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
ᆸሯገఋ़ଝฆ
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?)
ᆸభጲఌ ( 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
ᑚৈᒍ!
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
བྷࡼວ
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
ᅵങ࢛
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?
ᏴಱǛ
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?
ᆸඣࡼቲರᏴಱǛ
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?
ᏴಱǛ
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!
ීᄖƽ
Have fun!
wan der kai shing!
wán de kāi xīn!
ᅮࡼఎቦƽ!