Flowers of Shanghai

Flowers of Shanghai 1998

海上花 hǎishàng huā

At the end of the 19th century, Shanghai is divided into several foreign concessions. In the British concession, a number of luxurious “flower houses” are reserved for the male elite of the city. Since Chinese dignitaries are not allowed to frequent brothels, these establishments are the only ones that these men can visit. They form a self-contained world, with its own rites, traditions and even its own language. The men don’t only visit the houses to frequent the courtesans but also to dine, smoke opium, play mahjong and relax. The women working there are known as the “flowers of Shanghai”.

HSK 1
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4.02 Intermediate

Vocabulary

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要有 要有 yào yǒu to need; to require; must have ∼HSK 1
五十 五十 wǔ shí fifty ∼HSK 1
几岁 幾歲 jǐ suì how old are you? (familiar, or to a child) ∼HSK 1
做出 做出 zuò chū to put out; to issue ∼HSK 1
好话 好話 hǎo huà friendly advice; words spoken on sb's behalf; a good word; kind words; words that sound fine but are not followed up with actions ∼HSK 1
不了 不了 bù le no thanks (used to politely but informally decline) ∼HSK 1
看上 看上 kàn shàng to look upon; to take a fancy to; to fall for ∼HSK 1
哪一个 哪一個 nǎ yī ge which ∼HSK 1
话说 話說 huà shuō It is said that... (at the start of a narrative); to discuss; to recount ∼HSK 1
好朋友 好朋友 hǎo péng you good friend; (slang) a visit from Aunt Flo (menstrual period) ∼HSK 1
小事 小事 xiǎo shì trifle; trivial matter ∼HSK 1
想起来 想起來 xiǎng qi lai to remember; to recall ∼HSK 1
不能 不能 bù néng cannot; must not; should not ∼HSK 1
不一 不一 bù yī to vary; to differ ∼HSK 1
在教 在教 zài jiào to be a believer (in a religion, esp. Islam) ∼HSK 1
要人 要人 yào rén important person ∼HSK 1
一天到晚 一天到晚 yī tiān dào wǎn all day long; the whole day ∼HSK 1
杯子 杯子 bēi zi cup; glass HSK 1
马路 馬路 mǎ lù street; road HSK 1
不大 不大 bù dà not very; not too; not often HSK 1
生病 生病 shēng bìng to fall ill HSK 1
晚饭 晚飯 wǎn fàn evening meal; dinner; supper HSK 1
桌子 桌子 zhuō zi table; desk HSK 1
坐下 坐下 zuò xia to sit down HSK 1
姐 姐 jiě older sister HSK 1
那儿 那兒 nà r there HSK 1
听见 聽見 tīng jiàn to hear HSK 1
上次 上次 shàng cì last time HSK 1
这边 這邊 zhè biān this side; here HSK 1
干什么 幹什麼 gàn shén me what are you doing?; what's he up to? HSK 1
是不是 是不是 shì bù shì is or isn't; yes or no; whether or not HSK 1
这儿 這兒 zhè r here HSK 1
百 百 bǎi hundred; numerous; all kinds of HSK 1
弟弟 弟弟 dì di younger brother HSK 1
那边 那邊 nà bian over there; yonder HSK 1
贵 貴 guì expensive; noble; precious; (honorific) your HSK 1
生气 生氣 shēng qì to get angry; to take offense; angry; vitality; liveliness HSK 1
妹妹 妹妹 mèi mei younger sister; young woman HSK 1
九 九 jiǔ nine; 9 HSK 1
茶 茶 chá tea; tea plant HSK 1
进来 進來 jìn lái to come in HSK 1
帮忙 幫忙 bāng máng to help; to lend a hand; to do a favor; to do a good turn HSK 1
慢 慢 màn slow HSK 1
有时候 有時候 yǒu shí hou sometimes HSK 1
没什么 沒什麼 méi shén me nothing; it doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind HSK 1
进去 進去 jìn qù to go in HSK 1
小姐 小姐 xiǎo jie young lady; miss; (slang) prostitute HSK 1
一半 一半 yī bàn half HSK 1
饭 飯 fàn cooked rice; meal; (loanword) fan; devotee HSK 1
姐姐 姐姐 jiě jie older sister HSK 1