# shanghai

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈʃæŋ.haɪ/ · frequency rank #6,734

## Definitions
1. To force or trick someone to go somewhere or do something against their will or interest, particularly
2. To force or trick someone to go somewhere or do something against their will or interest, particularly
3. To force or trick someone to go somewhere or do something against their will or interest, particularly
4. To force or trick someone to go somewhere or do something against their will or interest, particularly
5. To commandeer, hijack, or otherwise (usually wrongfully) appropriate a place or thing.

## Etymology
1871, from the important Chinese port Shanghai, as a verb with reference to the former practice by some shippers on the West Coast of the United States of press-ganging crews for fishing or shipping in the Pacific Ocean.

## Easily confused with
- **Shanahan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanahan-vs-shanghai)

## Common misspellings (12)
`hsanghai`, `sahnghai`, `shagnhai`, `shangahi`, `shangghai`, `shanghhai`, `shanghia`, `shanhgai`, `shannghai`, `shhanghai`, `shnaghai`, `sshanghai`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shanghai