Chinese

In the following table, as well as the original Chinese, the English and the sounds of the
words using the English alphabet, you will also find a column headed ‘Pinyin’. Pinyin is
the official transcription of Chinese, which is taught in Chinese schools, and which is
necessary to be able to type Chinese characters on a computer keyboard. With the right
software configuration, you print ‘pinyin’ in, e.g. chá (tea) and get Chinese out: ކ. Isn’t
technology wonderful!

English Sounds Pinyin Chinese

I

woa

wŏ

ᆸ

would like

siang yao

xiăng yào

ሯገ

coffee ka

fey

kā fēi

ఋ़

with chia

jiā

ଝ

milk nio-nai

niú

năi

฻ฆ

I’d like a coffee with milk

woa siang yao ka fey chia nio nai

wŏ xiăng yào kā fēi jiā niú năi

ᆸሯገఋ़ଝ฻ฆ

and her

hé

ਜ਼

sugar tung

táng

ჱ

tea/bad

*

cha

a

chá

ކ

bad cha-

a

Very good

herng hao

hĕn hăo

੪ੑ

beer

pee jio

pí jiŭ

ທௌ

water shwey

shuĭ

ၺ

wind and water

feng shwey

fēng shuĭ

ज़ၺ

Please give me …

(t)ching gay woa…

qĭng gĕi wŏ...

༿৊ᆸ...

please (t)ching

qĭng

༿!

give gay

gĕi

৊!

me woa

wŏ

ᆸ

thank you

shieh shieh

xiè

xie

ቝቝ

In a restaurant situation , ‘A water please’ is a request for us, but not in
Chinese. You have to tell the waiter what to do, i.e. : ‘Please give me…’

Be careful with the intonation.* Tone up at the end
means ‘tea’, but down means ‘bad’.

2. To order

to order

djien

diăn

࢛

drinks ying

liao

yĭn liào

ፙ೯

wine

poo tao jioe

pú táo jiŭ

໅჻ௌ

red

hong

hóng

੺!

white bai

bái

ڹ

a bottle

ee ping

yī píng

ጙີ

a glass of

ee bay

yī bēi

ጙۭ

Cheers! gan

bay

gān bēi

ছۭƽ

bread

mee’en bao

miàn bāo

ෂ۞

a little

ee see-eh

yī xiē

ጙቋ

Don’t mention it.

buh cur chee

bù kè qì

ݙఱ໮

Very very good.

feh chung hao

fēi cháng hăo

ऻޟੑ

3. Have you got…?

Have you got a table for
two?

you

ni / ni’ing

nĭ / nín

ฝ Nj ิ

have got

yoh

yŏu

ᎌ

seats zuor

way

zuò

wèi

ᔬᆡ

for 2 persons

are ren der

èr rén de

औཽࡼ

for 3 persons

san ren der

sān rén

de

ྯཽࡼ

? ma

ma

൮!

!

sorry

dway buh chee

duì bù

qĭ

࣪ݙ໦

no

may yoh

méi yŏu / bù

඗ᎌ Nj ݙ

Yes, of course.

shou duh, dung ran

shì de, dāng rán

ဵࡼLjࡩ཭

You would like…?

ni’ing siung yao?

nín xiăng yào?

ิሯገǛ

what

sher mer

shén me

ဠඐ

to drink

huur

hē

੖

to eat

chrr

chī

ߐ

fried noodles

chow mi en

chăo miàn

ްෂ

a fork

ee bah cha tsuh

chā zi

ބᔇ

Enjoy your meal!

way coh how

wèi kŏu hăo

ᆞాੑƽ

Are you satisfied(?)

ni’ing man ee (ma?)

nín măn yì (ma?)

ิ൸ፀ ( ൮Ǜ)

satisfied man

ee

măn yì

൸ፀ

You satisfied(?)

ni’ing man ee (ma?) nín

măn yì (ma?)

ิ൸ፀ ( ൮Ǜ)

the bill

jiang dan

zhàng dān

ᑂ࡝

I can - use - a card (?)

woa nen – yung - car (ma?)

wŏ néng - yòng - kă (ma?)

ᆸభጲ፿ఌ ( ൮Ǜ)

Can (i.e. Yes, you can)

nen

néng

ถ

You literally say: You got two person’s seats?

As we say‚ a cup of tea, the Chinese say ‘one of fork’ for ‘a fork’

What would you like to drink? is expressed as:
You would like to drink what?

‘Ma’ at the end, turns a statement into a question.

4. Please go …airport

please (t)ching

qĭng

༿!

go choo

qù

བྷ

center jung-sing

zhōng xīn

ᒦቦ

city center

shuh jung-sing

shì zhōng xīn

ှᒦቦ

airport dsee

chang

jī chăng

૦ޝ

address

dee juhr

dì zhĭ

࢐ᒍ

this address

jugga dee juhr

zhè gè dì zhĭ

ᑚৈ࢐ᒍ!

bye

zai jien

zài jiàn

Ᏻ୅

a ticket

piao

piào

ວ

to buy

mai

măi

൰!

!

a “to Beijing“ type ticket

choo beijing der peeao

qù bĕi jīng de piào

བྷ۱யࡼວ

a “to Shanghai“ ticket

choo shanghai der peeao

qù shàng hăi de piào

བྷ࿟਱ࡼວ

Hong Kong

sjeeung gung

xiāng găng

ሧভ

How much - money?

duoor shao - tjien?

duō shăo - qián?

ࣶ࿩ - ༂Ǜ

How much does it cost?

duoor shao tjien?

duō shăo qián?

ࣶ࿩༂Ǜ!

10 yuan

shrr you-an

shí yuán

လᏄ

Numbers, days & time

1 ee

yī

ጙ

2 are

èr

औ

3 san

sān

ྯ

4 soor

sì

႐

5 aw

wŭ

ᇋ

6 leo

liù

ങ

7 tjee

qī

໕

8 baah

bā

ڭ

9 geo

jiŭ

ோ

10 shrr

shí

လ

11

shrr ee

shí yī

လጙ

12

shrr are

shí èr

လऔ

13

shrr san

shí sān

လྯ

14

shrr suh

shí sì

လ႐

15

shrr aw

shí wŭ

လᇋ

16

shrr lieo

shí liù

လങ

17

shrr tjee

shí qī

လ໕

18

shrr baah

shí bā

လڭ

19

shrr jioe

shí jiŭ

လோ

20

are shrr

èr shí

औလ

21

are shrr ee

èr shí yī

औလጙ

30 san

shrr

sān shí

ྯလ

40

soor shrr

sì shí

႐လ

50 aw

shrr

wŭ shí

ᇋလ

60

leo shrr

liù shí

ങလ

70 tjee

shrr

qī shí

໕လ

The answer to the question : ‘Can I?’ is not ‘Yes’ or No’ as
we might expect , but ‘Can’ or ‘Not can’

‘a ticket to ….’ is literally ‘a to …. type ticket’

80 baah

shrr

bā shí

ڭလ

90 geo

shrr

jiŭ shí

ோလ

100 ee

by

yī băi

ጙڻ

200

are by

èr băi

औڻ

300 san

by

sān băi

ྯڻ

8 o’clock

baa djien (djien = o’clock)

bā diăn

ڭ࢛

7.30

tchee djien san shuh fuhn

qī diăn sān shí fēn

໕࢛ྯလॊ

40 minutes

Soor sher fn jong

sì shí fēn zhōng

႐လॊᒩ

6.40

lieo djien soor shrr foon

liù diăn sì shí fēn

ങ࢛႐လॊ

In the morning

dsow shung

zăo shàng

ᐁ࿟

In the evening

won shung

wăn shàng

ᅵ࿟

6.00 in the evening

won shung leo djien

wăn shàng liù diăn

ᅵ࿟ങ࢛

Monday

shing chee ee

xīng qī yī

ቩ໐ጙ

Tuesday

shing chee er

xīng qī èr

ቩ໐औ

Wednesday

shing chee san

xīng qī sān

ቩ໐ྯ

Sunday

shing chee uh

xīng qī rì / xīng qī tiān

ቩ໐྇ / ቩ໐ᄖ

Is there…?

Excuse me

lau tia

láo jià

ಏଧ

May I ask (please ask)

(t)ching wern

qĭng wèn

༿ᆰ

Near by

fu jing

fù jìn

এத

Is there

yo

yŏu

ᎌ

A bank

ying hung

yín háng

ፖቲ

Nearby is there a bank(?)

fu jing yo ying hung (ma?)

fù jìn yŏu yín háng (ma?)

এத

ᎌፖቲ ( ൮Ǜ)

a supermarket

chao shuh

chāo shì

ިှ

a toilet

tour saw

cè suŏ

ݼჅ

a hospital

ee jooan

yī yuàn

ጛᏔ

sorry

dooee bu chee

duì bù

qĭ

࣪ݙ໦

I don’t know.

woa bu jr dow

wŏ bù zhī dào

ᆸݙᒀࡸ

don’t bu

bù

ݙ

know jr

dow

zhī dào

ᒀࡸ

7.Directions

Excuse me.

lau tia

láo jià

ಏଧ

I’m looking for a bank.

woa jn sai chi-ao ying hung

wŏ zhèng zài zhăo yín háng

ᆸᑵᏴᑊፖቲ

Something you are doing
now is expressed by:

‘jn sai’

zhèng zài

ᑵᏴ

looking for

chi-ao

zhăo

ᑊ

waiting for

d

e

rm dĕng

ࢀ

a friend

pung yo

péng yŏu

຋ᎍ

a post office

yo ju

yóu jú

ᎆ௜

Take (walk) this street.

z

o

-oo cher chow loo

zŏu zhè tiáo lù

ᔓᑚᄟവ

walk z

o

-oo zŏu

ᔓ

this street

cher chow loo

zhè tiáo lù

ᑚᄟവ

to the left, to the right

wong tsor, wong yio

wăng zuŏ, wăng yòu

ᆁᔧLjᆁᎎ

‘chow’ literally means ‘one of’

to wong

wăng

ᆁ

to the front/straight on

wong chen

wăng qián

ᆁ༄

Go strait on. (to the front
walk)

wong chen z

o

-oo wăng qián zŏu

ᆁ༄ᔓ

Is it far(?)

yu

a

n (ma?)

yuăn (ma?)

Ꮠ ( ൮Ǜ)!

Chinese currency

yu

an

yuán

Ꮔ

how far?

door yuan

duō yuăn

ࣶᏐǛ

Walk /about/ 10/ min.

z

o

-oo /dar guy /shr/ fn joong

zŏu dà gài shí fēn zhōng

ᔓࡍগလॊᒩ

You’re welcome.

boo ker chee

bù kè qì

ݙఱ໮

See you again.

sai chien

zài jiàn

Ᏻ୅

8.Where &what time

What time?

gee dien

jĭ diăn?

ଂ࢛Ǜ

Where? na

lee

nă lĭ?

෾ಱǛ

my woa

der

wŏ de

ᆸࡼ

your

ning der

nín de

ิࡼ

luggage shing-lee

xíng

lĭ

ቲರ

Your luggage…

ning der shing-lee

nín de xíng lĭ

ิࡼቲರ

…is where (in)?

tsai na lee

zài nă lĭ?

Ᏼ෾ಱǛ

our

woa men der

wŏ men de

ᆸඣࡼ

we woa

men

wŏ men

ᆸඣ

our Luggage

woa men der shing lee

wŏ men de xíng lĭ

ᆸඣࡼቲರ

Our luggage is where in? woa men der shing lee tsai na lee?

wŏ men de xíng lĭ zài nă lĭ?

ᆸඣࡼቲರᏴ෾ಱǛ

There!, Here!

na lee!, jur lee!

nà lĭ! zhè lĭ!

กಱƽᑚಱƽ

the room

fung chien

fáng jiān

ळମ

…is at - the room - within

…tsai - fung chien - lee

zài fáng jiān lĭ

Ᏼळମಱ

My room…

woa de fung chien

wŏ de fáng jiān

ᆸࡼळମ

…is at where?

tsai na lee?

zài nă lĭ?

Ᏼ෾ಱǛ

On the first floor.

tsai ar lo

zài èr lóu

Ᏼऔണ

level 1, level 2

ee lo, ar lo

yī lóu, èr lóu

ጙണLjऔണ

your room

ning de fung chien

nín de fáng jiān

ิࡼळମ

Breakfast – what time?

dsau tsan – (d)gee dien?

zăo cān - jĭ diăn?

ᐁݫ-ଂ࢛Ǜ

From 7 O’clock…

tzong tchee dien…

cóng qī diăn…

࠭໕࢛…

…to 10 O’clock

…dow shrr dien

…dào shí diăn

…ࡵလ࢛

9. Problems, problems

You can…

ning nung…

nín néng…

ิถ…

…help me(?)

…bung-choo woa (ma?)

…bāng zhù wŏ (ma?)

…ۑᓐᆸ ( ൮Ǜ)

I’ve - lost

woa - dio ler

wŏ diū le

ᆸࣀ೫

to lose, lost

dio, dio ler

diū, diū le

ࣀLjࣀ೫

my

woa der pronounced ‘wadder’

wŏ de

ᆸࡼ

passport

hoo jaow

hù zhào

ઐᑍ

camera

chow sian dzee

zhào xiàng jī

ᑍሤ૦

wallet

tien bau = money bag

qián bāo

༂۞

I need…

woa shoo-jau…

wŏ xū yào…

ᆸኊገ…

…stamps

…yo piau

yóu piào

ᎆວ

to send

tchee

jì

଎

this card

jur jang ca-ar

zhè zhāng kă

ᑚᐽఌ

this jur

zhè

ᑚ!

to England

chuh ingoa

qù yīng guó

བྷ፞ਪ

I need …

woa shoo- jau

wŏ xū yào…

ᆸኊገ…

…flu medicine.

gan-mao yao

găn mào yào

ঢඌጇ

flu gan-mao

găn mào

ঢඌ

medicine yao yào

ጇ

plasters

bang di = from band-age

bāng dí

ەࢇ

a doctor

ee-shen

yī shēng

ጛည

help bung

choo

bāng zhù

ۑᓐ

10. Do you speak…?

How are you? (friend)

ni how (ma?) = you good(?)

nĭ hăo (ma?)

ฝੑ ( ൮Ǜ)

How are you? (official)

ni’ing how (ma?)

nín hăo (ma?)

ิੑ ( ൮Ǜ)

I’m fine, thanks.

woa herng how, shier shier

wŏ hĕn hăo,

xiè xie

ᆸ੪ੑLjቝቝ

You can speak English(?)

ni’ing huey - shoor - ing-oo (ma?)

nín huì shuō yīng yŭ (ma?)

ิ્ႁ፞Ꭻ ( ൮Ǜ)

Chinese joong

ven

zhōng wén

ᒦᆪ

You can speak Chinese?

ni’ing huey shoor joong-ven (ma?)

nín huì shuō zhōng wén (ma?)

ิ્ႁᒦᆪ ( ൮Ǜ)

I not can speak-Chinese.

woa boo huey shoor - joong-ven

wŏ bù huì shuō zhōng wén

ᆸݙ્ႁᒦᆪ

I (not) understand

woa (boo) don-g

wŏ bù dŏng

ᆸݙࣄ

A little more slowly please
(Please - slow - a little.)

(t)ching man ee dien

(t)ching - man - ee dien

qĭng màn yī diăn

༿ൻጙ࢛

difficult nan

nán

ซ!

very difficult

fey chung nan

fēi cháng nán

ऻޟซ

not easy

boo chien dan

bù jiăn dān

ݙ଼࡝

easy chien

dan

jiăn dān

଼࡝

You like Shanghai(?)

ni shi huan Shanghai (ma?)

nĭ xĭ huān shàng haĭ (ma?)

ฝᇶઢ࿟਱ ( ൮Ǜ)

You like chow mien?

ni shi huan chow mien (ma?)

nĭ xĭ huān chăo miàn (ma?)

ฝᇶઢްෂ ( ൮Ǜ)

Mm.. delicious!

mm..how chrr !

hăo chī !

ੑߐƽ

good food!

how chrr !

hăo chī !

ੑߐƽ

Good bye. (again see)

zai chien

zài jiàn

Ᏻ୅

tomorrow ming-tien

míng

tiān

ීᄖ

See you tomorrow!
(tomorrow see)

ming-tien chien!

míng tiān jiàn!

ීᄖ୅ƽ

Have fun!

wan der kai shing!

wán de kāi xīn!

ᅮࡼఎቦƽ!