Chang-hai

A form of shanghai — To force or trick someone to go somewhere or do something against their will or interest, particularly

Meanings

proper noun
  1. alternativeobsoleteAlternative form of Shanghai
    3 more examples

    Silk ſtuffs, lacquer-ware, ink, paper, and, in general, every thing that comes from Nan-king, as well as from the other cities of the province, are much more eſteemed, and fetch a higher price, than thoſe brought from the neighbouring provinces. In the village of Chang-hai alone, and the villages dependent on it, there are reckoned to be more than 200,000 weavers of common cotton cloths.

    1788, “The Province of Kiang-nan”, in A General Description of China, volume I, →OCLC, page 29

    Chang-hai, town of China, in the province of Kiang-nan. In this town, and the villages dependent on it, are more than 200,000 weavers of common cotton cloth. This city is situated on the south or right side of the Blue river, near its mouth, N. lat. 33 30, long. 12 121 E. of London. By English writers, it is now named Shang-hae, and described as an immense mart of foreign and domestic trade. It is one of those laid open to foreign commerce by a recent treaty between China and Great Britain. Distant about 60 ms. below Nankin.

    1843, William Darby, “Chang-hai”, in Darby's Universal Geographical Dictionary, 3rd edition, Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, →OCLC, page 207, column 2

    Nankin was put in a state of defence, and levies were made from every town in Kian-nan and Kiang-si; but with what effect may be judged of from the fact that the consular city of Chang-hai, or Shanghai, with a population of 200,000, only furnished a contingent of 100 regular soldiers and 100 volunteers.

    1853, “The Chinese Revolution”, in William Harrison Ainsworth, editor, The New Monthly Magazine, volume 99, London: Chapman and Hall, page 190

Origin

A French-derived romanization of the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation for 上海 (Shànghǎi).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Chang-hai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chang-hai

MLA

“Chang-hai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chang-hai. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Chang-hai,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chang-hai.

Source: Chang-hai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.