Dictionary

shanzhai en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ʃɑːnˈd͡ʒaɪ/

Etymology

First use appears c. 2000s, from the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin 山寨 (shānzhài), literally mountain fort, suggesting a lair of bandits or counterfeiters.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The imitation and trademark infringing of brands and goods of usually poor quality, particularly electronics made in China.
   • Many “shanzhai” goods sport altered names, trying to tread a fine line between imitation and straight-out fake, and cost much less than their above-board, well-known brand-name equivalents.[…] The brazenness of the imitations has added to their attraction. Beijing’s electronics markets enjoy a roaring trade in “shanzhai” goods. 2009 February 6, Tyra Dempster, Ben Blanchard, “"Sham glam" sweeps China as fakes get trendy”, in Miral Fahmy, editor, Reuters, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2023, Lifestyle:

Relateds

zhing-zhong

Translations (36)

ru подделка (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · eo falsado (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · pt xing ling (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · pt pirataria (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ar مَضْرُوبٌ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · af nabootsing (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ja 偽物 (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · af seerowery (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ko 불법 복제 (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · af vervalsing (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · es piratería (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ja 山塞 (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · de Piraterie (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · pt falsificação (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · tl pandarambong (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · es falsificación (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · tl huwad (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ja パチモノ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · vi sự giả mạo (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ja パチモン (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · de Fälschung (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ru пиратство (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ru фальсификация (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · vi nghề ăn cướp (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ar تَقْلِيدٌ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ar بِضَاعَةٌ مَغْشُوشَةٌ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · cmn 山寨 (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · eo piratado (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · hi चीन माल (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ar بِضَاعَةُ تَقْلِيدٍ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · tl imitasyon (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ko 위조 (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · ar مُقَلَّدٌ (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · hi चाइना माल (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · eo falsigita (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods) · tl palsipikasyon (imitation and trademark infringing brands and goods)