Chinese for Living Blog Category: Cities

how to say rent in Chinese

How to say rent in Chinese? 房租 fáng zū

With twelve years in China, an HSK5 certification, and an Intercultural Studies background, I help people navigate real-life Chinese situations. Today, we’re covering a word every expat and traveler needs when settling in: how to say rent in Chinese. Whether you’re signing a lease in Shanghai, negotiating monthly payments in Beijing, or just comparing prices […]

how to say customs in Chinese

How to say customs in Chinese? 海关 hǎi guān

With twelve years in China, an HSK5 certification, and an Intercultural Studies background, I help people navigate real-life Chinese situations. Today, we’re tackling a word every traveler needs: how to say customs in Chinese. Whether you’re arriving at Beijing Capital Airport, crossing at the Shenzhen border, or shipping goods internationally, knowing how to talk about […]

how to say macau in chinese

How to say Macau in Chinese? 澳门 ào mén

Macau has a specific name in Chinese that doesn’t look much like its English spelling. So how to say Macau in Chinese? Macau is written as 澳門 in traditional characters or 澳门 in simplified characters, and it’s pronounced “ào mén” in Mandarin. The name combines two characters that mean “bay” and “gate,” nodding to the […]

How to say Shanghai in Chinese? 上海 shàng hǎi

How to say Shanghai in Chinese? 上海 shàng hǎi

Shanghai stands out as one of China’s most famous cities, though plenty of people aren’t sure how to say its name in Chinese. The formal way for how to say Shanghai in Chinese is “上海” (shàng hǎi), pronounced with focus on the second syllable “hǎi” and using the fourth tone on “shàng.” This pronunciation is […]

How to say Wuhan in Chinese? 武汉 wǔ hàn

How to say Wuhan in Chinese? 武汉 wǔ hàn

Wuhan is a huge city in China, and a lot of folks worldwide have at least heard of it, probably for infamous reasons. But honestly, saying its name right can trip up non-native speakers. The standard Mandarin pronunciation of how to say Wuhan in Chinese is “Woo-hahn” (written as wǔ hàn in pinyin). The first […]

How to say Beijing in Chinese? 北京 běi jīng

How to say Beijing in Chinese? 北京 běi jīng

Beijing is one of the world’s most famous cities. Still, a lot of people outside China aren’t sure how to say its name correctly in Chinese. The standard way for how to say Beijing in Chinese is “北京” (běi jīng). This combines the character “北” (běi), meaning “north,” with “京” (jīng), meaning “capital.” This pronunciation […]

How to say Singapore in Chinese? 新加坡 xīn jiā pō

How to say Singapore in Chinese? 新加坡 xīn jiā pō

Singapore has a few names in Chinese, and which one you’ll hear depends a bit on formality and region. The most common and widely recognized name for how to say Singapore in Chinese is 新加坡 (xīn jiā pō), which pops up in both formal and casual settings across all Chinese-speaking regions. Chinese speakers sometimes use […]

How to say Hong Kong in Chinese? 香港 xiāng gǎng

How to say Hong Kong in Chinese? 香港 xiāng gǎng

Hong Kong’s Chinese name carries a lot of cultural weight, and most English speakers never really get to know it. The way for how to say Hong Kong in Chinese is 香港 (xiāng gǎng), which means “Fragrant Harbor” a nod to the city’s old role as a main supply chain trading port. This name comes […]