Appendix:Basic Chinese phrases
Here are common phrases in Chinese, a Sinitic language: This includes phrases in Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, and Taiwanese (Hokkien).
Cantonese (Sinitic language) edit
Note: Cantonese is a tonal language. Pronunciations provided below include numbers indicating tone. Tone 1 is high and level/falling; 2 is medium and rising; 3 is medium and level; 4 is low and falling; 5 is low and rising, 6 is low and level. The characters shown are traditional Chinese characters. Pronunciation is given using Jyutping and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). However, non-use of the tones will not hinder comprehension for such simple phrases.
| Translation | Phrase | Jyutping | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantonese: | 廣東話 | gwong2 dung1 waa2 | /kwɔːŋ² tʊŋ¹ wɑː²/ |
| hello | 你好 | nei5 hou2 | /nei⁵ hou²/ |
| good-bye | 再見 | zoi3 gin3 | /tsɔːi³ kiːn³/ |
| bye-bye | 拜拜 | baai1 baai3 | /pɑːi¹ pɑːi³/ |
| please | 唔該 | m4 goi1 | /m̩⁴ kɔːi¹/ |
| thank you (for gifts) | 多謝 | do1 ze3 | /tɔː¹ tsɛː³/ |
| thank you (for services rendered) | 唔該 | m4 goi1 | /m̩⁴ kɔːi¹/ |
| sorry | 對唔住 | deoi3 m4 zyu6 | /dɵy³ m̩⁴ tsyː⁶/ |
| this one | 呢個 | ni1 go3 or nei1 go3 | /niː¹ kɔː³/ or /nei¹ kɔː³/ |
| that one | 嗰個 | go2 go3 | /kɔː² kɔː³/ |
| how much/many? (ask for quantity) | 有幾多個呀 | yau5 gei2 do1 go3 aa3 | /jɐu⁵ kei² tɔː¹ kɔː³ ɑː³/ |
| how much? (ask for amount of money) | 幾多錢呀 | gei2 do1 cin2 aa3 | /kei² tɔː¹ ts̚in² ɑː³/ |
| yes | 係 | hai6 | /hɐi⁶/ |
| no | 唔係 | m4 hai6 | /m̩⁴ hɐi⁶/ |
| correct/right | 啱 | am1 | /aːm¹/ |
| incorrect/wrong | 唔啱 | m4 am1 | /m̩⁴ aːm¹/ |
| I don’t understand | 我唔明 | ngo5 m4 ming4 | /ŋɔː⁵ m̩⁴ mɪŋ⁴/ |
| Where's the washroom (toilet, lavatory)? | 洗手間喺邊度呀？ | sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3 | /sɐi² sɐu² kɑːn¹ hɐi² piːn¹ tou⁶ ɑː³/ |
| Do you speak English? | 你識唔識講英文呀？ | nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 jing1 man2 aa3 | /nei⁵ sɪk¹ m̩⁴ sɪk¹ kɔːŋ² jɪŋ¹ mɐn² ɑː³/ |
Note: Cantonese, like most of the other Chinese languages, does not actually have words for “yes” and “no”. Translations for “yes” and “no” given above actually mean “it is” and “it is not” and can be used for questions asking for confirmation. However, for certain yes/no questions, one would normally respond with the verb or the negation of the verb. For instance, to respond to a question such as “do you want to go?” one would respond with “want” or “not want”.
Mandarin (Sinitic language) edit
Note: Mandarin Chinese is also a tonal language. Tone 1 (e.g. mā) is high and level; 2 (e.g., má) is rising; 3 (e.g., mǎ) is low dipping; 4 (e.g., mà) is falling. For more info, see pinyin. Also note that the first set of characters preceding the slashes are in simplified Chinese characters and the ones following the slashes are in traditional characters. If the simplified- and traditional-character versions of a phrase are identical, only one phrase is shown.
| Translation | Phrase | Pinyin | IPA | Pronunciation | Remarks | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese | 普通話／普通话 (pǔtōnghuà) / 普通话 (pǔtōnghuà) / or 國語／国语 (guóyǔ) / 国语 (guóyǔ) |
(pǔtōnghuà) (guóyǔ) |
[pʰù tʰʊ̋ŋ xwɑ̂] [kwɔ̌ jỳ] |
(poo-toong-hwa) (gwo yu) |
Common speech National language | |
| hello | 你好 (nǐ hǎo) | (níhǎo) | [nǐ xàw] | (knee-how) | You're good | |
| good-bye | 再見／再见 (zàijiàn) / 再见 (zàijiàn) | (zàijiàn) | [tsâj t͡ɕjɛ̂n] | (dzai-jyen) | Meet again,
lit “to the next sighting” | |
| please | 請／请 / 请 | (qǐng) | [t͡ɕʰìŋ] | (cheeng) | ||
| thank you | 謝謝／谢谢 (xièxie) / 谢谢 (xièxie) | (xièxie) | [ɕjɛ̂-ɕjɛ̂] | (shyeh-shyeh) | ||
| that one | 那個／那个 / 那个 | (nàge or nèige) | [nêj ɡə] | (nah guh or nay guh) | See Usage Note 1 | |
| sorry | 對不起／对不起 (duìbùqǐ) / 对不起 (duìbùqǐ) | (duìbuqǐ) | (dway boo chee) | |||
| how much? | 多少 | (duōshǎo) | [twɔ̋ ʂàw] | (dwo shahw) | Many few | |
| English | 英文 (yīngwén) | (Yīngwén) | [jɪ̋ŋ wə̌n] | (ing wen) | ||
| yes | 是 (shì) | (shì) | /ʂɻ̂/ | (sher as in sherpa) | See Usage Note 2 |
[It] is |
| no | 不 | (bù) | [pû] | (boo) | ||
| correct/right | 對／对 (duì) / 对 (duì) | (duì) | (dway) | |||
| incorrect/wrong | 不對／不对 (bùduì) / 不对 (bùduì) | (búduì) | (boo dway) | Tone change occurs | ||
| I don’t understand | 我不明白 or 我不懂 (dǒng) | (wǒ bù míngbai or wǒ bù dǒng) | ||||
| Do you speak English? | 你 (nǐ)會／会說／说英語／英语 (yīngyǔ)嗎／吗？ / 你 (nǐ)会说英语 (yīngyǔ)吗？ | (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?) | ||||
| where's the toilet? | 廁所／厕所 (cèsuǒ)在哪裡／哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 厕所 (cèsuǒ)在哪里 (nǎlǐ) | (cèsuǒ zài nálǐ?) | [tsʰɤ̂ swɔ̀ tsâj nɑ̌ lì] | (tsuh swo dzai nah lee?) | Not the politest, but you'll get your point across! | Bathroom at/in where |
| generic toast | 乾杯／干杯 (gānbēi) / 干杯 (gānbēi) | (gānbēi) | [ka̋n pe̋j] | (gahn bay) | Dry glass/cup |
- The second syllable of “nèige” is actually a generic measure word; it is replaced by the appropriate measure word for the noun it refers to. You may therefore hear a number of different syllables after the initial nèi. In many parts of southern China, nèi is also pronounced nà.
- This actually means “it is” and can only be used in an answer to a question with the verb “to be” (in casual speech, this can be neglected). Languages like Chinese, Irish, Toki Pona, and Welsh do not have words for “yes” or “no”. Instead you repeat the main verb of the question in your answer. Shaking your head in affirmation or negation works as expected, though speakers should ensure they are answering negative questions as literally asked – answering in the negative to “You don’t like him?” would indicate that you do like him.
Shanghainese (Sinitic language) edit
Note: Chinese characters for Shanghainese are not standardized and are provided for reference only. IPA transcription is for the Middle period of modern Shanghainese (中派上海话), pronunciation of those between 20 and 60 years old.
| translation | Wugniu | IPA | Simplified Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghainese (language): | 6zaon-he-ghe-gho | [zɑ̃.ˈhe.ɦe.ɦo] | 上海咸话 |
| Shanghainese (people): | 6zaon-he-gnin | [zɑ̃.ˈhe.ɲiɲ] | 上海人 |
| I | 6wu, 6ngu | [ɦu], [ŋu] | 我 |
| we or I | 7aq-la | [aʔ.la] | 阿拉 |
| he/she | 6yi | [ɦi] | 伊 |
| they | 6yi-la | [ɦi.la] | 伊拉 |
| you (sing.) | 6non | [noŋ] | 侬 |
| you (plural) | 6na | [na] | 人那 |
| hello: | 6non 5hau | [noŋ hɔ] | 侬好 |
| good-bye: | 1tse-we | [ˈtse.ɦue] | 再会 |
| thank you: | 6zhia-zhia 6non | [ʑia.ʑia noŋ] | 谢谢侬 |
| sorry: | 5te-veq-chi | [te.vəʔ.t͡ɕʰi] | 对勿起 |
| but, however: | 6de-zy | [de.zz̩] | 但是 |
| please: | 5chin | [t͡ɕʰɪɲ] | 请 |
| that one: | 1e-tseq, 1i-tseq | [ˈe.tsəʔ], [ˈi.tsəʔ] | 哎只, 伊只 |
| there: | 1e-taq, 1i-taq | [ˈe.təʔ], [ˈi.təʔ] | 哎耷, 伊耷 |
| over there: | 1e-mi-taq, 1i-mi-taq | [ˈe.mi.taʔ], [ˈi.mi.taʔ] | 哎面耷, 伊面耷 |
| here: | 8geq-taq | [ɡəʔ.taʔ] | 搿耷 |
| to have | 6yeu-teq | [ɦiɤ.təʔ] | 有得 |
| to exist, here, present: | 8laq-he | [laʔ.he] | 辣海 |
| now, current: | 6yi-ze | [ɦi.ze] | 现在 |
| what time is it?: | 6yi-ze 5ci-ti-tson | [ɦi.ze t͡ɕi.ti.tsoŋ] | 现在几点钟？ |
| where: | 6gha-li-taq, 5sa-di-faon | [ɦa.li.taʔ], [sa.di.fɑ̃] | 何里耷, 啥地方 |
| what: | 5sa | [sa] | 啥 |
| who: | 5sa-gnin | [sa.ɲiɲ] | 啥人 |
| why: | 6we-sa | [ɦue.sa] | 为啥 |
| when: | 5sa-zen-kuaon | [sa.zəɲ.kuɑ̃] | 啥辰光 |
| how: | 6na-nen, 6na-nen-ka | [na.nəɲ], [na.nəɲ.ka] | 哪能, 哪能介 |
| how much?: | 5ci-di | {[t͡ɕi.di] | 几钿? |
| yes: | 1e | [ˈe] | 哎 |
| no: | 6m, 6veq8-zy, 6m-meq, 6viau | [m̩], [vəʔ.zz̩], [m̩.məʔ], [viɔ] | 呒、勿是、呒没、覅 |
| telephone number: | 6di-gho 6ghau-deu | [di.ɦo ɦɔ.dɤ] | 电话号头 |
| home: | 7oq-li-shian | [oʔ.li.ɕiã] | 屋里向 |
| Come to our house and play. | 5tau 7aq-la 7oq-li-shian 6le 8beq-shian | [tɔ aʔ.la oʔ.li.ɕiã le bəʔ.ɕiã] | 到阿拉屋里向来白相！ |
| Where's the restroom?: | 6da-seu-ke 8laq-laq 6gha-li-taq | [da.sɤ.ke laʔ.laʔ ɦa.li.taʔ] | 汏手间勒勒何里耷? |
| Have you eaten dinner?: | 6ya-ve 7chiq-ku-leq-va | [ɦia.ve t͡ɕʰiɪʔ.ku.ləʔ va] | 夜饭吃过了伐? |
| I don’t know: | 6ngu 6veq8-shiau-teq | [ŋu vəʔ.ɕiɔ.təʔ] | 我勿晓得 |
| Do you speak English?: | 6non 1in-ven 6we-teq 5kaon va | [noŋ ˈin.vəɲ ɦue.təʔ kɑ̃ va] | 侬英文会得讲伐? |
| I love you: | 6ngu 5e 6non | [ŋu e noŋ] | 我爱侬！ |
| I adore you: | 6ngu 5e-moq 6non | [ŋu e.moʔ noŋ] | 我爱慕侬 |
| I like you a lot: | 6ngu 6lau 1huoe-shi 6non gheq | [ŋu ɺlɔ ˈhuø.ɕi noŋ ɦəʔ] | 我老欢喜侬个！ |
| news | 1shin-ven | [ˈɕiɲ.vəɲ] | 新闻 |
| dead | 5shi-theq-leq | [ɕi.tʰəʔ.ləʔ] | 死脱了 |
| alive | 8weq-laq-he | [ɦuəʔ.laʔ.he] | 活辣海 |
Unlike Mandarin, Shanghainese actually has the direct “yes” (eh/ei) similar to English.
Taiwanese (Hokkien, Sinitic language) edit
The Han characters provided below are for reference only. They are not necessarily standard.
| Translation | Characters | Romanization | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Min | 閩南語 | Bân-lâm-gú | |
| Taiwanese | 臺灣話 | Tâi-oân-ōe | |
| Hokkien | 福建話 | Hok-kiàn-ōe | |
| Hello. | 食飽未? | Chia̍h pá--bōe? | (literally, Eaten full yet? Note: This greeting came about at a time when most of Taiwan was in poverty, so to say that one has had enough to eat would be to imply that the person is “doing well”.) |
| Goodbye. | 再會 | chài-hōe | 平安 (pêng-an), literally, Peace, can also be used as a greeting; primarily Christian usage. |
| Please | 拜託 | Pài-thok | |
| Thank you | 勞力 | Ló͘-la̍t | 感謝 (Kám-siā) (literally, "be grateful for, praise") or 感恩 (Kám-ún) is more common in Taiwan. 多謝 (to-siā) is also used. |
| That one | 彼個 | Hit-ê | |
| how much? | 偌濟？ | goā choē? | |
| is | 是 | Sī | |
| not | 毋是 | m̄-sī | (literally, "not is") |
| Sorry | 失禮 | Sit-lé | 對不住 (tuì-put-chū) is also used. |
| Embarrassed! | 歹勢！ | Pháiⁿ-sè! | (often used in response when offered/given something by a host) |
| I don't understand. | 我聽無。 | Goá thiaⁿ bô. | (literally, "I hear not") |
| Where's the bathroom? | 便所佇佗？ | Piān-só͘ tī toh? | (literally "bathroom is where?") |
| Cheers! | 予乾啦！ | Hō͘ ta--lah! | (literally, Let it [the cup/glass] be dry [empty]!) |
| Do you speak English? | 你敢講英語？ | Lí kám kóng Eng-gú? |