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Posts: 7

Governor

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Q: Is it necessary to be able to speak Wu dialects when living in Shanghai/Hangzhou/Ningbo/Wenzhou?

 I can speak Mandarin Chinese but is it sufficient enough lets say in Wenzhou where Wenzhouhua is primarily spoken? I want to move to China to teach English and besides that improve in Mandarin Chinese so I would appreciate talking in pudonghua. I know it is widely used at schools but do people speak Mandarin in streets in the cities mentioned above, offices etc.?
Thanks for comments:)

12 years 18 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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I live in Hangzhou and practically no one under forty speaks the pure Wu anymore (except maybe country folk). And when they speak Mandarinized Wu, they often codeswitch in and out of Mandarin, and that's just talking with friends. In most situations they just use pure Mandarin (or maybe with an accent, but there's no part of China that doesn't have some kind of a accent). Plus, Zhejiang and Shanghai being such important business centres, there are lots of people from other parts of China anyways, so there's tons of Mandarin all over the place.

elmila:

I haven't been to Hangzhou, miss a chance to experience people there. But I knew people from Zhejiang replace special consonants in speech. This was not that hard to get used to when listening to them. Anyway thank you for your comment : )

12 years 17 weeks ago
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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
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Posts: 2604

Shifu

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All you need to know how to speak is Mandarin. Unless you go to Hong Kong you need to learn Cantonese. I learned that the first time I came here.

mattaya:

I gave you a thumbs up since this is your first post. Some people can be rude here but I like to show my generosity and I appreciate your question. I had the same type of questions when I first came to China. I didn't know the differences between languages and I did not know what people spoke. I learned all you need to learn how to speak is Mandarin in the mainland of China and you will be fine.

12 years 18 weeks ago
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elmila:

Thank you for your consideration. I agree with you that Mandarin is the basic package. I had difficulties speaking Mandarin in Hongkong. Hongkongers immediately switched to English in conversation. For instance, I have heard the rumours that it is hard to comprehend Shanghai locals unless you speak their dialect.

12 years 17 weeks ago
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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
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Putonghua is the official language of all of China, and thus, everyone basically knows it. Whether they choose to speak it all the time where you are - that's a different story! So, yes, you will be able to communicate easily enough.

One problem you will need to get through will be differences in pronunciation - but there should be standard deviations... ie, if it's an 'x' changing to a 's' sound, it should be throughout... so easy enough to adapt to.

The real difference is going to come down to bargaining (and the occasional restaurant). if you're not speaking the local dialect, you can expect a) higher prices when in markets and stalls, and b) the occasional misunderstanding. (take a local with you to the markets... but, separate. Find what you like, get a price... have your friend ask for the same thing later - see the price difference... go back later together, buy at the local price - and laugh uproariously at how you 'cheated' the stall-holder by getting a 'fair' price!)

But, given my language skills are poor (at best), you'll be fine! Smile

(BTW -

Shanghai is expensive and although fairly multi-cultural, looks down on non-Shanghaiese;  Wenzhou has a lot of money.. but no class or excitement; Hangzhou is pretty cool... money, life, entertainment, etc (little pricey, close to stuff, good expat community if you want it - including quite a few learning Chinese); Ningbo is supposed to be pretty good as well (never been there...).

Remember - LOOK ON THE ESL FORUMS BEFORE SIGNING A CONTRACT!!! Ask questions, get answers! People get seriously scammed here because they didn't do their research before coming!!!

elmila:

The reason why I asked is because I have experienced difficulties in several parts in China. Even in Xian where they say the Chinese speak very clearly. Often, despite pronouncing clearly and making effort to speak proper intonated Mandarin Chinese, I was misled by locals who did not understand or they did not even try to understand ... I appreciate your tips and advice : ) You mentioned scam offers. Off course I first look before leap.

12 years 17 weeks ago
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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1932

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I live in Hangzhou and practically no one under forty speaks the pure Wu anymore (except maybe country folk). And when they speak Mandarinized Wu, they often codeswitch in and out of Mandarin, and that's just talking with friends. In most situations they just use pure Mandarin (or maybe with an accent, but there's no part of China that doesn't have some kind of a accent). Plus, Zhejiang and Shanghai being such important business centres, there are lots of people from other parts of China anyways, so there's tons of Mandarin all over the place.

elmila:

I haven't been to Hangzhou, miss a chance to experience people there. But I knew people from Zhejiang replace special consonants in speech. This was not that hard to get used to when listening to them. Anyway thank you for your comment : )

12 years 17 weeks ago
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12 years 18 weeks ago
 
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I live in a third tier city, and you could survive here with just Mandarin. All the younger generations have learned it at school, so it shouldn't be a problem.

elmila:

Thank you for your comment : ) I want to survive but just in case I decide to stay in China longer than expected I want to make my survival pleasant and not frustrated by being lost in translation.

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Posts: 277

Shifu

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I live in Yixing and you never hear mandarin here. Everyone speaks Yixinghua (a Wu dialect). Even the teachers speak it to each other, my girlfriend spoke it to her friends. I know a little Chinese but this was completely unintelligible.

 

Young people here do know mandarin, but they don't speak it to each other and I haven't learned mandarin as quickly because of this.

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11 years 51 weeks ago
 
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