Blossoms Shanghai

Has anyone read this novel?

I'm trying to decide whether I will be able to read this with a good understanding of written Chinese (spoken Mandarin).

I know it's written in Shanghainese, but I have heard there is a lot of overlap between written Shanghainese and written standard Chinese. Not sure if anyone knows what % would be comprehensible without any specific knowledge of Shanghainese.

Thanks!

Is it written in a Romanization of Shanghainese?  Written in traditional characters?  Simplified characters?

Each has its challenges. 

I thought spoken Chinese languages were just different pronunciations of the same characters. 

Shanghainese is pretty much Ningbonese from 100 years ago, anyway. 

As an aside, did the thread about reading books as a group just peter out eventually? Is there any interest in any others around the upper intermediate level mutually reading a set book again?

On 12/15/2025 at 11:20 PM, vellocet said:

Is it written in a Romanization of Shanghainese?  Written in traditional characters?  Simplified characters?

It is written in simplified characters, and it was on the China bestseller list for a few weeks so I assume some mandarin-only speakers are reading it I'm just not sure how difficult it would be without explicit knowledge of Shanghainese.

On 12/15/2025 at 11:20 PM, vellocet said:

I thought spoken Chinese languages were just different pronunciations of the same characters. 

.

Initially, I thought so too. But I think the way some characters are used is unique to Shanghainese.

On 12/15/2025 at 11:31 PM, Singe said:

Is there any interest in any others around the upper intermediate level mutually reading a set book again?

Depending on the book, I would be interested in this!

On 12/16/2025 at 8:31 PM, Singe said:

Is there any interest in any others around the upper intermediate level mutually reading a set book again?

keen - always looking for suggestions - do you have any??

On 12/17/2025 at 2:44 PM, matteo said:

keen - always looking for suggestions - do you have any??

Great to hear from you @matteo! You still in NZ?

I was hoping one or two of the more experienced posters might suggest something - even if they don't plan to join in themselves.

On 12/15/2025 at 8:38 PM, dakonglong said:

I'm trying to decide whether I will be able to read this with a good understanding of written Chinese (spoken Mandarin).

 

I know it's written in Shanghainese, but I have heard there is a lot of overlap between written Shanghainese and written standard Chinese.

I don't know this specific novel and I don't know more than two words of Shanghainese, but given all that: any chance you can find the first few pages (online, perhaps) and try how easy/hard it is for you?

On 12/16/2025 at 8:20 AM, vellocet said:

I thought spoken Chinese languages were just different pronunciations of the same characters.

I used to think that too but it's really not the case. Each fangyan has its own grammar, some specific vocabulary, its own third person pronoun... All Chinese fangyan are related and knowing one form of Chinese is very helpful in learning others, but it is still learning a new language. Knowing Spanish doesn't get you all the way to Italian or Portuguese.

@Singe The "What are you reading" thread is still going strong. There hasn't been a Book of the Month/Year/Whenever for a while now, so feel welcome to start a new one!

Would there be an appetite for 活着 by 余华?