Shanghainese, also known as the Shanghai dialect, is a variety of Wu Chinese spoken in the city of Shanghai and its surrounding regions. It is one of the many varieties of Chinese, which are part of the larger Sino-Tibetan language family. Shanghainese is mutually unintelligible with Mandarin, the official standard variety of Chinese, and has distinct phonological, lexical, and grammatical features.

In daily life, Shanghainese is commonly used in informal and local settings, such as within families and communities. However, Mandarin is the dominant language in formal education, government, and the media. Shanghainese has faced challenges due to the increasing influence of Mandarin and government policies promoting the use of Mandarin in public spaces.

Efforts have been made by cultural enthusiasts and linguists to preserve and promote Shanghainese. Some initiatives include incorporating Shanghainese into local cultural events, publications, and language preservation programs. Despite these efforts, the language continues to face challenges from the broader trend of language standardisation and the dominance of Mandarin in various spheres of public life.