Chinese (Mandarin)/Common Phrases

Chinese languages

Chinese, Cantonese (Sinitic)

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. For more info, see Standard Cantonese. The characters shown are Traditional Chinese characters. Pronunciation is given using Jyutping and 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	/a:m1/
incorrect/wrong	唔啱	m4 am1	/m̩4 a:m1/
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”.

Chinese, Mandarin (Sinitic)

Note || Mandarin Chinese is 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. 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	国语 / 國語or 普通话 / 普通話	(Guóyǔ) (Pǔtōnghuà)	[kwɔ̌ jỳ] [pʰù tʰʊ̋ŋ xwɑ̂] || (gwo yu) (poo-toong-hwa) || National language Common speech
hello	你好	(ní hǎo)	[nǐ xàw]	(knee-how)	You're good
good-bye	再见 / 再見	(zàijiàn)	[tsâj ʨjɛ̂n]	(dzai-jyen)	Meet again, lit “to the next sighting”
please	请 / 請	(qǐng)	[ʨʰìŋ]	(cheeng)
thank you	谢谢 / 謝謝	(xièxie)	[ɕjɛ̂-ɕjɛ̂]	(shyeh-shyeh)
good morning	早安	(zǎo'ān)
good night	晚安	(wǎn'ān)
good luck	（祝你）好运 / （祝你)好運	((zhù nǐ) hǎoyùn)
that one	那个 / 那個	(nèige)	[nêj kə]	(nay guh)	See Usage Note 1
sorry	对不起 / 對不起	(duìbuqǐ)		(dway boo chee)
no problem	没关系 / 沒關係	(méiguānxì)		(may gwan shee)
how much?	多少	(duōshǎo)	[twɔ̋ ʂàw]	(dwo shahw)	Many few
English	英文	(Yīngwén)	[jɪ̋ŋ wə̌n]	(ing wen)
Can you speak English?	你会说英文吗 / 你會說英文嗎	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?
yes	是	('shì)	/ʂɻ̂/	(sher as in sherpa)	See Usage Note 2	[It] is
no	不	(bù)	[pû]	(boo)
where's the toilet?	厕所在哪里 / 廁所在哪裏	(cèsuǒ zài nǎli?)	[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	干杯 / 乾杯	(gānbēi)	[ka̋n pe̋j]	(gahn bay)		Dry glass/cup

1. 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.
2. 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.

Chinese, Shanghainese (Sinitic)

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	Northern Wu	Lumazi	IPA	Simplified Chinese
Shanghainese (language):	Zanheghaewo	Zanheireiwo	[zɑ̃.'he.ɦɛ.ɦʊ]	上海咸话
Shanghainese (people):	Zanhegnin	Zanheinin	[zɑ̃.'he.ɲɪɲ]	上海人
I	ghoo, gnou	wo, ngu	[ɦʊ], [ŋu]	我
we or I	álá	aelae	[ɐˑ.lɐʔ]	阿拉
he/she	ji	yi	[ɦi]	伊
they	jila	yila	[ɦi.la]	伊拉
you (sing.)	non	non	[noŋ]	侬
you (plural)	na	na	[na]	人那
hello:	non ho	non ho	[noŋ hɔ]	侬好
good-bye:	tsewe	tzeiwei	[ˈtse.ɦue]	再会
thank you:	ziaja non	zhaya non	[ʑ̻ia.ja noŋ]	谢谢侬
sorry:	tevéchi	teivechi	[te.vəˑ.ʨʰi]	对勿起
but, however:	daezu, daezu ne	deizi, deizi nei	[dɛ.zɿ], [dɛ.zɿ.ne]	但是, 但是呢
please:	tshin	chin	[ʨʰɪɲ]	请
that one:	etsá, itsá	eitzae, itzae	[ˈe.tsɐʔ], [i.tsɐʔ]	哎只, 伊只
there:	etá, itá	eitae, itae	[ˈe.tɐʔ], [i.tɐʔ]	哎耷, 伊耷
over there:	emitá, imitá	eimitae, imitae	[ˈe.mi.tɐʔ], [i.mi.tɐʔ]	哎米耷, 伊米耷
here:	gétá	getae	[gəˑ.tɐʔ]	搿耷
to have	jeuté	youte	[ɦiɤɯ.təʔ]	有得
to exist, here, present:	láhe	laehei	[lɐˑ.he]	辣海
now, current:	jieze	yizei	[ɦi.ze]	现在
what time is it?:	jieze citie tson?	yizei citi tzon?	[ɦi.ze ʨi.ti 'tsoŋ]	现在几点钟？
where:	ghalitá, sadifan	ralitae, sadifan	[ɦa.ɺi.tɐʔ], [sa.di.fɑ̃]	何里耷, 啥地方
what:	sa	sa	[sa]	啥
who:	sagnin	sanin	[sa.ɲɪɲ]	啥人
why:	wesa	weisa	[ɦue.sa]	为啥
when:	sazencuan	sazenkuan	[sa.zəɲ.kuɑ̃]	啥辰光
how:	nanen, nana, nanenca	nanen, nana, nanenka	[na.nəɲ], [na.na], [na.nəɲ.ka]	哪能, 哪哪, 哪能家
how much?:	cidie a?	cidi a?	[ʨi.di 'a]	几钿啊?
yes:	eh	ei	[ˈe]	哎
no:	m, vézu, mmé, vio	m, vezi, mme, vio	[m̩], [vəˑ.zɿ], [m̩məʔ], [viɔ]	呒、勿是、呒没
telephone number:	diewo ghodeu	diwo rodou	[di.ɦʊ ɦɔ.dɤɯ]	电话号头
home:	ólihian	oelishan	[oˑ.ɺi.ɕiã]	屋里向
Come to our house and play.	to álá ólihian le bésian.	to aelae oelishan lei beshan.	[tɔ ɐˑ.lɐʔ oˑ.ɺi.ɕiɑ̃ le bəˑ.ɕiã]	到阿拉屋里向来孛相（白相）！
Where's the restroom?:	daseucae lélá ghalitá?	dasoukei lelae ralitae?	[da.sɤɯ.kɛ ɺəˑ.ɺɐʔ ɦa.ɺi.tɐʔ]	汏手间勒勒何里耷?
Have you eaten dinner?:	javae chícoulé va?	yavei chiekule va?	[ɦia.vɛ ʨʰɪˑ.ku.ləʔ va]	夜饭吃过了伐?
I don’t know:	ghoo véhioté.	wo veshote.	[ɦʊ vəˑ.ɕiɔ.təʔ]	我勿晓得
Do you speak English?:	non Inven weté can va?	non Inven weite kan va?	[noŋ ˈɪn.vəɲ ɦue.təʔ kã va]	侬英文会得讲伐?
I love you:	ghoo e non!	wo ei non.	[ɦʊ e noŋ]	我爱侬！
I adore you:	ghoo emó non.	wo eimoe non.	[ɦʊ e.moʔ noŋ]	我爱慕侬
I like you a lot:	ghoo lo huoehi non ghé!	wo lo hueushi non re.	[ɦʊ ɺɔ ˈhuø.ɕi noŋ ɦəʔ]	我老欢喜侬个！
news	sinven	shinven	[ɕɪɲ.vəɲ]	新闻
dead	sithélé	shithele	[ɕi.tʰəˑ.ləʔ]	死脱了
alive	wéláhe	welaehei	[ɦuəˑ.lɐˑ.he]	活辣海

Unlike Mandarin, Shanghainese actually has the direct “yes” (eh/ei) similar to English.

Chinese, Min Nan / Taiwanese (Sinitic)

The Han characters provided below are for reference only. They are not necessarily standard.

Translation	Characters	Romanization	Remarks
Min Nan	閩南語	Bân-lâm-gú
Taiwanese	臺灣話	Tâi-oân-oē
Hokkien	福建話	Hok-kiàn-oē
Hello.	食飽未?	Chia̍h pá boeh?	(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.	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	Ló·-la̍t	感謝 (Kám-siā) (literally, "be grateful for, praise") or 感恩 (Kám-ún) is more common in Taiwan.
That one	彼個	Hit-ê
how much?	若濟?	goā choē?
is	是	Sī
not	唔是	m̄-sī	(literally, "not is")
Sorry	失禮	Sit-le
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?	便所佇叨?	Piān-só· tī toh?	(literally "bathroom is where?")
Cheers!	呼乾啦!	Hō· ta lah!	(literally, Let it [the cup/glass] be dry [empty]!)
Do you speak English?	你咁講英語?	Lí kám kóng Eng-gú?