魔都

Chinese

		devil	metropolis; capital city; all metropolis; capital city; all; both (if two things are involved); entirely; even; already
trad. (魔都)		魔	都
simp. #(魔都)		魔	都

Etymology

Originated from Shōfu Muramatsu's novel Mato (“魔都”, 1924). Its title was a reference to Shanghai, which was then prosperous but plagued by vices and crimes. This term was repopularized in China circa 2000.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): Módū

  (Zhuyin): ㄇㄛˊ ㄉㄨ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Módū
    • Zhuyin: ㄇㄛˊ ㄉㄨ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Módu
    • Wade–Giles: Mo²-tu¹
    • Yale: Mwó-dū
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Modu
    • Palladius: Моду (Modu)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mu̯ɔ³⁵ tu⁵⁵/

Proper noun

魔都

1. (neologism, slang) derogatory name for Shanghai: a major port city and direct-administered municipality of China

See also

• 帝都 (dìdū, “Beijing”)
• 妖都 (Yāodū, “Guangzhou”)