，下有苏杭(shàngyǒutiāntáng,xiàyǒusūháng) in Chinese. Not sure to what extent I would agree with this statement, but the truth remains that during your busy schedule studying Mandarin Chinese in Shanghai, a trip to either of these two destinations is a little slice of heaven.

Changzhou is also in a great spot close to Shanghai to relax with its hot springs and amusement park, so don’t overlook this choice for a destination if you have already visited the Suzhou and Hangzhou on your time here. Hotels are cheap, there are some great restaurants in town, and it’s a guaranteed chill-out trip for all.

So there are some suggestions for those of you who come to Shanghai to study Chinese, and are looking for some interesting ways to pass the Spring Festival holiday. If you have any questions about other destinations to visit, feel free to ask any of our teachers, we’ll be sure to help. And watch out for our next installment which will detail far off places within China which are good to visit around this time of year. We’re closed over the holiday period, but come by before or after if you have any queries about life in Shanghai, learning Chinese in Shanghai near the Jing An area or anything else related to studying Mandarin Chinese in China. We look forward to hearing from you.

This, however, is where life in China becomes significantly more complicated than having the comfort of a student visa, and all the free time that goes with it. For those who come to China without the benefit packages and support that a European company might offer, the bureaucracy and errands to run just to make sure you’re not going to get kicked out at the drop of a hat and with a hefty fine to boot seems endless. That’s Mandarin Shanghai team has drawn up some points of interest for those who come to China to study Chinese, and who decide they want a little more out of life in this city.

Visas

One of the first details one needs to prioritize should staying in the country be your goal is visas. Student (X), business (F), working (Z), and travelling (L) visas are the most common, and each has its own requirements and stipulations for approval. Some require a trip to Hong Kong to organize, and all, when expired, incur a fee of 500 Yuan per day which is unavoidable, and a painful blow should you ever suffer it. My advice is firstly to register at your local police station as soon as possible after entering the country. The Registration Form of Temporary Residence is necessary for all visa procedures, so get this step out of the way ASAP. It’s easy enough to ask for advice at one of Shanghai’s Public Security Bureaus, one being located on Gubei Road (Puxi) and the other close to Shanghai’s Science and Technology Museum should you not be clear on any point. This advice is from the source and free, cutting out visa agencies who act as an expensive middle man in the process. Inform yourself of expiry dates, extension options whilst in Shanghai and any conditions for your stay in China or visa applications and check online for any adjustments to visas and the application process as requirements are constantly changed.

Employment

If you’re looking to find a job in Shanghai when you’re already here, it’s often a bumpy ride to begin with. Average starting salaries often being well below that of home countries, it’s a difficult initial struggle to balance financial support, putting one’s all into the new job, and finding opportunities for advancement in your role. Many English speakers have the option of teaching English whilst still looking for another form of employment should this not be one’s ultimate career of choice. Whilst I would encourage individuals to take advantage of this opportunity to gain some invaluable work experience (whilst at the same time getting to know Chinese culture and people), be warned that if you’re going to do it, exert the necessary effort and dedication required for the role. It’s a quick way to make money here, so just make sure you’re giving your student value for money with the classes that you prepare. One thing is for sure is that you will significantly increase your employment options if you are able to speak Mandarin Chinese in this city. There are a wealth of opportunities for Mandarin speakers in Shanghai. For those who branch away from teaching, a good place to start looking is in classifieds sections of some of Shanghai’s most popular websites, such

as settling.net, smartshanghai.com, cityweekend.com, thatsshanghai.com.

Putting down roots

In China, where the intricacies of culture and society are unseen to the eye, it’s a good idea to acquire some local knowledge from somewhere first. Having local friends is a real help at certain times, if you’re looking to stay here for any extended period of time. More to the point, the turnover of westerners in Shanghai is high, and you might find your close knit group of friends scattered across the globe six months down the line. Putting down roots and meeting locals is the only way to really feel integrated into a city, and Shanghai is no exception. Aside from this, for those who can speak Chinese or who are learning Chinese in Shanghai, this is a great opportunity to really perfect on what you have learned in the classroom, and use your Mandarin skills in a day to day environment whilst living in Shanghai, whilst inevitably increasing fluency and accuracy in the language.

These are just a few starting points of advice for people who decide to make the transition between coming to Shanghai to study Chinese, and finding a job and employment and putting down roots in China. If you have any questions concerning this such as finding out how to extend you visa and so on, please contact us at one of our 3 That’s Mandarin campuses in both Shanghai and Beijing (Jing’an Chinese School, Dongzhimen Chinese School or Wudaokou Chinese School), with your questions about anything we have discussed or any issues related to learning Chinese in Shanghai and the Jing An area. We look forward to hearing from you!

For those of you who aren’t sent to Shanghai with an expert salary, generous living allowance and all the other financial benefits that life as an ex-pat here brings, you may realize just how ridiculously easy it is to spend money in Shanghai. For many who come to Shanghai to study Chinese, you’ll have already shelled out a fair sum on flights, accommodation and so on. So how can you get the most out of a city and have a great time without breaking the bank and avoid the premium you pay for consuming like a westerner in Shanghai. Here’s a short guide to reducing unnecessary outgoings in Shanghai from That’s Mandarin.

1. Taxis are faster: Urban myth.

Yes, maybe taxis take you 300 meters closer to your final destination in Shanghai, but if you’re a streetwise Laowai, you’ll realize the merits of taking public transport over taking a taxi. Most of us are sensible enough to choose accommodation close enough to a metro stop. Fewer, but still a fair amount of Laowai opt for buses, which are significantly cheaper than taxis, and filter out into many different areas that the metro may not reach. Though traipsing down to your local metro station, buying a ticket, checking your bag and waiting for a couple of minutes may at times seem like the world’s greatest chore, it will certainly pay dividends to your pockets. Metros are efficient, prompt and although overcrowded at rush hour, frequent enough to get you there in time. So it’s basically a choice between being pushed for space in the metro or paying to sit in a taxi that’s moving nowhere at rush hour. What’s more, for student’s learning Chinese at the Jin An campus of That’s Mandarin, Jing An metro station is only a 5-10 minute walk away from the school, and many buses stop of Jiaozhou Road outside the school, so getting public transport to our school is easy.

2. You are what you eat

This is either a fool for paying over the odds for some distinctly average western food, or a wise man for eating some fantastic local food for a fraction of the price. There’s a whole world of street food to be discovered and prices generally range from between 2 to 10 RMB, depending on what you choose to eat. If you are living in Shanghai as a student or even working here, it’s wise to check out some of the local eateries rather than always dropping into a western style café. Always cheaper and invariably more generous on portion sizes, this is great for sparing a few Yuan whilst eating healthily.

3. Ladies nights

Want to party on the cheap? How does partying for free sound? There’s a whole host of ladies nights on in town on various nights of the week that between certain hours allow ladies to drink for free. Perfect for students learning Mandarin Chinese in Shanghai, who are undoubtedly more likely to have a lower budget than the investment banker sent here from New York. I’d imagine such a distribution of free alcohol would cause great debauchery and havoc in England, but in fact, some pretty classy venues have ladies nights in Shanghai. Take for example, ladies night with free flow Champagne and live music in the Jin Mao tower in Pudong, or one of the most popular in Brown Sugar, a bar in Xin Tian Di with a great in house live band.

4. Free or cheap tourist attractions

For all you art or history buffs who embark on your journey to learn Chinese in Shanghai, you’ll be spoilt rotten for choice on what museum or gallery to visit after a morning packed with learning Chinese. Chinese contemporary and modern art scene is flourishing, with galleries dotted around the city that are more often than not for free. One of my favorites is Mogan Shan Lu, where you can freely wander in and out of the various in-house artists workshops, whilst getting a real taste for modern Chinese culture and tastes. Some evening events are also held in some of these unique creative art spaces, often with a free glass of alcohol or two for attendees and a whole host of eye catching art. If it’s history you are into, check out Shanghai Museum located right next to People’s Square and again entrance is free. There’s also Shanghai History Museum in the basement of the Oriental Pearl Tower, right next to Lujiazui metro station amongst many others. Admission for this is 35 Yuan, but this is still relatively cheap.

5. Kill your mid-week restlessness

Having friends over to watch a DVD is a good way to kill some mid-week blues for those full time workers, or if you’re schedule is a little more flexible as a student in Shanghai, you might want to take a night off from the parties, kick back and watch a good film. DVDs are sold everywhere in the city, and with some of the latest cinema releases available, who needs to go and spend 200 on a cinema ticket? If you’re a learning Mandarin Chinese in Shanghai, one bit of friendly advice is to get watching some Chinese films to help practice your speaking and listening skills. If you really want to practice your Chinese, a good method is to watch a short extract of a film or TV series, and try and describe in your own words how it unfolds. Though simply watching a film, even with English subtitles, will have some benefit to your language learning.

6. Eat fresh, eat cheap

So eating in various western restaurants seems overpriced when all you want is a simple salad. Or maybe you’re just tired of eating out night after night. If you’ve been here long enough to go grocery shopping, you’ll have noticed that you pay a steep premium for imported produce. Even the most basic of things have their prices skewed to unrecognizable heights. Try to avoid City Shop where possible as it’s often a rip off. If it’s fruit a veg that you’re after, try a local market near your house. Always cheaper and invariably choicer, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re lucky enough to live around the former French Concession area, you’ll probably have heard the urban legend of “The Avacado Lady”. Not a myth, it’s essentially a small fruit and vegetable stall that sells other western products at a fraction of the price that they are sold at in most chain super-markets, it’s worth stopping off if you plan to cook at home.

So there you have it, a rough guide to not paying over the odds for maintaining some of your cultural norms, entertainment and general day to day life in Shanghai as a student here. If you have any queries about anything discussed, or you’d like to get more of an insider’s look on the prices that you should be paying for certain things, our teachers would be happy to point you in the right direction. And if you have any other questions related to studying Chinese at any of our That’s Mandarin schools in Shanghai, or Beijing (Jing’an Chinese School, Dongzhimen Chinese School or Wudaokou Chinese School), please feel free to get in touch anytime with your questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

When a Chinese man downs a drink, in many cases there are deep ramifications in terms of his social status, his dignity and how he is esteemed as a man. Customs vary depending on the occasion, however one of the main purposes of the activity is often to show respect to a host or a friend, and avoid losing face.

On the History of Drinking Alcohol

Indulgency in drinking was frowned upon in the past. The Confucius moral guidelines on drinking alcohol taught that it should only be consumed in a group as a way paying respect to the gods. Alcohol was to be reserved for paying esteem to the Gods, showing respect to elders and entertaining guests. This certainly differs from modern day China as many who come to Shanghai or Beijing to study Mandarin may have seen. Drinking is heavily related to doing business, and it’s generally understood that he who abstains from drinking will find it very hard to build up a business network and be respected by his peers in business circles.

Social Rank

One’s social status is (or was at least) telling of when and how they should consume alcohol. Both the drinker and the host should kneel facing each other as a sign of respect. He who is younger should kneel first to show respect to the elder generation. The younger of the two drinking companions would only be permitted to drink when the elder had finished his first cup.

Often in the situation of guest-invitee, the host firsts pours the guest a drink and this this returned by the guest. The host may give a short speech on a topical issue, or wish some good words towards those present. Not drinking when invited is seen as disrespectful to host, and potentially 丢脸 (losing face) for each party.

There’s a Time, and a Place

Special occasions call for a certain type of alcohol to be consumed. To give an example, the alcohol consumed on New Year’s Day is typically made from rice as well as several other components of some Chinese medicine such as the roots of Balloon Flower and Feng-Feng. It is considered beneficial to a long and healthy life, and drinkers may consume it alone or in the company of others.

Now one weird and wonderful story behind alcohol consumption at weddings is the idea stemming from the story “Daughter’s Rice Alcoholic Drink”. Thich originates from the south of China. As the story goes, a family would start to brew a certain type of rice wine when their daughter reached the age of seven, once brewed would store it under a pond, only to be consumed on the day of their daughter’s marriage. There’s certainly some deep rooted culture behind this custom, which I myself don’t fully understand the significance of.

劝酒- Urging others to “down it”

If you’ve been for a meal with Chinese friends who are lovers of the odd alcoholic beverage, you might have found yourself in a situation where you’re cheeks are flush and you’re vision is no longer 20:20, and yet they’re shouting 干杯(), or “cheers!” at you, which is essentially like chanting “bottoms up”. Urging others to drink is certainly a huge part of the culture. Again the concept behind this is he who refuses someone else’s request for his to drink will have a difficult time trying to refuse, as they are dishonoring the person who made the request as well as defiling their own personal dignity or 人品(rénpǐn). In fact in Chinese there exists the word 酒品(jiǔpǐn), which is the idea that the amount one can drink is a reflection of his dignity as man.

If you’d like to know more about the ins and outs of the traditions of getting squiffy in China, feel free to ask our teachers or if you have any other question related to studying Chinese or Chinese culture, get in touch with us by email or simply drop by one of our 3 That’s Mandarin schools, (Jing’an Chinese School, Dongzhimen Chinese School or Wudaokou Chinese School) today. Please feel free to get in touch anytime with your questions about studying Chinese!

The first thing to mention is that Chinese celebrate New Year not so long after our Christmas, and thus the idea of feasting and giving presents as a form of winter escapism is not entirely alien to Chinese people. So naturally in and around Shanghai there are a number of great and lesser winter activities to get involved in to help you get though these dark and chilly months.

The List:

1. 1. It’s not Christmas without a Christmas market.

On the 21^st of December, a Christmas market will be held in the former French concession with music, beverages, food and much more. Without doubt you can undertake the old tradition of mulled wine whilst perusing the stalls, which is the perfect lead-up to the big weekend. Should you be unfortunate to have no spare time next Wednesday, you can get yourself a cup of the good stuff throughout the whole winter period in 田子坊(tian zi fang).

1. 2. The city’s Christmas trees.

Potentially as weird as they are wonderful, we can’t knock the stores and shopping malls of Shanghai for trying to bring some Christmas cheer to our shopping experience. Although there are some unmistakable flops when it comes to what is deemed a western ideal of Christmas, certain shopping malls around the city center have gone above and beyond their duty in terms of décor. Grand Gateway’s Christmas center-piece is just inside the mall as you come up from the metro is definitely impressive, albeit a slightly bling-cbling interpretation of Christmas.

1. 3. Costume time

Though costume and Christmas are more synonymous with a boozy festive work’s night out in England, the Chinese shop workers are at times surprisingly ready to embrace getting dressed up as Santa or some other Christmas character. Some variations on Santa that myself and some friends witnessed in Hooter’s last night were, let’s put it, very imaginative. One outfit was the first combination of Santa and geisha that I’ve ever come across.

1. 4. Ice skating in Hongkou

One favored winter tradition is not to be missed out on in Shanghai. For those who’re free in the afternoon after a morning packed with Chinese, why not head over to Hongkou Swimming pool, where annually their outdoor pool is turned into an outdoor ice rink, the address of which is 444 Dongjiangwan Lu, (东江湾路444号).

1. 5. Winter warmers- the spectrum of winter beverages

As with every year, Starbucks has a range of winter warmers to pick you up on a long commute home or as a break from the arduous task of shopping outside. Starbucks staff will speak to you both in English and Chinese, so whilst the beginner can be sure to get just what they want, the more advanced student can acquire a whole new lexical set and one that directly related to western culture. I did initially misbelieve that their marketing campaign this year “Let’s Merry” was a bad translation from Chinese, but apparently this is not exclusive to China. Never mind… For those who are less than willing to spend more on a cup of coffee than on their lunch, the chain Coco Milk Tea offers a range of reasonably priced hot teas, coffees, milk teas and so on. My personal favorite is currently Jasmine milk tea. More local and independednt coffee shops are sure to be offering their own versions of starbucks mass produced cup of Christmas, so head to the French concession for perhaps a more authentic cup of joe.

1. 6. Skiing in Minghang

Didn’t know skiing was an option in Shanghai？Neither did I until this week. But I’ve heard rumours of an indoor skiing center in Minghang district, so for the slope-lovers among you this is a perfect way to chill out at the weekend. You can find out about it more on their website : http://www.yinqixing.com/english.htm

1. 7. Winter snacks

For the gourmand amongst us, and I include myself in this bracket, one of the highlights of winter is primarily food. Let us first consider the Chinese snacks on offer. One of my favorites is the waffle like cakes that care griddled right under your very eyes on the streets of Shanghai. My Chinese is lacking as for the name of these heavenly mini-cakes, however they’re at large at the minute, and not to be missed out on. There are a range of other winter foodstuffs that are consumed around this time in Shanghai. It’s a season for soup, so be sure to try some of these out.

1. 8. Christmas dinner

If it’s an actual Christmas dinner you’re after there are a range of destinations offering set meals for westerners who don’t head home at this time of year. All kind of Christmas fair is available, some Japanese restaurants even doing Christmas Specials, though I warn get booked early to avoid disappointment, and a trip to your local 拉面(lamian) house on Christmas Eve.

If you want to find out more about winter activities in Shanghai, or you’re interested in studying Chinese in China and coming to see what else Beijing and Shanghai have to offer for those studying Mandarin, then sign up for a free trial class in one of our 3 That’s Mandarin Chinese schools (Jing’an Chinese School, Dongzhimen Chinese School or Wudaokou Chinese School) on our website today. Please feel free to get in touch anytime with your questions about studying Chinese!

Once you get the hang of these monosyllabic grunts, you’ll be using them without a second thought. And although many are similar to the kind of outburst you may make in English, or any other language, there nonetheless distinct differences that one should take heed of.

Because exclamations are often expressed by an undefined sound, the mouth radical, or “口(kǒu)”, invariably appears at the left hand side of the particle to express the idea that this word is a sound made with the mouth.

To start at the easier side of the scale, one of the first exclamatives you may learn, which is used for laughing is “哈(hā)”, and may be repeated multiple times to express the idea of giggling or laughing at something. This is, as you may have noticed, entirely the same as the way we express laughter in English in text messages, when chatting online and so on. Another particle that is often used to express a string of laughter is “可(kě, kè)”, which is more often used to express a chuckle.

Now to the other end of the spectrum, and how to express anger or discontent. There are a variety of noises that you can make in Chinese if you’re wishing to express that you’re far from happy about something. Starting with “吓 (hè)” which is a fast, precise sound to express anger, for example, “吓，气死我了! (hè qìsǐ wǒ le!)” or “Huh, I’m so angry”, in English. The character “叽(jī)” is also used as a sigh of disapproval, whilst “怒(nu)” is used to express anger, similar to “grr” in English. Should you wish to express doubt, or disagreement with another person, Chinese people may use “呸(pēi)”, which is similar to saying “bullshit” in English, and is used in response to what you deem to be an unlikely statement.

Now, exclamative particles are often used to express surprise or shock, an uncontrolled outburst. So how can you express such an emotion in in Chinese? These are probably some of the most common that come you will come across when studying Chinese. “哇(wā)” is a character similar to “wow”, and is often used as an expression for wonder or awe. An interjection of surprise similar to that of “what?” in English is “哎(éi)”, and could be used in a sentence such as “哎，他被开了吗?” which would translate as “What? He was fired?”. “呀(yā)”is a general exclamation of surprise, whilst “唉(āi)”is reserved for surprise or pain, and can sometimes be used in a similar setting to “alas”.

There exist many more besides those cited here, and if you come to study Chinese in Shanghai, or Beijing, you will no doubt come across more. If you want to master them, our teachers here at That’s Mandarin would be more than happy to enlighten you on the differences between ha, hè, wā, pēi, éi, and many more. Or if you have any other questions related to studying Chinese, or life in Shanghai or Beijing, don’t hesitate to call us or drop us an email!

Whatever the situation, being able to speak Chinese in Shanghai will invariably change the outcome of events. So what difference does it make to your life in China if you speak Chinese? It may seem pretty counter-current at home, and will certainly set you out from the crowd, but what about the change to your life in China.

Let’s start with the most basic of human needs- eating. Now, there’s a significant number of Westerners in China who stick to eating western food. Indeed, Shanghai does boast a number of fantastic western restaurants. Not only western but South American, Middle Eastern, Japanese and so on…the list is endless. However, just imagine the culinary doors that would be opened should you know how to order Chinese food, rather than sticking to the generic ‘宫保鸡丁’ （gōng bǎo jī ding- Kung Pow Chicken） or ‘番茄炒蛋’ (fānqiéchǎodàn- Scrambled egg and tomato). I’m sure many of us are guilty of this, and even though I speak Chinese I do at times struggle with trying different things since the names of Chinese dishes are never-ending. This element of speaking Chinese I certainly don’t feel that I have mastered, and when I go for meals with Chinese friends I can’t help but wonder how much better I would eat should I have their local knowledge. In addition, should you be averse to much chili or any other kind of seasoning, being able to explain this to the waitress is a clear advantage.

Another obvious situation where speaking some Chinese would render life significantly easier in Shanghai would be when bargaining down prices of clothes or electronics in many of Shanghai’s markets. Only recently was I shopping with a Chinese friend for clothes and when he came to try and reduce the price with the vendor, he was told that Chinese people are always given the lowest price, and unaware of the fact that I can speak Chinese then went on to say that was I the one buying, he would have started a lot higher. Being able to 还价 (huánjià- bargain the price) in  Chinese immediately gives you more credibility as a customer, and without doubt increases your probability of a lower price.

When it comes to the perhaps more important aspects of living in Shanghai, it would be worth your while to study some Mandarin specific to renting an apartment. This can be a complicated and lengthy process, and is often carried out from start to finish in Mandarin. Often you’re at a significant disadvantage if you’re unable to discuss the conditions of your rental contract with the landlord or estate agent, or further down the line when you encounter a problem in your apartment, this is much quicker resolved if you have Chinese that allows you to describe the problem in at least some detail.

Continuing on the macro level, a significant lifestyle change that can come with an acquired knowledge of at least intermediate Chinese is the kind of job you have. The range of jobs on offer in China is instantly broadened to the Mandarin speaker, and often despite the fact that many a Chinese person may speak English, what companies are looking for is often a native English speaker, French speaker, German, Portuguese, Spanish or otherwise. In such an economic climate, you’d do yourself a great favor if you are flexible enough to work in more than one language, and with China being the emerging super-power that it is, it’s a logical place to start. Not not only is it advantageous in Asia, but more and more employers in the Europe, America and beyond are looking to recruit individuals with Mandarin skills.

Other benefits and advantages of speaking Chinese are quite obvious. In a city where a significant minority are not Chinese, you could increase friend or, if you’re single, your partner potential, and it’s also a fantastic way to find out about culture and popular opinions in a modern, still developing China.

If you’re interested in studying Chinese in China and coming to see what else Beijing and Shanghai have to offer for those studying Mandarin, then sign up for a free trial class in one of our 3 That’s Mandarin Chinese schools (Jing’an Chinese School, Dongzhimen Chinese School or Wudaokou Chinese School) on our website today. Please feel free to get in touch anytime with your questions about studying Chinese!

'Jiong'- a popular character on Chinese social networking sites

If you find your opportunities to use Chinese to speak are limited, or you’re simply too short of time to meet with Chinese friends, you may feel you’re unable to make any real progress with your speaking. It’s no secret for any language learner that speaking to people in your daily life, and absorbing and regurgitating vocab and grammar structures from a textbook are two very different ball games. Often, people lose confidence when it comes to speaking to locals because they don’t have such a generous margin of error that completing textbook exercises allows you.

So, you might be wondering where is a good way to get quick exposure to daily Chinese when you don’t have the opportunity to use it in an informal context. One means of communication whose vast majority of content is that of spoken Chinese, but which is mostly in written form is that of the exchanges on social networking sites.

A relatively new phenomenon to Asia, and the world as a whole, this means of communication is a direct way for people to say what they are thinking at that moment in time, or have an informal conversation with friends. If you’re looking to keep on top of new spoken Chinese vocabulary or current popular topics of conversation, I’d advise that it’s worth trying out some of the popular sites that many Mandarin speakers use, such as QQ, 人人网(rénrén wǎng) or  微博(wēibó). Aside from spoken Chinese, you will also inevitably come across a large amount of an internet language that has been developed by Chinese “Netizens”, or 网民(wǎngmín) as a side effect of the phenomenon.

Of the most common modern colloquial Chinese phrases in use both in daily life and on the internet, the first that springs to mind is 拜拜 (bàibài), which is evidently taken from the English “bye bye”. In fact, you’ll find that this isn’t just popular amongst the younger generation of Chinese people, as many older people use this too.

There are so many similar sounds in Chinese, and as a result, the opportunity for word play is endless. For example, because the Chinese blogging site 微博(wēibó), which is not too dissimilar to Twitter, as a similar phonetic to 围脖(wéibó), which means scarf. Thus the popular way to say that you’re going to check your 微博 is to say that you’re going to put on your scarf, or 织围脖(zhīwéibó).

Some of the lesser common Chinese characters or traditional characters have been brought back into popular usage in the online setting. Take, for example, the character ‘囧’(jiǒng), which is currently used to express being shocked, surprised or stupefied since it looks like any of these facial expressions. I’ve also seen in used in contexts where it’s used to show embarrassment or perhaps the equivalent of ‘cringe’ in English, whilst originally the character was used to mean ‘window’ or ‘sacrificial place’.

Another common phenomenon in the realm of online communication in China is to use lettering as abbreviations for either Chinese of English words, for example to use ‘BF’ or ‘GF’ instead of ‘男朋友(nánpéngyou)- boyfriend, or ‘女朋友(nǚ péngyǒu)- girlfiend’.

These are just a few quick examples of the kind of vocabulary that you might come across when browsing such websites, though the list is endless and ever-growing. As you will be aware from sights such as Facebook and Twitter in the west, the language used on these platforms is informal and generally simple, whilst at the same time remaining innovative. New expressions cross over into daily life almost seamlessly, and the same can be said for China. One interesting point however is the growing influence of English throughout the world on the internet, and though not always used in the correct context, it’s interesting to see how this is taken on and used in a different context, offering a slightly different meaning for its new users. I was told by a Chinese friend that Chinese Netizens will use the word English ‘faint’ to describe if they feel shocked at something. I’ve never come across this in English so there’s obviously a bit of a Chinglish influence in there.

If you yourself are a keen internet user, why not combine it with your study of Chinese? Our teachers at That’s Mandarin will be more than happy to explain the etymology of any words that you come across, and after class is finished you can practice or learn more of this online language at your own leisure!

For a Western business to break into the Chinese Market, it’s essential to find a cracking Chinese name to market under. A company would be mistaken to think that they could reach the Chinese masses without thinking up a translation for their brand or product. Even giants such as Coca Cola have undergone the process, turning the seemingly meaningless ‘Coca Cola’ into its Chinese version, 可口可乐(kěkǒukělè)- yes, a mouthful to say. Or a ‘tasty mouthful’ as it would probably read if you were to translate it back into English. I did read somewhere on the internet that the first translation that Coca Cola ran under in China meant something along the lines of a wax-stuffed female frog. A suffering blow when they found this out no doubt. The more refined current translation seems rather more fitting I’m sure most would agree.

The fun doesn’t stop there though. Despite being several years into studying Chinese, this remains a source of much entertainment for me. As it must be for all foreigners who bank with 花旗银(Star Spangled Banner Bank), or Citibank as it’s best known to you and I. I’m not sure about you, but personally I’d be dubious to deposit anything more than a Mao into a bank that had ‘Star Spangled’ anywhere in its title.

Things became quite literal for Nestle in China, and rather than a phonetic translation of the name, the Chinese that was chosen for this brand name is 雀巢(Quècháo). There’s no chance that I’d know this was the same brand. Until maybe it were translated back into English would I then bridge the gap between “Nestle” and the Chinese meaning for “Quècháo” which quite comically is “Sparrows Nest”.

Other examples to cite quickly are perhaps 奔驰(bēnchí) which is the Chinese name for the Brand Mercedes Benz, and which quite appropriately means “speed”, and 耐克(nài kè) which Nike runs under in China, which means “enduring and persevering”; two successful and meaningful translations into Chinese. It is indeed quite an art form and can certainly contribute to a brands success in the Chinese market. For those studying Chinese, coming across these and further examples is inevitable, and one lesson to be learned is how meaningful Chinese language is. I couldn’t dream of a foreign company having to market under a meaningful translation of their brand name specific to the British market.

So if you ever find you’re not able to make yourself understood when trying to buy a western brand in China, it may be worth your while looking up the pinyin of its Chinese translation. Often very similar, it’s not rocket science, but with tones in the mix you might just make life easier on yourself if you pick a few of these up.

If you’re keen to learn a few useful to you, our teachers would be happy to explain Chinese pronunciation of brand names and their meanings as well as any other questions related to studying Chinese and life in China. If you live in China or abroad and would like to become more competent in everyday life situations, why not sign up to one of our free trial classes at any of our three campuses in Beijing or Shanghai, or if you simply have a question about studying Chinese, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If when you come to study Chinese in Shanghai, you believe yourself to be one of the first westerners to set forth in this jungle, you’d be mistaken, as the history of westerners in Shanghai stretches back around 200 years.

An old map of the French Concession

Though referred to as the French Concession, the area has in fact known a multicultural influence over the time. Anglophone merchants chose the area around the former ‘Rue de Petain’ (currently referred to as 衡山路, Hengshan Road) as a place to set up home during the area’s expansion in the 1920s after the Russian Revolution the number Russians in the area reached approximately 8000 during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1934.

What makes the French Concession stand out from any other area of Shanghai? Well, one defining feature recognized by all is the famous leafy roadside tree, known either as the “London Plane” or “French Plane”. Casting uneven patches of light along the well shaded boulevards of the French Concession, this is one aspect that really sets the area apart.

For the most part of the 20^th century, this was the main residential and shopping area of the city, and was the heart of Catholicism in Shanghai. Today the area is home to many clothing boutiques, cafés, great restaurants and several of Shanghai’s inner city parks. It’s a popular weekend wind-down destination, and there are now many bars and clubs scattered around this area (primarily on Hengshan Road) that bring the streets to life in the evening.

Today many still enjoy the area as a destination for shopping and dining, and indeed there still remain some of the traditional houses and residences from back in the heydays, though heavy de-development saw scores of houses and properties in the area torn down. In spite of this it retains its distinct character, and its lazy tree lined streets come as a stark contrast to the neon lined bustling streets of other districts of Shanghai.

I can easily make the sweeping generalization that everybody who comes to Shanghai would find it hard to resist the temptation and sultry charm of this area that stretches from the Xuhui district to the Luwan district of the city. For students who study Chinese at That’s Mandarin, Shanghai, the French Concession lies a walkable distance from the school, so its a great place to head to if you’re looking to review your work after a lesson over a coffee.