Published December 18, 2025

Learn the Lingo: How to Sound Like an NYU Shanghai Student

Staff Writer

Current Students Residential Life Student Voices

An illustration of a book with the title ”NYU Shanghai Dictionary“ surrounded by text bubbles.

In many ways, starting college is like entering a new culture, one with its own rules, customs, and language. What’s more, at NYU Shanghai, the experience includes an entire dictionary of university-specific lingo. Interested in learning some? NYU Shanghai students Torico Chen and Linda He, both Class of 2027, worked together with NYU Shanghai faculty member Warren Stanislaus to bring these specific phrases to life.

So, how did they choose the terms below? “My inspiration came from vivid moments of campus life,” says Torico, an Interactive Media Arts major. “Working on this project felt like a chance to turn everyday student life into something we can all remember together. That made me feel like I wasn’t just illustrating slang but helping to create a shared memory.” Linda, who is studying Business and Marketing, agrees.

If you want to sound like an NYU Shanghai native, Torico and Linda are here to help.

This story was originally published as a part of NYU Shanghai’s Spotlight series. You can read the full version here.

An illustration of a food vendor at night, making pancakes, while two people wait in line.

Pancake Man / 煎饼果子

(noun) Vendor serving up an iconic snack

This itinerant vendor is both a legend and a mystery. As daytime turns to dusk, his stall appears near the Jingyao Residence Hall, offering affordable street food to the community.

An illustration of a student taking a photo of a cats with their phone.

Princess and Oreo

(noun) Cats on campus

Since opening in spring 2023, NYU Shanghai’s New Bund Campus has been home to a few friendly felines. First came Princess, an affectionate stray who greets students in the quad between classes. Shortly after, Oreo arrived, who sunbathes and welcomes guests at the west entrance. “Princess was the symbol of our campus for a long time. Basically, she really loved interacting with people—and even sleeping on our laps,” explains Jingyi Ma, Class of 2026.

An illustration of a student in an auditorium, holding their hand up and saying,

Squat / 占用

(verb) To occupy and repurpose an entire classroom for oneself

Some students say walking into a room on campus occupied by just one person studying feels awkward. But according to Theodore Tolan, Class of 2026, there’s no use hating on squatters. “If you’re mad, go study in the library,” he says.

An illustration of four students lounging in various chairs, above their heads are ratings on the comfort level of each seat.

DIY Sleep Spot

(noun) Chairs or calm corners on campus repurposed for much-needed naps

NYU Shanghai students push themselves from morning to night. They attend classes, grab meals on the go, squeeze in a workout, and still find time for club activities. So, who can blame them for crashing wherever they can?

Enter DIY sleep spots—makeshift napping stations cobbled together out of sheer desperation and a well-placed backpack. Students find (or create) these unofficial yet absolutely essential sleep spots wherever they can.

A four-panel comic titled “So…you’re learning Chinese at NYUSH?” shows a student going from overwhelmed by beginner Chinese worksheets to confidently using casual real-life phrases like “外卖到了!” (food delivery is here). The tone is humorous, showing the gap between classroom learning and everyday language.

Wài mài dào le! / 外卖到了

(phrase) Literally translates to “the delivery has arrived.” NYU Shanghai students intentionally use this phrase out of context.

For example:
Arriving at a party: Wài mài dào le!
Showing up late to class: Wài mài dào le!
Meeting up with friends: Wài mài dào le!
Graduating from NYU Shanghai: Wài mài dào le!

An illustration of three hands holding plush toys representing NYU’s global campuses: a bunny, a camel, and a qilin, the NYU Shanghai mascot.

Study Away Cousins

(noun) Visiting NYU students from the New York City and Abu Dhabi campuses

“We’re study away cousins—we come from different backgrounds, but we’re from the same Violet family,” says Roman O’Brien, Class of 2027. Indeed, Roman coined the term “study away cousins” to reflect a unique feeling on campus among students. In other words, “When study away students come over, it’s like your cousin is coming over. We may be from different houses, different places, different parents, but we are related. So, we all have something in common. And in our case, it’s NYU.”

An illustration of a hand turning off a ringing phone alarm, with the screen showing multiple alarms set in 5-minute intervals.

815s / 早八

(noun) That unfortunately early class

The first class period of the day begins at 8:15 a.m.—a daunting hour for some students. As a result, “These 815s will be the end of me!” is something you’ll often hear a few weeks into the semester, as the optimism of early-morning productivity gives way to the reality of snooze buttons.

An illustration of a person standing outside at night eating street food under a bright sign with Chinese characters. Two text messages float above them: one reads “Wdym ur at 🟢?” and the reply simply says “k.”

Green Store / 绿牌子

(noun) The popular late-night skewers joint across from Jingyao Residence Hall

This term reflects a broader NYU Shanghai student culture of color-coding shops to identify and communicate across languages. Around campus, students can often be found at “green,” “red,” “yellow,” “blue,” and other color-coded spots. “I love the green store,” enthuses Bonnie Chang, Class of 2028. “They have the best skewers and clay pot rice.”

A illustration of a student singing, eating and reading

H&K

(abbreviation) Hot pot and karaoke—how NYU Shanghai students celebrate finishing their exams

A more recent addition to campus traditions, the post-exam H&K is quickly becoming a hallmark of NYU Shanghai’s cultural fusion. It blends relaxation and revelry, exam stress melting away amid the heat of bubbling hot pot and the kinetic energy of KTV (that’s “Karaoke Television,” if you didn’t know).

Vivian Zhang and Savanna Lee, both Class of 2028, say that with all the stress of their course load, it’s important to find ways to unwind with friends. “H&K is our hack to maintain a mentally healthy college experience,” says Zhang. “We get to dump all the stress out from finals and exams by singing karaoke and enjoying hotpot!”