Lonely Planet China Phrasebook & Dictionary (2nd Ed) (Gnv64)

China
PHRASEBOOK & DICTIONARY
PDF ebook
Edition 2nd Edition
Release Date Sep 2015
Pages 384
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MANDARIN CANTONESE CHAOZHOU DONGBEI HUA HAKKA
HUNANESE SHANGHAINESE SICHUANESE XIAN
YUNNAN HUA ZHUANG MONGOLIAN TIBETAN UIGHUR
China
PHRASEBOOK & DICTIONARY
Acknowledgments
Editors Francesca Coles, Laura Crawford, Branislava Vladisavljevic,
Tracy Whitmey
Production Support Chris Love
Cartographer Wayne Murphy
Illustrations Yukiyoshi Kamimura
Cover Researcher Naomi Parker
Thanks
James Hardy, Angela Tinson
Published by Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
ABN 36 005 607 983
2nd Edition September 2015
ISBN 978 1 74321 434 3
Text Lonely Planet 2015
Cover Image
Yunnan, China/Katie Garrod, AWL
Printed in Singapore 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contact lonelyplanet.com/contact
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without the written permission of the publisher.
Lonely Planet and the Lonely Planet logo are trade marks of Lonely Planet and are registered
name or logo to be appropriated by commercial establishments, such as retailers, restaurants
or hotels. Please let us know of any misuses: www.lonelyplanet.com/ip
Although the authors and Lonely Planet try to make the information as accurate as possible, we accept no
responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this book.
acknowledgments
This book was based on existing editions of Lonely Planets Cantonese, Mandarin and
Tibetan phrasebooks and developed with the help of the following people:
PAEN Language Services for the Dongbei Hua, Hakka, Sichuanese, Uighur,
Xian and Yunnan Hua chapters
David Holm for the Hunanese, Zhuang & Chaozhou chapters
Lance Eccles for the Shanghainese chapter
Emyr RE Pugh for the Mongolian chapter
Tughluk Abdurazak for the Uighur chapter
Thanks also to Will Gourlay for the language introductions for Dongbei Hua, Hakka,
Hunanese, Shanghainese, Sichuanese, Uighur, Xian and Yunnan Hua; Jodie Martire
for the Culture chapter; and Dora Chai and Shahara Ahmed for additional language
expertise.
ac
ackno
knowle
wledg
dgme
ments
nts
3
contents
Man Can
Cha Don Hak Hun Sha
Sic
Xia Yun Zhu Mon Tib
Uig
tones
10 36
62 86 110 134 158 182 206 230 254
alphabet
278 310 336
introduction
11 37
63 87 111 135 159 183 207 231 255 279 311 337
pronunciation
12 38
64 88 112 136 160 184 208 232 256 280 312 338
language difficulties
13 39
65 89 113 137 161 185 209 233 257 281 313 339
time & dates

14 40
66 90 114 138 161 186 201 234 258 282 314 340
border crossing
15 40
tickets & luggage

15 41
transport
16 42
67 91 115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 315 342
directions
18 43
67 91 115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 315 342
accommodation
C ON TEN TS
19 44
68 92 116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
banking & communications

20 45
69 93 117 141 165 189 213 237 261 286 318 344
sightseeing
21 47
70 94 117 142 166 190 214 238 262 286 319 344
shopping
22 48
70 95 118 142 166 190 215 239 262 288 320 345
Man Can
Cha Don Hak Hun Sha
Sic
Xia Yun Zhu Mon Tib
Uig
meeting people
71 96 119 143 167 191 215 240 263 289 321 346
photography
24
50
making conversation
24
50
72 96 120 144 168 192 216 241 264 290 322 347
feelings & opinions
75 99 123 147 171 194 219 243 267 294 325 350
farewells
75 100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268 295 326 351
eating out
26
52
76 101 124 148 172 196 220 245 268 296 327 352
special diets & allergies

27
54
79 104 127 151 175 199 223 248 272 300 329 355
emergencies
28
54
80 104 128 152 175 200 224 248 272 303 329 356
health
29
55
80 104 128 152 175 200 224 248 272 303 329 356
dictionary
31
57
81 105 129 153 177 201 225 249 273 305 331 357
361
history timeline
food
festivals
362
366
370
index
374
C ON TEN TS
culture section
L ANG UAGE MAP
L ANG UAGE MAP
china at a glance
China is home to a mind-boggling 1.3 billion people, who live in such contrasting
mountains and forests of the southwest, and the rolling steppes of Inner Mongolia.
So its little wonder that China is also home to a cacophony of languages more than
200, and counting and to countless dialects and subdialects.
Chinas languages are traditionally classified into seven main groups: Gan, spoken
larly in the south and southeast; Mandarin, spoken in the north, central and western provinces, but with speakers right across the country; Min, which has speakers
guage family and each one has numerous regional dialects. More than two-thirds
of Chinese speakers, for example, speak various dialects of Mandarin. The linguistic
Sinitic languages of Chinas ethnic minorities, including Mongolian and Uighur.
In the early 1900s Chinese authorities sought to reinforce national unity with the
dating its use in education and for official purposes. This is now the official national
language of China, as well as one of the official languages of the UN.
C H IN A AT A GL AN C E
did you know?
T
continues to grow. However, a mere 3000 or so are all you need to read a local
newspaper or to make it past senior high school in China.
recent decades, 30 are native to China. Linguists agree that there are many
more yet to be formally documented. Meanwhile, Unesco has listed more than
100 Chinese languages and dialects as in danger of becoming extinct; some of
In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics,
officials established a committee
attempts to translate Chinese into English. The committee had replaced more
translations. Authorities could only do so much, though, and you can still find
fine examples of Chinglish in private businesses throughout the city.
Mandarin
TONES
ABOUT MANDARIN
PRONUNCIATION
LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
TIME & DATES
BORDER CROSSING
TICKETS & LUGGAGE
TRANSPORT
DIRECTIONS
ACCOMMODATION
BANKING & COMMUNICATIONS
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
PHOTOGRAPHY
MAKING CONVERSATION
EATING OUT
SPECIAL DIETS & ALLERGIES
EMERGENCIES
HEALTH
ENGLISHMANDARIN DICTIONARY
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
18
19
20
21
22
24
24
26
27
28
29
31
tones
Mandarin is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of pitch on
certain syllables). Mandarin is commonly described as having four tones, as well as a fifth
one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone, Pinyin (the official system
of writing Chinese using the Roman alphabet) uses symbols above the vowels to indicate
each tone, as shown in the table below for the vowel a. Bear in mind that the tones are
relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker, eg the high tone is pronounced at the
top of ones vocal range. Note also that some tones slide up or down in pitch.
high
tone
high rising
tone
low fallingrising tone
high falling
tone
t on es
The tonal quality plays a crucial role in distinguishing the meaning of words in Mandarin. For instance, the table below shows how the same combination of sounds, ma,
can have five different meanings depending on the tone.
10
Tone
Example
1st high
2nd high rising
Meaning
mother
3rd low falling-rising
hemp
horse
4th high falling
scold
neutral
ma
question marker
MANDARIN
about Mandarin
It may surprise you to learn that the term Mandarin is not really the name of a
language. It actually refers to the largest of the various Chinese dialect groups,
all members of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The language of this chapter is
dialect. Whatever you choose to call it, Mandarin (
) has been
a powerful force for linguistic and political unity in a country with countless dialects.
Its the main language used in official contexts and, aside from its use in mainland
China, Mandarin has official status in Taiwan (where its called
) and Singapore
(where its known as
). The total number of its speakers worldwide is over
800 million, making Mandarin the most widely spoken language in the world.
However, there are two versions of the written language. Simplified Chinese is used
in mainland China and has been adopted by Singapore, Malaysia and other Southeast
Asian countries. Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. In this
chapter, weve used simplified Chinese characters, along with Pinyin (the official system of writing Chinese using the Roman alphabet) in the pronunciation guides.
mandarin
ab o ut MAN DARIN
11
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
Consonants
Pinyin
English sound
Pinyin
English sound
a (an/ang)
ai
ao
e (en/eng)
ei
i (in/ing)
i (after c/s/z)
i (after ch/sh/zh/r)
ia
ian
iang
iao
ie
iong
iu
o (ong)
ou
u (un)
ua
uai
uan
father (fun, sung)

aisle
now
her (broken, Deng)
pay
peel (pin, ping)
girl
like the r in Grrr!
yard
yen
young
yowl
yes
Jung
yolk
more (Jung)
low
tool (tune)
wah!
why
won
went
swung
you wet
way
war
new pronounced
with rounded lips
b
c
ch
d
f
g
h
bed
hats
cheat
dog
fat
go
hat
joke
kit
lot
man
not
ring
pet
cheat
red
sun
shot
top
win
shot
yes
sounds
gem
uang
ue
ui
uo
(and u or un after
k
l
m
n
ng
p
q
r
s
sh
t
w
x
y
z
zh
In this chapter, the Pinyin is given in

blue after each phrase.
For pronunciation of tones, see p10.
12
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello./Goodbye.
Thank you.
Excuse me. (to get past)
Sorry.
Sh./Bsh.
Q ng
X
Dubq .
Do you speak English?
Do you understand?
Could you
please ?
repeat that
speak more
slowly
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
20
/
s
li
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
lang uage dif f icult ie s MAN DARI N
I (dont) understand.
13
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11). (literally: Forty-five minutes past (10).)
At what time (does it start)?
(It starts) At 10.
t ime & da te s
Its (18 October).
14
yesterday
today
tomorrow
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
r
s
li
border crossing
Im
in transit
on business
on holiday
Im here for
(three) days
(three) months
(three) weeks
Im staying at (the Pujiang Hotel).
I have something to declare.

Thats (not) mine.
tickets & luggage

Where do I buy a ticket?
Do I need to book?
A ticket
to (Dlin).
one-way
return
(Dlin) de pio.
b o rd er c ro ss ing MAN DARIN
I have nothing to declare.
15
Id like to my ticket.
cancel
change
confirm
tu
qudng
Id like a (non)smoking seat.

Is there a toilet/air-conditioning?
How long does the trip take?
Is it a direct route?
t ran sp or t
My luggage
has been
damaged
lost
stolen
transport
Where does flight (BJ8) arrive/depart?
Is this the
boat
bus
plane
train
16
bi le.
Zhge
chun
Whens the
(bus)?
first
last
next
How long will it be delayed?
Thats my seat.
Id like a taxi
to depart
at (9am)
now
xinzi
How much is it to (the Great Wall)?
Please take me to (this address).
Please stop/wait here.

Id like to hire a self-drive car.
Id like to hire a car with a driver.
How much is it per day/week?
tr ansp o r t MAN DARI N
Please put the meter on.
17
directions
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Can you show me where it is on the map?
Hun wib
de dfang
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
d irec tio ns
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
Zi
de qinmian
de dumin
nli
signs
y sh
18
Entry/Exit
Police Station
Bathroom
Male/Female
No Smoking
No Spitting
accommodation
Wheres a guest house/hotel?
Can you recommend somewhere cheap/good?
Id like to book a room.

I have a reservation.
Do you have
a room?
double (suite)
single
twin
For (three) nights.

What time is checkout?
Could I have my key, please?
Can I get an extra (blanket)?
The (air conditioning) doesnt work.

Do you have
a/an ?
elevator
safe
ac c om mo d atio n MAN DARIN
How much is it per night/person?
to
19
Could I have
my , please?
deposit
passport
valuables
hzho
b an kin g & co m munic at io ns
Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
change a travellers
cheque
change money
withdraw money
Whats the ?
charge for that
exchange rate
Wheres the local internet cafe?

How much is it per hour?
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer/scanner
Id like a
mobile/cell phone
SIM card
20
hunqin
What are the rates?

Whats your phone number?
The number is
I want to
buy a phonecard
call collect
de dinhu
call (Singapore)
I want to buy a/an
envelope
stamp
I want to send a fax.
I want to send a parcel.
sightseeing
What time does it open/close?
Whats the admission charge?
Is there a discount for students/children?
Id like a
catalogue
guide
(local) map
sigh tse eing MA NDARI N
Please send it by airmail/surface mail to (Australia).
21
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
Whens the next tour?
sh
How long is the tour?
Is (the) included?
accommodation
admission
food
transport
zhs
sightseeing
Army of Terracotta
Warriors
Forbidden City
Great Wall
Guln
Pngyo (ancient walled city)
s ho pp ing
West Lake
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
22
Zhoxing din
Can I have it sent overseas?

Can I have my (camera) repaired here?
Its faulty.
How much is it?
Please write down the price.
Thats too expensive.
Tigu le.
Ill give you (five kuai).
Theres a mistake in the bill.
Id like , please.
a bag
a receipt
a refund
my change
less
enough
more
tu qin
sho p p ing MAN DARIN
Do you accept ?
credit cards
debit cards
travellers
cheques
23
photography
Can you burn a CD from my memory card?
Can you develop this film?

I need a memory card for this camera.
I want to buy a film for this camera.
When will it be ready?
making conversation
p ho to gr ap hy
Hello. (general)
Goodbye.
Good night.
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
How are you? (general)
Fine.
And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
Im pleased to meet you.
24
Xnghu.
This is my
brother
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
zhngfu
duxing
titai
Whats your (email)?

Where are you from?
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Whats your
occupation?
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
m ak ing co nver sat ion MANDAR IN
Heres my (address).
25
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
films
music
reading
sport
ysh
eating out
Can you
recommend a ?
bar
dish
restaurant
pn
e at ing ou t
Id like a/the
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking
table
table for (five)
Ill have that.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
drink (nonalcoholic)
(cup of) coffee
(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
26
Li y ge ba.
(orange) juice
soft drink
Ill have boiled/still mineral water.
What are you drinking?
Ill buy you one.
What would you like to drink?
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
hng
bi

Do you have
food?
halal
kosher
vegetarian
Could you prepare a meal without ?
yuti
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies MANDARI N
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
27
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
emergencies
Help!
Stop!
Go away!
Thief!
Fire!
Watch out!
e m erge ncie s
Call a doctor!
Call an ambulance!
Could you please help?

Can I use your phone?
Im lost.
Where are the toilets?
28
Jimng!
Zhnzh!
Wheres the police station?
I want to contact my embassy/consulate.
Ive been
assaulted
raped
robbed
Ive lost my
My was/were
stolen.
bags
credit card
money
passport
travellers cheques
qin
hzho
health
I need a doctor (who speaks English).
Could I see a female doctor?
Ive run out of my medication.
yofng
he alth MAN DARI N
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
29
It hurts here.
I have (a)
asthma
constipation
diarrhoea
fever
heart condition
nausea
h ea lth
Im allergic to
antibiotics
antiinflammatories
aspirin
bees
codeine
30
binm
kngynyo
englishmandarin dictionary
n
adv
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident
shg
accommodation
zhs
adaptor
address n
after
air-conditioned
airplane
airport
alcohol
all
allergic
ambulance
and h
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill) n
check-in (desk)
chest (body)
child
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost (price) n
credit card
currency exchange
customs (immigration)
D
dangerous
date (day) n
e nglishm and arin
baby n
back (body)
backpack
bad
bag
baggage claim
bank (money)
bar
bathroom
y sh
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle n
big
bill (restaurant etc) n
blanket
blood group
boat
book (make a booking) v
bottle
boy
brakes
breakfast
broken
bus (city)
bus (intercity)
business n
buy v
31
day
delay
dentist
depart (leave)
diaper
dinner
direct
dirty
disabled
discount
doctor
double bed
double room
drink (alcoholic) n
drink (nonalcoholic) n
drive v
driving licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email n
embassy
emergency
English
evening
exit n
expensive gu
eye(s)
DIC TION ARY
32
far
fast
father
n
food n
foot
free (no charge)
friend
fruit
full
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses (spectacles)
go
good
guide (person)
H
half
hand
happy
have
he
head
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
hungry (to be)
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
jewellery
job
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
night
no
nonsmoking
north
nose
now
number
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light
like adv
lock n
lock v
long a
lost (ones way)
love v
luggage
lunch
old
one-way (ticket)
open a
outside
P
passport
pay v f
pharmacy
phone card
photo
police
postcard
price
mail n
man
map
market
matches (for lighting)
meat
medicine (medication)
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning (after breakfast)
morning (before lunch)
mother
motorcycle
mouth
quiet
R
rain n
razor
receipt
refund n
registered (mail)
rent
repair
reservation (booking)
restaurant
return (come back)
return (ticket)
right (direction)
road
room
safe
sanitary napkin
seat (hard; on train)
seat (place)
e nglishm and arin
name n
near
new
newspaper
33
seat (soft; on train)

send
sex
shampoo
share
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short (height)
short (length)
shower
ysh
single room
skin
skirt
sleep
slowly
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir shop
stamp
stand-by ticket
station
stomach
stop (bus, tram) n
stop v
street
student
sun
sunblock
swim
DIC TION ARY
34
tampon
teeth
telephone n
temperature (weather)
that (one)
they
thirsty (to be)
this (one)
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour
towel
train
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque(s)
trousers
twin room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacant
vegetable
vegetarian
visa
W
walk
wallet
wash
watch n
water
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
with
without
woman
Y
yes sh
yesterday
you sg inf
you sg pol
you pl
Cantonese
TONES
ABOUT CANTONESE
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
BORDER CROSSING
TICKETS & LUGGAGE
TRANSPORT
DIRECTIONS
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
PHOTOGRAPHY
MAKING CONVERSATION
EATING OUT
EMERGENCIES
HEALTH
ENGLISHCANTONESE DICTIONARY
36
37
38
39
40
40
41
42
43
44
45
47
48
49
50
52
54
54
55
57
tones
Cantonese is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of
pitch on certain syllables). Tones in Cantonese fall on vowels and on n. The same
combination of sounds pronounced with different tones can have a very different
meaning, eg gwat
means dig up and gwt means bones.
Cantonese has between six and 10 tones, depending on which definition you
use. In our pronunciation guide theyve been simplified to five tones, indicated with
accents or underscores on the symbol letters (as shown in the tables below for the
vowel a), in addition to a sixth, level tone. Higher tones involve tightening the vocal
cords to get a higher sounding pitch, while lower tones are made by relaxing the
vocal cords to get a lower pitch. Bear in mind that the tones are relative to the natural
vocal range of the speaker, eg the high tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal
range. Note also that some tones slide up or down in pitch.
high
t on es
36
high
rising
level
a
Symbol
Tone
high
high rising
level
low falling
low rising
low
low
falling
low
rising
low
a
Example
ti
nu
gawk
yn
py
man
CANTONESE
about Cantonese
Cantonese is the official language of Hong Kong and Macau, and in mainland China its the
loquially known as gwwngdngwa
formal name is yue yu
(Yue language). Cantonese has over 70 million speakers, as
by emigrant communities worldwide. For over 50 years, official Chinese policy has encouraged the use of Mandarin as the national language of China. However, Cantonese speakers
have persisted in using their native language, a key part of their pride and cultural identity.
Todays Cantonese can trace its history back over 2000 years to the Qin Dynasty (221206
developed from the same tongue, but Cantonese has preserved certain intricate elements
veloped to show Cantonese sounds in Roman script. In this chapter, weve used a slightly
simplified version of the widely accepted Yale system.
cantonese
ab o ut CAN TON E SE
37
pronunciation
Vowels
English sound
Symbol
English sound
run
bed
aa
father
ch
cheat
aai
aisle (long)
dog
aau
now (long)
fat
ai
aisle (short)
go
au
now (short)
hat
aw
law
joke
ay
say
kit
bet
lot
eu
eui
m
n
man
not
ng
ring
nurse
eu followed by i
i pronounced with
rounded lips
see
pet
iu
youth
sun
note
top
oy
toy
win
put
yes
ui
with
ew
p r on uncia tio n
Consonants
Symbol
In this chapter, the Cantonese pronunciation is given in turquoise after each phrase.
The sound ng (found in English at the end or in the middle of words, eg ringing) can
appear at the start of words in Cantonese or as a word on its own. Note that words
ending with the sounds p, t and k must be clipped, eg in English the p sound is much
shorter in tip than in pit. For pronunciation of tones, see p36.
dwje
38
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello./Goodbye.
Thank you (very much).
Youre welcome.
Sorry.
hai/ ghai
ggy
hal/joygin
dwje (ly)
gsi haakhay
ggy jeje
deui gjew
Do you understand?
ly mng gmng aa
(
ngw ( g) mngbaak
Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
nggy ly
joy gwng yt chi
gwng maan d
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
yt
yi
sam
say
g
luk
cht
baat
gu
sap
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
yisap
samsap
saysap
gsap
luksap
chtsap
baatsap
gusap
ytbaak
ytchn
ytbaakmaan
lang uage dif f icult ie s C ANT ONE S E
ly sk gsk gwng
yngmn aa
39
time & dates
t ime & da te s
What time is it?

Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
(literally: Forty-five
minutes past (10).)
At what time?
At
Its (18 October).
40
(
(
(
(
yiga gydmjng
(sap)dmjng
(sap)dm sam
(sap)dm bun
(sap)dm gu
)
)
)
)
gys hych
yeman
(sapyewt sapbaat) ho
yesterday
today
tomorrow
kmyat
gmyat
tngyat
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
sngkyyt
sngkyyi
sngkysam
sngkysay
sngky g
sngkyluk
sngkyyat
border crossing
Im
in transit
on business
on holiday
Im here for
(two) days
(four) weeks
(three) months
ngw hai
gawgng
chutchai li ge
li dogaa ge
(
(
(
)
)
)
ngw yiu jew

(yi) yat
(say) gaw sngky
(sam) gaw yewt
ngw yiu heui (smjan)
Im staying at (the China Hotel).

(
ngw jew (jnggawk daai judim)
I have nothing to declare.

ngw m y bo
I have something to declare.
ngw yu y bo
Thats (not) mine.
(
( g) hai ngw ge
tickets & luggage

Where do I buy a ticket?
heui bndo mai fy
si gsi dengfy sn a
A ticket to
(Panyu).
one-way
return
Id like to my
ticket, please.
cancel
change
confirm
yt jung heui
(pnyw) ge fy
danchng
sungchng
ggy ngw sung
fy
teui
gy
kawkding jung
Id like a smoking/nonsmoking seat.

yum kpyn/btkpyn wi
Is there a toilet/air conditioning?
yum chisw/hngtu aa
How long does the trip take?
gydw gaw jngtu do
Is it a direct route?
hai ghai jikdaat ge
tic ke ts & lugg age C AN TON ES E
Do I need to book?
41
My luggage has
been
damaged
lost
stolen
ngw ge
hngly
laanjw
gginjw
byyn tujw
transport
Where does flight (12) arrive/depart?
(
(sapyi) ho fygy hi bndo

hyfy/gawnglawk
Is this the to
(
ly ban hai ghai

heui (gwwngju) gaa
swn
bas
fygy
fwch
boat
bus
plane
train
(
t ran sp or t
Whens the
(bus)?
first
last
next
(bas) gy
dm hy
tuban
myban
haaytban
How long will it be delayed?

tuich gyloy
Please tell me when we get to (
(
).
do (gwwngju) ge sihau
ggy giu sng ngw
Thats my seat.
lygaw hai ngw gaw wi
Id like a taxi at (9am).
(
ngw sung (gu dmjng)

chw dks
Id like a taxi now.

ngw sung chw dks yga
42
How much is it to ?
heui gydw chn
Please put the meter on.
ggy da mibi
Please take me to (this address).
ggy daai ngw heui
(ly gaw dayj)
Please stop/wait here.

ggy hi lydo tng/dng
Id like to hire a 4WD/car (with a driver).
(
ngw sung j gaa

fwwijaif/ch (yu sgy)
How much for hire?

daily
weekly
j gydw chn
yt yat
yt gaw libaai
Wheres a/the ?
bank
foreign
exchange office
post office
hibndo
ngnhwng
wun ngoybai
ge dayfwng
yugk
Can you show me (on the map)?

(
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
ly hw ghwy (hi dayto do)

j by ngw ti ngw hi bndo
dayj hai
yu gy ywn
dmyung heui
heung jw/yau jewn
d ire ct ions C AN TON ES E
directions
43
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
straight ahead
there
hi
ge haumin
ge chnmin
fugan
sapjilohu
ge deuimin
chnmin
gwdo
signs
yaphu/chuthu
yu fwng
m fwng
paaichutsw
chisw
laam
lui
Entry/Exit
Vacancy
No Vacancy
Police Station
Bathroom
Male
Female
a cc o mm o dat ion
accommodation
bndo yu bngn/judim
Can you
recommend
somewhere ?
cheap
good
Id like to book a room, please.
ngw sung deng fwng

ngw yewdeng jw
Do you have
a room?
double
single
twin
44
tuijin gaw ge
dayfwng jew a
peng
h
yum fwng
sungyn
danyn
sungyn
How much is it
per ?
night
person
yt gydw chn
man
gaw yn
For (three) nights.

(
jew (sam) yat

hw ghwy
by ti mn s ngw
ngw hw ghwy lw
dw jung (jn) aa
The (air-conditioning) doesnt work.

(
(hngtiu) waaijw
Do you have an elevator/a safe?

yu m dinti/gapmaan
gy dmjng teuifwng
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
valuables
ggy ngw ly
lw
ngaatgm
wujiu
gwaijung matbn

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
hi bndo
jidung tifngy
gngjung dinwa
Id like to
change a
travellers cheque
change money
withdraw money
ngw yiu
wun luihng
jpiu
wun chn
lw yingm
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns CA NTON E S E
45
Whats the ?
charge for that
exchange rate
hai gydw
sujukfai
deuiwunlut
Wheres the nearest public phone?

lydo fugan yum
gngjung dinwa aa
fugan yum mwngba
mu gaw jng gydw chn

Id like to
get internet access
ngw sung
sungmwng
dayan/somi
Id like a
mobile/cell
phone for hire
SIM card for
your network
ngw sung mai gaw

chutj sugy
lyday mwnglwk
yung ge smkat
What are the rates?

dinwafai dm gai
ly ge dinwa homa
hai gydw ho
The number is
homa hai
I want to
buy a phonecard
call collect
call (Singapore)
(
46
ngw sung
mai jung dinwakat
da deuifwng
fufn ge dinwa
da dinwa heui
(sngaabw)
I want to send a
fax
parcel
ngw sung
faat chwnjn
gay baugww
I want to buy a/an

envelope
stamp
ngw sung mai

gaw seunfng
jung yupiu
Please send it by airmail to (Australia).

ggy gay hwnghng
heui (ngodaailaya)
sightseeing
gy dm hy/gwanmn
yapchunggewn gydw chn
Is there a discount for children/students?
yum sitng/hawksang jikau aa
ngw sung mai

mukluk
jlam
(bnday) dayt
Id like to see
ngw sung ti ha
Whats that?
gw d hai mty
Can I take a photo?
ngw hw ghwy yng
ge sung aa
haagaw luiyutwn hai gys
ly twn yiu gy chung sgaan
sigh tse eing C AN TON ES E
Id like a
catalogue
guide
(local) map
47
Is (the) included?
accommodation
admission
food
transport
bau gbau aa
jewsk
piugaa
ymsik
gautng
sightseeing
garden
Great Wall
palace
ruins
square (town)
temple (shrine)
faywn
chungsng
gngdin
aihu
gwwngchung
mi
shopping
s ho pp ing
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
48
hibndo
sunggyp
gais
gaylimbndim
Where can I buy locally produced goods/souvenirs?

bndo hwy maid bnday
jaibn/gylimbn
Whats this made from?
hai mty jo gaa
Id like to buy
ngw sung mai
Can I look at it?
ngw hw ghwy ti haa
Can I have it sent abroad?
hw ghwy gay chut gawkngoy aa
Can I have my (camera) repaired here?
ly hw ghwy suh
(
)
ngw gaw (sunggy) aa
Its faulty.
waaijw
How much is it?

gydw chn
Can you write down the price?
ggy s di gaw gaachn
taai gwai laa
Ill give you (five RMB).
(
by ( g baak mn ynmnbai) ly

jeungdan chaw jw
Do you accept ?
credit cards
debit cards
travellers cheques
less/enough/more
ggy ngw yiu

gaw dy
jung dan
teuichn
jauchn
si/gau/dw
photography
Can you ?
develop
this film
transfer photos
from my
camera to CD
hw ghwy aa
chngsaai ly
tung fylm
bwng ngw
jung sunggy
d sung
jewn lawk sd
p ho to gra ph y C AN TON ES E
Id like , please.
a bag
a receipt
a refund
my change
lyday su gsu
aa
seunyungkat
tifnkat
luihng jpiu
49
Do you have
for this camera?
batteries
memory cards
ly yum ngam
lybo sunggy ge
dinchi
chwchwnkat
I need film for this camera.

ngw sung mai ly gaa
sunggy ge
When will it be ready?
gysi ly lw
making conversation
p ho to gr ap hy
In Cantonese, titles are attached to the end of the surname.

Hello.
Goodbye.
Good night.
hal
joygin
manngwn
Mr/Sir
Ms
Mrs
Madam
snsang
sij
taaitai
luisi
How are you?

ly gy h maa
Fine. And you?
gy h ly l
Whats your name?
ly giu mty mng aa
My name is
ngw giu
hangwui
50
This is my
ly gaw hai ngw

ge
gwgw
sail
lui
baaba
pngyu
lgng
mama
pn
gaj
muimu
ji
lp
brother (older)
brother (younger)
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older)
sister (younger)
son
wife
lygaw hai ngw

ge (dayj)
Whats your (email)?

(
ly ge (dinj yusung) l
Where are you from?

ly hai bndo yn
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
ngw hai hi
li ge
ngdaailayaa
galadaai
ynggawk
snsilan
mygawk
Whats your
occupation?
ly jo bn hwng gaa
Im a/an
businessperson
ngw hai
sangyiyn
baaklng
gaygng
tradesperson
m ak ing co nver sat ion C AN TON ES E
Heres my (address).
51
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
films
music
reading
sport
ly jng gjngyi
aa
ngw ( g)jngyi
ngaiseut
tihay
tng ymngawk
tisw
tiyuk
Id like to learn some of your local dialects.

ngw sung hawk d lyday
ge bnday wa
Would you like me to teach you some English?
ly sung gsung ngw gaau
ly hawk d yngmn
Is this a local or national custom?
lyd hai ghai bnday
ge waakj hai chwngwawk
ge fngjuk
e at ing ou t
eating out
52
Can you
recommend a ?
bar
dish
restaurant
Id like a/the,
please.
bill
drink list
menu
(non)smoking
table
table for (five)
yu mt h
gaaixiu
juba
dp
chalu
ggy ngw yiu
(
(
)
)
maidan
julidan
choydan
(bt)kpyn
ge ty
( g wi) ge ty
Id like
a local
speciality
that dish
ngw sung sik

dayfwng
fngmay choy
gw gaw choy
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drinks
jchan
gchan
manfaan
ymliu
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
(
(
)
)
(
(
(yt bu) gaaf

(yt bu) cha
ga (ngulai)
g ga (twng)
)
)
changjp
haysui
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
sui
gn
dunggn
kawngchwnhay
kawngchwn
Ill buy you a drink.

ym mty ngw chng
What would you like?
ly sung ym mty
a of beer
glass
small bottle
large bottle
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
yt bju
bu
sai jun
jun
(
yt bu (wisigy)
yt jun/bu
ptju
hung
baak
e ating o ut C ANTO NE S E
orange juice
soft drink
53
s pe c ial die ts & a llergie s

Do you have
food?
halal
kosher
vegetarian
yum sikbn
Could you prepare

a meal without ?
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
hw ghwy jw may
sung g lawk gaa
ngw deui
laijaibn
gidan
yuk
gwwyn
hysn
emergencies
Help!
Stop!
Go away!
Thief!
Fire!
Watch out!
Call !
a doctor
an ambulance
54
chngjn
yutai
jai
gaumeng
ky hido
juhy
yu chat aa
fjk aa
sism
!
faaid giu
ysng
gausungch
the police
gngchaat

ggy bwng bwng mwng
ggy je gaw dinwa yung ha
Im lost.
ngw dawngsklo
chisw hi bndo
gngchaatgk hibndo
I want to contact my embassy.
ngw yiu lwnhai ngw ge
daaisign
yuyn ngw
da
kunggan
dagip
Ive lost my
My was/were
stolen.
bags
credit card
money
passport
travellers cheques
ngw gginjw
ngw byyn
tujw
d hangly
jung seunyungkat
d chn
gaw wujiu
d luihang jpiu
health
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
jeui kn ge hi
bndo
ngay
ysng
he alth C AN TON ES E
Ive been
assaulted
raped
robbed
55
hospital
pharmacist
yywn
yeukfwng
I need a doctor (who speaks English).

(
)
ngw yiu ti (sk gwng

yngmn ge) ysng
Could I see a female doctor?

juih ti gaw lui ysng
Ive run out of my medication.
ngw d yeuk yung ywn laa
It hurts here.
lydo tung
I have (a)
asthma
constipation
diarrhoea
fever
heart condition
nausea
ngw yu
hauchwn
binbay
tngw
faatsi
smjawngbeng
jawkngu
Im allergic to
ngw deui
gawmn
kawngknso
siym yeuk
asptlm
matfng
hwdoyyn
h ea lth
antibiotics
anti-inflammatories
aspirin
bees
codeine
56
englishcantonese dictionary
In this dictionary, words are marked as n (noun), a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular) and pl (plural) where necessary.
A
accident
yingoy
accommodation
jewsk
adaptor
jwnwun chaaptu
address
dayj
after
yhau
air-conditioned
yu langhay ge
airplane
fygy
airport
fygychung
alcohol
jujng
all
swyuge
allergic
gawmn
ambulance
gausungch
and
tngmi
ankle
geuijang
antibiotics
kawngknso
arm
subay
ATM
jidung tifngy
C
camera
sunggy
cancel
chuisi
car ch
cash n
yingm
cash (a cheque) v
deuiyin
cell phone
sugy
change (money) v
wun chn
cheap png
check (bill) dan
check-in (desk)
( )dnggay(ty)
chest (body) hng
child
sailoji
cigarette
hungyn
city
sngs
clean a
gwnjeng
closed
gwanmn
cold a dung
collect call
deuifwng fufn
come li
computer
dinl
condom
bayyanto
contact lens
ynyng ngangng
cook v
jwfaan
cost (price) n
gaachn
credit card
seunyungkat
currency exchange
ngoybai deuiwun
hygwan
D
dangerous
ngihm
date (calendar) n
yatky
day
yattu
delay n
tuch
e nglishc ant one se
baby
bbji
back (body)
buijek
backpack
builwng
bad waai
bag bau
baggage claim
hngly yinglngchew
bank n
ngnhwng
bar
juba
bathroom
chisw
battery
dinch
beautiful
mylai
bed chwng
beer
bju
before
ychn
behind
haumin
bicycle
danch
big daai
bill (restaurant etc) dan
blanket jn
blood group
hewtyng
boat swn
book v deng
bottle jun
boy
lamji
brakes
biklk
breakfast
jchan
broken
waaijw
bus (intercity)
chungt haych
bus (local)
gnggung haych
business
sangyi
buy
mai
57
dentist
ngaf
depart
lyhoy
diaper
liupn
dinner
manfaan
direct
jikjip
dirty
wj
disabled
sungchan
discount
jitkau
doctor
ysng
double bed
sungynchwng
double room
sungynfwng
drink n
ymliu
drive v
hych
driving licence
gaasi jpjiu
drug(s)
dukbn
E
ear
yji
east
dngfwng
eat sik
economy class
gngjaichwng
electricity din
elevator
dinti
email n
dinj yugn
embassy
daaisign
emergency
gngp yingoy
English
yngman
evening
yeman
exit n
chuthu
expensive gwai
eye
nganjng
F
fylm
DIC TION ARY
suj
58
H
half bun
hand n su
happy
faailawk
have yu
he kui
head tu
heart
smjawng
heavy chng
help n
bwngjaw
here
lydo
high g
highway
gchk gnglo
hike
ywnjk
holiday(s)
gaaky
homosexual
tungsinglwn
hospital
yywn
hot yit
hotel
judim
hungry ngaw
husband
lgng
I
I
far ywn
fast a
faai
father
baaba
gausung yungbn
tudngchwng
n yw
food
sikmat
foot geui
free (no charge) a
mnfai
friend
pngyu
fruit
suigww
full mn
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking) bu
glasses (spectacles)
ngangng
go heui
good h
guide (person) n
doyu
limat
luiji
ngw
snfnjing
ill
yubeng
important
jungyiu
injury sung
insurance
bhm
internet
wulwnmwng
interpreter
fanyik
J
jewellery
susk
job
gngjawk
K
key
swsi
kilogram
gnggn
kitchen
chwfwng
knife d
laundry (place)
siydim
lawyer
leuts
left (direction)
jwbn
leg tui
lesbian n
lui tungsinglwn
less si
letter (mail) seun
light n gwwng
like v
tung ytyeung
lock n sw
long chung
lost (ones way)
dawngstlo
love v ngoy
luggage
hngly
lunch
gchan
old l
one-way (ticket)
(
open a
hyfawng
outside
ngoymin
N
name mng
near kn
new sn
newspaper
boj
night
yemaan
no
gdk
noisy cho
nonsmoking
btkpyn
north
bkbin
nose bay
now
yga
number
homa
P
passport
wujiu
pay v
bychn
pharmacy
yeukfwng
phonecard
dinwakat
photo sung
gngchaat
postcard
mngseunpn
yugk
pregnant
waiyan
price
gaachn
Q
quiet
ngwnjing
R
rain n
lawkyw
razor
taid
receipt
sugeui
refund n
teuichn
(by) registered mail
gwaaho
rent v j
repair v
suly
reservation (booking)
yewdeng
restaurant
julu
return (come back) v
fanly
return (ticket)
( ) sungchng (fy)
right (direction)
yaubn
road lo
room fwng
S
safe a
ngwnchwn
sanitary napkin
waisnggn
seat (hard; on train)
ngaangjaw
seat (place)
jawkwi
seat (soft; on train)
ywnjaw
send gay
sex sing
e nglishc ant one se
mail n seun
man (male person)
lamyn
map
dayt
market
gais/ schung HK/China
matches (for lighting)
fchai
meat yuk
medicine (medication)
yyeuk
message
huseun
milk
ngulai
minute
fnjng
mobile phone
sugy
money chn
month yewt
morning
jij
mother
mama
motorcycle
dindanch
mouth hu
) danchng (fy)
59
shampoo n
situsui
share v
gngyung
she kui
sheet (bed)
chwngdan
shirt
sutsam
shoe(s) hai
shop n dim
short (height) ngi
shower
chnglungfwng
single room
danynfwng
skin
pyf
skirt kn
sleep v
fangaau
slowly
maanman
small sai
soap
fyjo
some
ytd
soon faai
south lam
souvenir shop
gaylimbndim
stamp n
yupiu
stand-by ticket
yewttypiu
station
chjaam
stomach t
stop (bus, tram etc) ting
stop (cease)
tingj
street gai
student
hawksang
sun
taaiyung
sunblock
fwngsaaiyu
swim v
yusui
DIC TION ARY
60
tampon
minsk
teeth
ngach
telephone n
dinwa
wndo
that (one)
gwgaw
they
kuiday
thirsty (to be)
gnghawt
this (one)
lygaw
throat
hulng
ticket piu
time n
sgaan
tired gui
tissues
jgn
today
gmyat
toilet
chisw
tomorrow
tngyat
tonight
gmman
toothbrush
ngachat
toothpaste
ngag
dintng
luiyutwn
luihngs
towel
mgn
train n
fch
translate
fanyik
travel agency
luihngs
travellers cheque
luihng jpiu
trousers fu
twin room
sungynfwng
tour n
U
underwear
urgent
disamfu
gnyiu
V
vacant
yu hngkewt
vegetable n
swchoy
vegetarian a
sikjai ge
visa
chmjing
W
walk v
hanglo
wallet
gaw ngnbau
wash si
watch n
subi
water
sui
we
ngwday
weekend
jumut
west
si
wheelchair
luny
when
gys
where
bndo
who
bingaw
why
dmgai
wife
lp
window chung
with
tngmai
without
jngoy
woman
luiyn
write s
Y
yes hai
yesterday
kmyat
you sg ly
you pl
lyday
Chaozhou
TONES
ABOUT CHAOZHOU
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
TRANSPORT & DIRECTIONS
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
EMERGENCIES & HEALTH
ENGLISHCHAOZHOU DICTIONARY
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
70
71
72
75
75
76
79
80
81
tones
Chaozhou is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of
pitch on certain syllables). Tones in Chaozhou fall on vowels, on n and on m when
it appears as a word on its own. The same combination of sounds pronounced with
different tones can have a very different meaning.
Chaozhou has eight tones. In our pronunciation guide theyve been simplified to
seven tones, indicated with accents or underscores on the letters, as shown in the
table below for the vowel a. Note that we havent indicated the tone on m when it
appears as a word on its own in all these instances it carries a low falling tone.
Higher tones involve tightening the vocal cords to get a higher sounding pitch,
while lower tones are made by relaxing the vocal cords to get a lower pitch. Bear
in mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker, eg high
tones are pronounced at the top of ones vocal range. Note also that some tones slide
up or down in pitch.
t on es
high
62
high
high
mid
CHAOZHOU
about Chaozhou
Chaozhou (tio tsiu ue
) is a southern dialect of Chinese and is also known
bodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The total number of speakers within
of speakers internationally. Linguistically, the dialect is closely related to those of
revive it. In recent decades the language has been enriched by new vocabulary reflecting scientific and technical advances. Chaozhou dialect varies from place to place
but local varieties are mutually intelligible. The dialect on which this chapter is based
chaozhou
ab o ut CHAOZHO U
63
pronunciation
Vowels
Symbol
English sound
p r on uncia tio n
English sound
father
bed
bet
good
ew
as the oo in soon with

the lips spread widely
hat
bit (in syllables ending in

-k, -m, -ng, -p);
machine (in syllables
ending in a vowel)
tickle; like English g but

unvoiced
kit
ought
lot
rule
man
not
ng
ring (both at the start

and at the end of words)
nipple; like English b but

unvoiced
pet
glottal stop (the sound

heard between uh-oh)
sun
little; like English d but

unvoiced
top
ts
cats
ts
like ts, but with a strong

puff of air following
zero
In this chapter, the Chaozhou pronunciation is given in green after each phrase.
64
Consonants
Symbol
In Chaozhou vowels can appear in

combinations of two (diphthongs) or
three (triphthongs). All vowels in
combinations are always pronounced
they are simply pronounced in series.
nasalised (pronounced with air escaping
through the nose). In our pronunciation guides the nasalised vowels are
indicated with ng after the vowel.
essentials
Yes.
No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Excuse me. (asking for
directions/assistance)
Sorry.
s
m s
lw ch
tsoi sia lw
tu m ts
tsing mung
tu m ts
(
(
(
)
)
Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
lw i tseng ts bi
u (m) me
u (bi) tng tio tsiu ue
tsi tng ke ku
tng mang ti
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
sang
tseq
poiq
ku
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
tse
tsek peq
tsek tsaing
tsek peq buang
lang uage dif f icult ie s C HAOZH OU
Do you speak (English)?

Do you understand?
I (dont) speak
Chaozhou.
65
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
(
(
(
(
)
)
)
)
hng tsi ki tim

(tsap) tim
(tsap) tim tsap ngung hung
(tsa
(tsap) tim s tsap
ngung hung

(
ti tiang si (kai s)
(It starts) At 10.

(
tsap tim (kai s)
(tsap gueq tsap poiq ho)
Its (18 October).

(
t ime & da te s
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
66
sunrise
afternoon
sunset
uq
tsong ngung
spring
summer
autumn
winter
tsung ting
he ting
tsiu ting
tang ting
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
tseng ki ek
tseng ki z
tseng ki sang
tseng ki
tseng ki
tseng ki
tseng ki
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
ek gue
z gue
sang gue
e
e
e
tseq gue
poiq gue
e
e
tsap ek gue
tsap z gue
transport & directions

ts tsia
(
boat
bus
train
kong kang k tsia

hu tsia
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
i
ngeng hang
ua
ai ti hng
i
Is this the road to (Haibin Park)?

(
ts tiau lou s m s kw
(ha

lau lw kai u t ti
i kai u
Whats the address?
How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
Can I get there on foot?
ue
ti
ts ni
hing ts/u
a
kiang lo
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns C HAOZHOU
Is this the to
67
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
a
ai tsaing meng
ai h kng
tsung uang ka
ai tu meng
accommodation
Wheres a guest house?
ti k piang kung
Wheres a hotel?
ti
Can you recommend somewhere cheap?
a
ai ping
ai h
kai li
Can you recommend somewhere good?
a cc o mm o dat ion
kai li
Id like to stay at a locally run hotel.
ek kaing png ti
kui kai l kung
u ing tiang pang kaing
u w tiang
Do you have a room?
double (suite)
single
twin

oq tso
Id like to stay for (three) nights.
(
68

ang kaing ka
(
ao (mo tng)

(
ung to
u ka
ng kim

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
i k
tse
kong e

o
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
tso mng
eng hoq ng ki
su miau ki

lw ka
e ho b s zioq tsoi
The number is
e ho
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns CHAOZH OU
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
69
sightseeing
Id like to see some local sights.
ai tsek seng
kng tim
Id like to see
Whats that?
e
Can I take a photo?
e
Id like to go somewhere off the beaten track.
ang kai iu keq tso
ai ti
kia
oq zioq tsoi si kang
s ightse e ing
sights
Haimen Lotus Blossom Hill
Lin Baixin International
Convention Centre
Seaview Promenade
Shntu University
Temple of Matsu
tong sng tou king tsng
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
70
ai hue hong
lim peq heng ko
i tong sim
kuang hi tsia
suang ta
Where can I buy locally produced goods?

Where can I buy locally produced souvenirs?
t ti
a
ai
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
e
How much is it?
zioq tso
tsia
ok lai

)
keq lew (ngu ka

nng siu sng ng k b

ti tuang tsu
less
enough
more
tsi
ngam ngam
tsoi
bigger
smaller
tsoi
meeting people
Hello.
Goodbye.
Goodbye. (to person
leaving)
lw h
m ee ting p eo p le C HAOZH OU
Do you accept credit cards?
71
m ak ing c o nve rs atio n
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
seng seng
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
lw tsu kng tsai seng

h h, lw ne
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older/younger)
son
wife
ts kai/ui s u ka
hiang t
nou king
tsu king
pq tseng
peng u
siu ts
inf/pol
tu sing
ts/mue
ki
inf/pol
making conversation
Do you live here?
Where are you going?
Do you like it here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Are you here on holiday?
o
lw ing kw ti
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
u la
tsiak pung bue

lw s m s la
tsuq tse
liu
How long are you here for?

lw ing la
Im here for (four) weeks.
(
72
inf/pol
Can I take a photo (of you)?

(
Do you speak (Chaozhou)?

(
lw i tng (tio tsiu ue) bi
What language do you speak at home?

lw t li tng meq ue
What do you call this in (Chaozhou)?
(
io tsiu ue)
ts ni
Whats this called?

Id like to learn some (Chaozhou).
Is this a local custom?

i hng ka
local talk
Great! (food/things)
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
Just joking.
u
tng tsek e
bo sew
m
h h h
m ak ing co nver sat ion C HAOZH OU
(
)
u sing ing oq ku k (tio tsiu ue)
lw ing u k lw ku k
73
Where are you from?
lw ti
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
kia n ti
eng koq
mi koq
Whats your
occupation?
74
ai
kang tsaq kai
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
paing kong sek na

kang tsing
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
oq tso
lw
lw kai tsu king s
lw kai king s
Im years old.
He/She is years old.
Too old!
Im younger than I look.
Are you married?
Do you have a family?
I live with someone.
kaq lu
u ting k la
lw kaq hung bue
lw tseng ke bue
u ka
Im
married
single
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
tuang seng
(
go
feelings & opinions

Im
Im not
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
kng tsiang
What do you think of it?

awful (quality)
awful (taste)
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
iong
u s
ngi s
bo
hui siong h
farewells
Tomorrow Im leaving.
If you come to (Scotland), you can stay with me.
(
)
ki hu la
tioq lai tsue u
Keep in touch!
po ti lia
fee lings & o p inio ns C HAOZH OU
I feel
I dont feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
tu kng
75
Its been great meeting you.

zeng seq lw u hui si
Heres my (address).
(
ai (ti ts)
Whats your (email)?

(
lw ka
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
tsek lou peng ang

kiong h kiong h
ung
eating out
e at ing ou t
Where would you

go for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
76
oq kw ti
paing toq
kw kiang kng tsk hu
iq
king kai
ti
local specialities
yum cha
Can you recommend
a ?
bar
cafe
dish (food item)
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
ai
e
tsu pa
kia hui kung
mi
pu
siu tsia
(hu
Id like a/the
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table
tse
ka
tsu tsu tuang
ti hng teq se
tsi tuang
(bo) tsiak hung ka
Are you still serving food?

e
What would you recommend?
What do you normally eat for breakfast?
tsaq tsang tsek puang tsia
Whats in that dish?
ts ka
eng meq kai lia
ai
Whats that called?

Ill have that.
ek kai
lak tsio
bi tseng
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
tsek hung
tsek kai sang bung ti
hw tsek kai
ts ka
(kaq) hiam
e ating o ut C HAOZH OU
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
77
u hoq h huang ts ka
That was delicious!
Im full.
tsia
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
tsaq tsang
ung
mng pung
tsu
m liau
e at ing ou t
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
78
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
kng
gang kng
kung tsuang k
kung tsuang
(
(
)
)
(
(
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
fresh drinking yoghurt
(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
)
)
(tse
(tse
kia (gu n)
a
le
ou le
sng n
(tseng) tsap
ap
k tsi
sng bue tng

Ill pay.
ing tsia
u tsing keq
ai m
liau lw ing tsia
kang pue
Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
a shot of (whisky)
tse
tsek pue (ui sw k)

tsek peng/tsek pue
u to tsu
street eats
Chaozhou steamed dumplings
corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
oyster omelette
radish cake
sticky rice in bamboo leaves
wonton soup
tio tsiu hng ku

kiu
tsiang kiu
pau
o luaq
tsi tau ko
hung tung

Do you have vegetarian food?
bo
ek kai mi
a
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies C HAOZH OU
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
i tsu
pue
tua tsung
si tsung
79
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
n ts png
hi tsing
e m erge ncie s & he alt h
emergencies & health

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
ku miang
lw tsu kui
tio
a
siu sim
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
li tso tsu kng ka

t ti
ge ui
ui seng
ui ngi
i

a
Im lost.
u m pak lou
tseq s t ti
pi tsuq s t ti
80
e eng e
englishchaozhou dictionary
In this dictionary, words are marked as n (noun), a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular), pl (plural), inf (informal) and
pol (polite) where necessary.
A
accident (mishap)
ng gua
accommodation
ts suaq
adaptor
address n
ti ts
after
air conditioning
airplane
pue ki
airport
alcohol
tsi
all
tsuang pu
allergy
ku ming
ambulance
ku h tsia
and
kaq
ankle
antibiotics
arm
tsu ku
ATM
tse
C
camera
tso song ki
cancel
car
k tsia
cash n
huang
cash (a cheque) v
tsiang huang heng kim
cell phone
tsu ki
centre n
tong sim
cheap
ping
check (bill)
ting tuang
check-in n
chest (body)
heng
children
nou king
cigarette
hung
city
siang ts
clean a
kang tsng
closed
kueng
cold a
collect call
e
come
computer
condom
pi
contact lenses
cook v
l lo
cost n
k keq
credit card
sng ng k
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
day
delay v
dentist
nguing him
ho
tam gou
ge ui
ak
ang
e nglishc haoz ho u
baby
back (of body)
ka tsiaq
backpack
pu pau
bad (behaviour)
bag
pau
baggage
heng l
bank
ngeng hang
bar
tsu pa
bathroom
ek sek/e
battery
beautiful
mi l/ngi pol/inf
bed
meng tsng
beer
pi tsu
before
behind
bicycle
ka taq tsia
big
bill
ting tuang
blanket
blood group
boat
book (make a reservation) v
tiang
bottle
tsung
boy
ta pou king
brakes (car)
breakfast
tsaq tsang
broken (out of order)
seq tiau
bus
kong kang k tsia
business
seng l
buy v
pi
81
depart
li kui
diaper
zi
dinner
mng pung
direct a
tek tsiq
dirty
disabled
tsa
discount v
doctor
ui seng
double bed
sang nang tsng
double room
sang na
drink n
m liau
drive v
kui tsia
driving licence
drug (illicit)
tak png
E
ear
hng
east
tang
eat
economy class
keng ts tsng
electricity
elevator
email
i
embassy
emergency
kng kip tse
English (language)
evening
m
exit n
tsuq ku
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY

82
m
pq tseng
ka kng
su tsing
kip ku siong
tau tng tsng
n
food
tsia
foot
ka
free (of charge)
friend
peng u
fruit
tsu ku
full
mung
G
gift
girl
po li pue
H
half n
hand
tsu
happy
he
i
head n
heart
sim
heavy
help
pang ts
here
high
pol/inf
highway
kau soq gong lou
hike v
ok
holiday
homosexual
ta
hospital
ui ing
hot (food)
sio
hot (weather)
hotel
(be) hungry
tu kng
husband
I
I
F
far
fast
father
glass (drinking)
glasses
ma
go
good
h
guide n
tsew nio king
u
seng hu
ill
seng peng
important
injury (harm)
siong hai
injury (wound)
siong ku
insurance
p him
internet
interpreter
J
jewellery
tsu p
job
kang tsaq
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
to
kong keng
to
laundry (place)
si i pang
lawyer
luk sew
left (direction)
ts
leg (body)
ka
lesbian
a
less
tsi
letter (mail)
light n
teng
like v
h huang
lock n
long
tng
lost
love v
luggage
heng l
lunch
tong ngu pung
old (people)
old (things)
ku
one-way ticket
open a
kui
outside
gua
N
name
near
kng
neck n
new
seng
newspaper
p tsu
night
me hng
no (not this)
m s
noisy
nonsmoking
bo eng ku
north
paq
nose
ping
now
he
number (room/telephone)
ho b
P
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
L
io
e k
si ping
kng tsak
me
i
huai ung
Q
quiet a
tsng
R
rain n
hu
razor
t tsiu to
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
ku ho
rent v
tsou
repair v
siu l
reserve v
r tiang
restaurant
pu
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
lai hue
right (direction)
u
road
lou
room n
pang kaing
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
gue
seat n
ts ui
send
sex (intercourse)
sng kau
sex (gender)
e nglishc haoz ho u
mail n
i
man
na
pol/inf
map
ti
market
tsi
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
gu n
minute
hung tseng
mobile phone
tsu ki
money
month
morning
mother
b tseng
motorcycle
mo toq tsia
mouth
tuang tia
83
shampoo
si huaq tseng
share (a dorm)
ha
she
i
sheet (bed)
tsng tuang
shirt
soq sang
shoes
shop n
short
t
shower n
si
single room
tuang na
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
ng
slow
mang
small
soap
some
tsek seng
soon
tsek e
south
souvenir
stamp
i
stand-by ticket
ha
station (train)
stomach
ui
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
koi
student
hak seng
sun
sunscreen
huang si sng
swim v
i
DIC TION ARY
84
tampon
gueq keng mi sak
telephone n
e
k ung
that
hw kai
they
i nang
(be) thirsty
this
ts kai
throat
ticket
time
si kang
tired
tissues
po
today
toilet
tseq s
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
ge k
toothbrush
ge sueq
toothpaste
ge ko
tour n
l i
iu keq sng sng tong sim

towel
tua ek keng
train n
hu tsia
translate
travel agency
l kia
travellers cheque
l i
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
kng kip
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
tsiak tse
W
walk v
wallet
tsi to
wash (something)
si
watch n
tsu pio
water n
tsu
we
nng
weekend
west
sai
wheelchair
lung ng
when
kai si hau
where
t ti
who
ti
why
ui sm moq
wife
pol/inf
window
teng
with
kaq
without
woman
pol/inf
write
si
Y
yes
yesterday
you
lw/nng sg/pl
Dongbei Hua
TONES
ABOUT DONGBEI HUA
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHDONGBEI HUA DICTIONARY
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
96
99
100
100
103
104
105
tones
Dongbei Hua is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering
of pitch on certain syllables). In this chapter Dongbei Hua is represented with four
tones, as well as a fifth one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone,
we have used symbols above the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table
below for the vowel a. Bear in mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal
range of the speaker, eg the high tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal range.
Note also that some tones slide up or down in pitch.
t on es
high
tone
86
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
DONGBEI HUA
about Dongbei Hua
encounter speakers of Dongbei Hua (
), the northeastern
dialect of Mandarin. Its spoken by around 100 million people and is very similar to
veloped with the arrival of Han immigrants from the southern provinces who came
to this corner abutting Russia and Korea in the early years of the 20th century. The
In the bustling industrial cities of the northeast, Dongbei Hua also has city-specific
ognisable to Mandarin speakers for its distinctive accent and its lively and informal
dongbei hua
ab o ut DON GBE I H UA
87
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
ai
aisle
ch
cheat
air
hair
dog
ao
Mao
fun
ay
pay
go
bet
hat
ee
see
er
her without the r
kid
ew
similar to new,
pronounced with
rounded lips
lot
hit
man
ir
girl with strong r
not
low
ng
ring
oo
tool
pet
or
more
run
cut
sun
sh
shot
In this chapter, the Dongbei Hua

pronunciation is given in green after
each phrase.
top
ts
cats
win
yes
lads
dot, and should be pronounced run

together.
For example:
88
Consonants
jump
essentials
Yes.
No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
directions or assistance)
Sorry.
shr
bi bi

Do you understand?
I understand.
I dont understand.
I (dont) speak Dongbei Hua.
Could you
please ?
repeat that
speak more slowly
ch
lang uage dif f icult ie s DON GBE I H UA
89
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
sr
ly
shr
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
sr shr
ly shr
time & dates
t ime & da te s
What time is it?

Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
this
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
afternoon
sunrise
sunset
90
rr lwr
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
spring
summer
autumn
winter
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Is this the to
boat
bus
train
tswn
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns DO NG BE I HUA
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
91
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (Jln)?
Is it walking distance?
a cc o mm o dat ion
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
Wheres a hotel?
92
yn hng

Do you have a
room?
double (suite)
single
twin
How much is it per person?

Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns DON GBE I H UA
How much is it per night?
93
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
The number is
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
s ightse e ing

sightseeing
Dlin
Mh in
Palace
Sun Island Park in
94
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?

less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
g ler
sho p p ing D ONG BE I HUA
95
meeting people
Hello.
Good morning.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
m e et in g pe o ple
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
Im pleased to
meet you.
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
96
hi zir
r zir
Have you eaten?

Are you here on holidays?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study

Do you speak (Dongbei Hua)?
What do you call this in (Dongbei Hua)?
Whats this called?

Id like to learn some (Dongbei Hua).
m ak ing co nver sat ion DON GB EI H UA
lw shwir
97
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
Where are you from?

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Whats your occupation?
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
Im years old.
Too old!
Are you married?
98
sng, sng, sng

g ler, g ler

Im
married
single
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
yon dong
Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
hi sng
fee lings & o p inio ns DON GBE I H UA
feelings & opinions
99
farewells
If you come to (Scotland) you can stay with me.
Keep in touch!
bo chr lyn see
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
well-wishing
f a re wells
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
eating out
Where would you
go for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
100
Can you recommend

a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
pn zir
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table

Whats in that dish?
What do you normally eat for (breakfast)?
Whats that called?
Ill have that.
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
e ating o ut DON GBE I H UA
101
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
I love the local cuisine.
That was delicious!
Im full.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
e at ing ou t
water
boiled
cold
still mineral
(cup of) coffee
(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
(orange) juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
102
lyng
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
bi
street eats
cold clear bean-flour noodles
corn on the cob
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
pork pie (small)
steamed bread stuffed with meat
zong zir

nrng bo nrng zwr ye
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies DON GB EI H UA

Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
103
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
104
yong yong ma
Im lost.
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
englishdongbei hua dictionary

n
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident (mishap)
ye wi
shr go
accommodation
zo so
adaptor
sr py che
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane
airport
alcohol
all
allergy
ambulance
and hr
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
A
A
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill) n
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
day
delay v
e nglishd o ngb ei hua
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
hwi der
bag
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
yw sr
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle
big
d der
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
bottle
boy
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
105
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
dirty
disabled
discount v
doctor
di foo
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
drivers licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive gwy
eye
DIC TION ARY

106
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
yir hoo
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
F
far
fast
father
glass (drinking)
glasses
go chw
good
guide n
kwi der
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
n
yw
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full
key
yo sr
kilogram
kitchen
knife
gift
girl
jewellery
job
now
number
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost
love v
i
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n
new
newspaper
night
no (not at all)
no (not this)
noisy
nonsmoking
north
nose
old (people)
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
P
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
ho zho
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction) y
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
zwr wy
send
sex (intercourse)
zwr i
e nglishd o ngb ei hua
mail n
man
map
market
matches
meat r
medicine yo
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother
motorcycle
mouth
sho
107
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
y pyo
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach wy
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
108
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
zy ger
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
ko zir
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian n
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something)
watch n
water n
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
window
with di
without
woman
write
Y
yes shr
yesterday
you sg inf
you sg pol
you pl
Hakka
TONES
ABOUT HAKKA
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHHAKKA DICTIONARY
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
117
118
119
120
122
123
124
127
127
129
tones
Hakka is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of pitch
on certain syllables). In this chapter Hakka is represented with four tones, as well as
a fifth one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone, we have used
symbols above the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table below for the
vowel a. Bear in mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the
speaker, eg the high tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal range. Note also
that some tones slide up or down in pitch.
t on es
high
tone
110
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
HAKKA
about Hakka
There are 34 million speakers of Hakka (
) spread across southern
China, with populations also in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Originally
moved south, encountering Cantonese speakers. Their language has proved resolute,
remaining similar to the languages of the Tang and Song dynasties of the 10th century.
However, spoken in scattered regions and across difficult terrain, Hakka is believed to
have absorbed elements of other languages, including the non-Sinitic She language,
evolving into an estimated 30 dialects across south and southeast China and Taiwan.
chapter). Its a Sino-Tibetan language but isnt mutually intelligible with Mandarin or
Cantonese. Enterprising, adventurous and occasionally revolutionary, Hakka speakers,
such as the late Deng Xiaoping, have played an important role in broader Chinese and
Southeast Asian history, rising to become military, business and political leaders.
hakka
ab o ut HAK KA
111
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
112
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
ai
aisle
ch
cheat
air
lair
dog
ao
Mao
fun
ay
say
go
bet
hot
ee
see
hit
kit
go
lot
oo
tool
man
or
more
not
oy
toy
ng
ring
cut
pet
run
sun
sh
shot
top
ts
cats
win
yes
lads
In this chapter, the Hakka

pronunciation is given in purple
after each phrase.
In Hakka, the sound ng (found in English
at the end or in the middle of words,
eg ringing) can appear at the start of
words, or represent an entire word.
Some syllables are separated by a

dot, and should be pronounced run
together.
jump
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Sorry.
h/ng h
nge hao
Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
se
ng
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
lang uage dif f icult ie s HAK KA
Do you understand?
I (dont) speak Hakka.
113
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
t ime & da te s
this
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
afternoon
114
sunrise
sunset
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (Mixin)?
h ng
Whats the address?
How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns HAKK A
Is this the to
(Mixin)?
boat
bus
train
115
Its straight ahead.

Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
a cc o mm o dat ion

Wheres a hotel?
Do you have a room?
double (suite)
single
twin
116

Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport

Id like to
get internet access
The number is
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
ki h m k
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns HAK KA
Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
117
sightseeing
Hua Cheng
Ling-Guang Temple
Mei Zhou
Thousand-Buddha Pagoda
Wu Hua
Zi Jin
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
s ho pp ing

Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
118
ng f

less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
meeting people
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
How are you?
Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
m ee ting p eo p le HAKK A
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
119
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
120
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
mo se
Do you speak (Hakka)?

What do you call this in (Hakka)?
Id like to learn some (Hakka).

Where are you from?
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
m ak ing co nver sat ion HAKK A
Whats this called?
121

Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
nge
Im years old.
fe elin gs & o pin ions
Are you married?

Do you have a family
of your own?
122
Im
married
single
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
ng
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
farewells
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
f arewe lls HAK KA
Keep in touch!
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
123
eating out
Where would you go
for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
e at ing ou t
Can you recommend

a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table
g
Whats in that dish?
124
Whats that called?

Ill have that.
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
that one
two
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
Im full.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
e ating o ut HAK KA
That was delicious!
125
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
(cup of) coffee
(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
hwon ts

lychee juice
(orange) juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
se pyn
e at ing ou t
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass of
wine
red
white
Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
126
fon
street eats
bun (steamed)
corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
flat bread with sesame seeds
pork pie
wonton soup

Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies HAKK A
127
Watch out!
Im lost.
128
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
englishhakka dictionary
n
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident (mishap)
ye y
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane
airport
alcohol
all
allergy
ambulance
and h
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
e nglishha kk a
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
bottle
boy
brakes (car)
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
129
day
delay v
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
direct a
dirty
disabled
discount v
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
driving licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY
130
far
fast
father
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses
go he
good
guide n
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
n
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full
jewellery
job
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
L
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost
love v
y
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n
new
newspaper
night
no (not at all)
no (not this)
noisy
nonsmoking
north
O
old (people)
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
send
e nglishha kk a
mail n
man
map
market
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother
motorcycle
mouth
nose
now
number
131
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small se
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
132
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something)
watch n
water n
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
window
with
without
woman
write
Y
yes h
yesterday
you sg inf/pol
you pl
Hunanese
TONES
ABOUT HUNANESE
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHHUNANESE DICTIONARY
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
142
143
144
147
147
148
151
152
153
tones
Hunanese is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of
pitch on certain syllables). Tones in Hunanese fall on vowels and on z. The same
combination of sounds pronounced with different tones can have a very different
meaning.
Hunanese has six tones, including a neutral tone. In our pronunciation guide the
six tones are indicated with accents or underscores on the letters, as shown in the
table below for the vowel a. Syllables with neutral tone are unmarked, and are usually pronounced in the middle of your natural pitch range.
while lower tones are made by relaxing the vocal cords to get a lower pitch. Bear in
mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker, eg high tones
are pronounced towards the top of ones vocal range. Note also that some tones slide
up or down in pitch.
rising
t on es
134
high
rising
mid
low
rising
HUNANESE
about Hunanese
A Sino-Tibetan language, also known as Xiang, Hunanese (
a
) is
spoken by around 35 million people in central and southwestern Hnn and parts
Hmong and their language has been influenced by these linguistic neighbours,
and by Mandarin in particular. Hunanese is usually classified into two varieties: Old
Xiang, which has absorbed fewer elements of Mandarin; and New Xiang, which is
intelligible to speakers of the Southwestern Mandarin dialect. There are also local
variations of these dialects. Hunanese speakers are noted for their skill as craftspeohas a well-developed television and entertainment industry (the Chinese version of
Pop Idol was filmed here). Try using a few of the phrases that follow and youll be in
perhaps the most well-known Hunanese speaker.
hunanese
ab o ut HU NAN E S E
135
pronunciation
Vowels
p r on uncia tio n
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
nipple; like English b but

unvoiced
aw
loud
ch
cheat
bet
little; like English d but

unvoiced
eu
as the oo in soon with

fat
machine
tickle; like English g but

unvoiced
vote
hat
rule
uh
but
kit
uhw
uh followed by u
lot
i with the lips rounded
man
not
ng

pet
sun
sh
shut
top
ts
like tz, but with a strong

puff of breath following
tz
as in its
yes
win
zero
In this chapter, the Hunanese pronunciation is given in pink after each phrase.
In Hunanese, vowels can appear in
combinations of two (diphthongs).
The vowels in combinations are always
pronounced they are simply
pronounced in series.
Some vowels in Hunanese are nasalised
(pronounced with air escaping through
the nose). In our pronunciation guides
the nasalised vowels are indicated with
ng after the vowel.
136
Consonants
joke
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
directions or assistance)
Sorry. (general apology)
sz/b sz
chn
l hw
fa
Do you understand?
l dhn b la
ng (b) dhn
Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
li l
gng man ding
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
eu
san
lhw
b
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
eu
an
lang uage dif f icult ie s HU N ANE S E
I (dont) speak Hunanese.
137
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
sieng tza
a
a
z
fuhn

uhw (kai sz)
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
t ime & da te s
aw)
138
now
today
tonight
yesterday
tomorrow
sieng tzai
afternoon
sunrise
sunset
sia
tzw san
san
spring
summer
autumn
winter
chyn tieng
sia tieng
chiuhw tieng
duhn tieng
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
an
shin chi eu
shin chi san
shin chi
shin chi lhw
shin chi tieng
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Is this the
boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
(tzan sa) ba
eng
h tseu
tzai l li
tiw wa
i fang
Is this the road to (the Yul Academy)?

z
di lhw ba
li l bang ng tsw ha ta tzai
uhw sang di wei tz hw ba
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns H UN AN E SE
139
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
di tz sz m tz la
hw yng lie
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
tzai
di huhw tuhw
wng tz/iuhw gwi

a
bng bieng
gwi wan di di fang
accommodation
l li ihw bin gng a
a cc o mm o dat ion
Wheres a hotel?
y b
di
y b

y dang di
ng sing di
in da
Do you have a room?
double (suite)
single
twin
140
di
How much is it ?
per night
per person
y (san) tieng

Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
ng di

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
tzai l li
Wheres the local

internet cafe?
bng bieng ihw ung ba b
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
ng sing
sang ung
guhn i
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns HU NAN E S E
141

a haw m sz hw do la
The number is
haw m sz
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
z m tz la

o
a tz

u
uai di di
u
sightseeing
s ightse e ing
Nnyu
Yul Academy
Yul Mountain
Yuyng Temple
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
142
tzai l li
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
a tz ba
z
a

a
k i
in k ba

an sang ihw ting ue
less
enough
more
so
bigger
smaller
da
do
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
l hw
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
shieng suhn
shia hw
un sang hw
tza
un an
ei tz
m ee ting p eo p le H UN AN ES E
meeting people
143
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
Im pleased to
meet you.
This is my
brother (older)
brother (younger)
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
l hw ba
za
ei
go go
mei tz
lw guhn
m
f
son
sister (older)
sister (younger)
wife
tzi
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
chi fan da maw

l sz
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
a
144

y
Do you speak (Hunanese dialect)?
a) ba
aa
What do you call this in (Hunanese dialect)?
i
a)
Whats this called?
a)
z di fang hun shw ba
local talk
Great!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
dhn ha tz
ng sz
maw sz
k
a
m ak ing co nver sat ion H UN AN ES E
Id like to learn some (Hunanese).
145
Where are you from?
l sz
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
146
Im years old.
Too old!
ng sz
ang
a
l
l mei tz
l tzi
Are you married?

a maw
a ba
ng ihw bong da
Im ...
single
married
ng
dan suhn
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
l sh hong ba
ng (b) sh hong
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
ng (b)
l ba?
lhn
ngo
khw gan
li
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
ta
ang di
hw ihw uei di
farewells
uhw da
Keep in touch!
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
z ng di (di dz)
z m tz
fee lings & o p inio ns HU NAN E S E
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
an
147
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
u
guhn sh, guhn sh
tzhw l hw yn
eating out
e at ing ou t
Where would you go

for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
Can you recommend
a ?
bar
cafe
noodle house
dish
restaurant
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
ei
di fang siw chi
ka fei
mieng gng
luhw bieng tan
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table
148
ba
di

(tzw fa
Whats in that dish?
z
Whats that called?
l go han m tz lo
Ill have that.
da
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
That was delicious!
Im full.
chi bw da
e ating o ut HU N ANE S E
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
149
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
tzw fan
tzuhn fan
ia fan
n liaw
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
shyi
kai
lhn kai
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
e at ing ou t

lychee juice
orange juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
song li
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
Cheers!
gan bei
Im feeling drunk.
ng ihw ding tzi da
150
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
bei
da
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
street eats

bau tz
zhw bn
uhw fu
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies H UN AN ES E

dumpling (boiled)
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
pork pie (large)
pork pie (small)
stinky bean curd
wonton soup
151
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
an
zhw
hi shieng
Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
152
in a
tzhw kai
ch h da
shiw shin

l k bang ha ng ba
ng k i ha
a ba
Im lost.
uhw da
ai l li a
ai l li
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
tzai l li
i suhn
englishhunanese dictionary
n
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident (mishap)
jiaw tuhn sz
accommodation
address n
di tz
after
tz huhw
air conditioning
airplane
fei ji
airport
alcohol jihw
all
s ihw di
allergy
g mn
ambulance
and
ankle gui
antibiotics
arm
shw gn tz
ATM
fai g da
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
shieng jin
cell phone
shw ji
centre n
tsuhn shin
change (money) n
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
shin khw
children
cigarette
shiang ieng
city
clean a
gan jin
closed
cold a
collect call
come
ai
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
in k
currency exchange
hi guan
D
in
dangerous
date (time)
day tieng
delay v
dentist
e nglishhun ane se
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bei baw
bad fai
bag baw
baggage
bank
bar ba
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
tz huhw
bicycle
dan tseu
big dai
bill
blanket
tw tz
blood group
boat
bottle
boy
brakes (car)
s tseu
breakfast
tzw fan
bus
business
buy v
mi
153
depart
diaper
a
dinner
ia fan
direct a
dirty
disabled
discount v
d tzu
doctor
i suhn
double bed
double room
drink n
aw
drive v
kai tseu
driving licence
drug (illicit)
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good hw
guide n
E
ear
east duhn
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
dai sz gng
emergency
English (language)
evening
un san
exit n
expensive
eye
ngn jin
far
fast
father
DIC TION ARY
shw tz
154
eng
half n
hand shw
happy
he ta
head n
heart shin
heavy tzuhn
help
here
high gaw
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot y
hotel
(be) hungry ng
husband
ng
ill
suhn bin
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
sang khw
insurance
internet
in tu ung
interpreter
fan
n
food
foot ji
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full bw
key
i sz
kilogram
guhn jin
kitchen
knife
daw tz
gift
girl
mei tz
uhw
u
I
I
bei tz
jewellery
jy bu
job
guhn tz
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction) tz
leg (body)
lesbian
less sw
letter (mail)
light n
guang
like v
lock n
s
long
lost
su g da
love v
luggage
lunch
tzuhn fan
old (people)
old (things) jiuhw
one-way ticket
open a
kai di
outside
wai mieng
N
name
z
near jin
neck n
jn guhn
new shin
newspaper
night
wn san
no (not at all)
noisy
tsw sz da
nonsmoking
north bu
nose
now
shieng tzai
number
z
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
jn ts
postcard
L
a k
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
ngan jin
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
in
restaurant
fan gng
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction) iuhw
road iuhw
room n
S
safe a
ngan jyeng
sanitary napkin
seat n
tz uei
send
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
sh f jin
aw
e nglishhun ane se
mail n shin
man
map
market
matches
meat
medicine i
message
milk
minute
fuhn tzuhn
mobile phone
shw ji
money
month y
morning
tzw san
mother
motorcycle
m t tseu
mouth
155
share (a dorm)
fuhn shing
she ta
sheet (bed)
shirt
ti shy san
shoes
shop n
short dng
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow man
small
soap
some
shie
soon
m san
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
tza
station (train)
h tseu tzan
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street gai
student
shi suhn
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
156
tampon
telephone n
a
that
they
ta muhn
(be) thirsty
k gan
this
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
jin tieng
toilet
tsu s
tomorrow
tonight
jin tieng wn san
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
h tseu
translate
fan
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
k tz
twin-bed room
U
undershirt
underpants
urgent
jn j
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
bu
wallet
wash (something) sh
watch n
water n
we
ng muhn
weekend
tzuhw m
west shi
wheelchair
when
where
tza
who
why
wife
window
with
without
maw du
woman
write
Y
yes sz
yesterday
you sg inf
you sg pol
you pl
Shanghainese
TONES
ABOUT SHANGHAINESE
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHSHANGHAINESE DICTIONARY
158
159
160
161
161
163
164
165
166
166
167
168
171
171
172
175
175
177
tones
Shanghainese is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering
of pitch on certain syllables). Tones in Shanghainese fall on vowels and on z and n. In
this chapter Shanghainese is represented with four tones, as well as a fifth one, the
neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone, we have used symbols above
the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table below for the vowel a. Bear
in mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker, eg the
high tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal range. Note also that some tones
slide up or down in pitch.
t on es
high
tone
158
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
SHANGHAINESE
about Shanghainese
) is evolving as the city attracts immigrants and entrepreneurs, opportunists
and global citizens. The most important dialect of Wu Chinese, Shanghainese has around
the city itself, the dialect might appear brash and uppity: its not mutually intelligible
with other Wu dialects nor is it with Standard Mandarin. Nonetheless, those who come
that Shanghainese is effectively experiencing a generation gap of its own as it moves
with government campaigns to encourage the use of Mandarin only, some fear for the
future of the dialect. But, while Shanghainese is rarely heard in schools or in the media,
shanghainese
ab o ut SHAN GHAIN ES E
159
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
aw
saw
ch
cheat
ay
say
dog
ee
see
ds
lads
er
mother (without
the r)
fun
ew
few
go
bit (very short)
hot
mock (very short)
jump
oe
as the e in send,
with rounded lips
kid
oo
took
lot
uh
uh-huh
man
ung
rung
not
urr
purr (strongly
pronounced rr)
ng
ring
pet
run
sun
sh
shot
top
ts
cats
very
win
yes
zero
zh
pleasure
In this chapter, the Shanghainese

pronunciation is given in red after each
phrase.
In Shanghainese, some consonants and
consonant combinations (dz, ng, m, sz
and z) can appear at the start of words, or
represent an entire word.
160
Consonants
Symbol
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
direction/assistance)
Sorry.

Do you understand?
I (dont) speak Shanghainese.
Could you please ?
repeat that
speak more slowly
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
lang uage dif f icult ie s S HAN GHAIN E SE
ching
nong haw
161
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
sy
sz
l
jer
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
nyy suh

(It starts) At 10.
t ime & da te s
Its (18 October).

yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
sunrise
sunset
this
afternoon
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
spring
summer
autumn
winter
162
cher tee
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Is this the to
boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (the Bund)?
ze
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns S HANG HAI N ES E
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
163
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
a cc o mm o dat ion

Wheres a hotel?
How much per night?
How much per person?
Do you have a
room?
double
single
twin
164
luh


Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
The number is
ngo shung
dung ying
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns SHAN GHAIN ES E
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
165
sightseeing
Id like to see
ngo shung koe
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
s ightse e ing
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
sightseeing
The Bund
Chngmng Island
Huangpu River
Nnj ng Road
Oriental Pearl Tower
166

Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
ngo shung m
jee de
tuh jew luh

less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
saw
do
ngay
meeting people
Hello.
Good morning.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
nong haw
m ee ting p eo p le S HAN G HAIN E S E
167
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
This is my
brother (older)
brother (younger)
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older)
sister (younger)
son
wife
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Are you here on
holidays?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
168
noong haw
tsuh ts

Do you speak (Shanghainese)?
What do you call this in (Shanghainese)?
Id like to learn some (Shanghainese).


local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
dsay
y
m muh z tee
haw, haw, haw
m ak ing co nver sat ion S HAN GHAIN E S E
nerng gung
Whats this called?
169
Where are you from?

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
ngo zoong ly

Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
How old ?
are you (to child)
is your daughter
is your son
170
How old are you? (to adult)

Im years old.
Too old!
ngo dsoo
nong
ngo soe
ye soe
Are you married?

Im
married
single
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
ngo
nong zrng g luh va
koe sz
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
ny
ngo
ge
chuh l
v
j

Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
farewells
Keep in touch!
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
law lng
fee lings & o p inio ns SHAN GHAIN ES E
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
nong va
171
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
eating out
e at ing ou t
Where would you go

for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
172
Can you recommend

a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
duh chee
va
brng
teahouse
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking
table
ngo yaw
jer sz day

Whats in that dish?
Whats that called?
Ill have that.
y uh jaw sa
ny yi dsuh
yr
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
y mee dsuh
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
law haw
That was delicious!

Im full.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
jer
e ating o ut S HAN GHAIN ES E
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
173
water
boiled
cold
mineral
sz
kwung zhoe
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
e at ing ou t

Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass of
wine
red
white
174
hong
street eats

Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
ngo day goo mng

ny

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
jer mng
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies S HAN GHAIN E S E

corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
egg and spring onion pancake
pork pie (large)
wonton soup
175
Im lost.
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
176
englishshanghainese dictionary
n
A
accident (mishap)
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane
airport
alcohol
all
allergy
ambulance
and
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
sg
pl
bottle
boy
brakes (car)
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
e nglishsh angha ines e
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
177
day
delay v
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
direct a
dirty
disabled
discount v
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
driving licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY
178
far
fast
father
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good
guide n
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
n
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full
jewellery
job
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
L
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost
love v
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n
new
newspaper
night
no (none)
no (not this)
noisy
nonsmoking
O
old (people)
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
P
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
e nglishsh angha ines e
mail n
man
map
market
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother
motorcycle
mouth
north
nose
now
number
179
send
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
180
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something)
watch n
water n
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
window
with
without
woman
write
Y
yes
yesterday
you sg
you pl
Sichuanese
TONES
ABOUT SICHUANESE
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHSICHUANESE DICTIONARY
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
190
191
192
194
195
196
199
200
201
tones
Sichuanese is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of
pitch on certain syllables). In this chapter Sichuanese is represented with four tones,
as well as a fifth one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone, we
have used symbols above the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table
t on es
high
tone
182
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
SICHUANESE
about Sichuanese
Its classified as a southwestern dialect of Mandarin, but if it were viewed as a language
in its own right Sichuanese (
), with 120 million speakers, would
95% Han Chinese with a small Tibetan minority, who also speak Sichuanese and
their dialect is regarded as one of the most uniform in China. The Sichuanese dialect is
and if you wander across to Chngqng youll hear the same dialect spoken. There are
some variations locals say, for example, that the Chngqng accent is different to
Sichuanese speakers, as the grammar and vocabulary are very similar. Its through its
pronunciation that Sichuanese marks out its own linguistic territory. Perhaps its the
creates the nasal twang and clipped vowels that make Sichuanese distinctive.
sichuanese
ab o ut SI CH UAN E S E
183
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
ai
aisle
ch
cheat
air
lair
dog
ao
Mao
fun
au
haul
go
ay
pay
hot
bet
jump
ee
see
kit
er
her
lot
ew
new, with
rounded lips
man
hit
not
home
ng
ring
oo
tool
pet
good
run
In this chapter, the Sichuanese pronunciation is given in orange after each

phrase.
sun
sh
shot
top
Note that r is always pronounced

wherever it appears, including after a
vowel (like in American English).
ts
cats
win
yes
lads
zh
pleasure
Some syllables are separated by a dot,

and should be pronounced closely
together.
For example:
184
Consonants
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
se/bo se
le ho
Do you understand?
I understand.
I dont understand.
Could you please ?
repeat that
speak more slowly
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
ln
e
wo
chi
jy
se
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
r se
se se
wo se
ly se
ch se
jy se
lang uage dif f icult ie s S IC HUANE S E
I (dont) speak Sichuanese.
185
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
At what time
(does it start)?
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
t ime & da te s
this
morning
(after breakfast)
afternoon
186
sunrise
sunset
spring
summer
autumn
winter
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
zo sng
re lu
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Is this the
boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (Tianfu Plaza)?
y jw
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns S IC H UAN E SE
187
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
Wheres a hotel?
a cc o mm o dat ion

Do you have a
room?
double
single
twin
188
yw ho ywn


Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
The number is
sng wng
d yn
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns SI C HUAN E S E
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
189
sightseeing
de d jn dyn
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
l se s ze
sightseeing
s ightse e ing
Du Fus Cottage
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
Where can I buy locally produced goods?
de d to tsn
190
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
so
shyo
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
How are you?
Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
le ho
zo sng ho
zi jyn
shyo jyir
m ee ting p eo p le S IC H UAN ES E
meeting people
191
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
Do you speak (Sichuanese)?
192
lwr
lo hr
png y
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
ts b ze
ku ye ku ye ku ye
g lu g lu
What do you call this in (Sichuanese)?
Id like to learn some (Sichuanese).

)
Where are you from?
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
by ln
m ak ing co nver sat ion S IC H UAN ES E
Whats this called?
193
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
Im years old.
Too old!
Are you married?
le
le d lwr
wu y lo p lyo
fe elin g & o pinio ns
Im
married
single
194
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
ln
r
u
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
farewells
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
zo le ho yon
f arewe lls SI C HUAN E S E
Keep in touch!
195
eating out
Where would you go
for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
bn se
dyn d
local specialities
yum cha
Can you recommend
a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
e at ing ou t
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table
Whats in that dish?
196
Ill have that.

Whats that called?
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
d swn
y
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
e kwi
e fn
l e gu
That was delicious!

Im full.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
(ti) l
chi bo l
jy
e ating o ut S IC HUANE S E
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
197
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
hng ch
chee swy
e at ing ou t

Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
198
shyo pn
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass of
wine
red
white
hng
street eats

len bu len zu gau bo fang
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
wu dy
li ze pn
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies S IC H UAN ES E
braised Dongpo pork hock

with brown sauce
corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
pork lungs in chilli sauce
pork pie (small)
tofu with minced meat in a
spicy sauce
twice-cooked pork
wonton soup
199

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
200
Im lost.
chee hu l
yo dyn
englishsichuanese dictionary
n
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident (mishap)
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane
airport
alcohol jy
all
allergy
ambulance
and
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold (weather) a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
e nglishsic huan ese
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
bottle
boy
brakes (car)
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
201
day
delay v
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
direct a
dirty
disabled
discount v
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
driving licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY
202
far
fast
father
n
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good
guide n
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
jewellery
job
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
L
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost (items)
love v
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n
new
newspaper
night
no (not at all)
no (wrong)
noisy
nonsmoking
north
O
old (people)
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
send
e nglishsic huan ese
mail n
man
map
market
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother
motorcycle
mouth k
nose
now
number
203
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
204
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something) v
watch n
water n
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
window
with
without
woman
write
Y
yes (right)
yesterday
you sg inf
you sg pol
you pl
Xian
TONES
ABOUT XIAN
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHXIAN DICTIONARY
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
215
216
219
219
220
223
224
225
tones
Xian is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of pitch on
certain syllables). In this chapter Xian is represented with four tones, as well as a fifth
one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone, we have used symbols
above the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table below for the vowel
a. Bear in mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker,
eg the high tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal range. Note also that some
tones slide up or down in pitch.
t on es
high
tone
206
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
XIAN
invented Chinese characters. During the Zhou dynasty (1100221 BC) the citys dialect, a form of Old Chinese noted for its melodiousness and singsong intonation, was
promoted as the standard language across the realm. During the same era, the stony-
remained a bastion of the Mandarin language. These days, Xian dialect (

ken across the central plains and the reaches of the Yellow River. It doesnt share its
ancient predecessors reputation for melodiousness, but is characterised by its clever
use of adjectives related to body parts and the 12 animals of the zodiac.
xian
ab o ut XIAN
207
pronunciation
RE GION runnin
g hea
dn
p r on uncia
tio
Vowels
208
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
ai
aisle
ch
cheat
ao
Mao
dog
ay
say
fun
bet
go
ee
see
hat
er
her
jump
ew
new with rounded

lips
kid
ewe
ew followed by e
lot
hit
man
cold
not
oo
tool
ng
ring
or
more
pet
cut
run
sun
sh
shot
top
ts
cats
win
yes
lads
In this chapter, the Xian pronunciation is

given in brown after each phrase.
The nasal sound ng (found in English at
the end or in the middle of words, eg
ringing), can represent an entire word
in Xian.
and should be pronounced closely
together.
dyener
essentials
Yes./No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Sorry.
chng
n ho
I (dont) speak Xian.
n mng bay boo
ng (boo) mng bay
Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
chng n
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
yee
sun
wo
lyo
chee
ba
jy
sh
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
sun sh
wo sh
lyo sh
chee sh
ba sh
jy sh
ye bay
ye chyen
lang uage dif f icult ie s XIAN
Do you understand?
209
time & dates
t ime & da te s
What time is it?

Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
At what time
(does it start)?
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
210
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
z tyen
jin tyen
this
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
afternoon
jy ger
zo shung
sunrise
sunset
r choo
r lwor
spring
summer
autumn
winter
choon tyen
mng tyen
dong tyen
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
yee ywe
sun ywe
wo ywe
lyo ywe
chee ywe
ba ywe
jy ywe
sh ywe
sh yee ywe

Is this the
boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (the Bell Tower)?
shwn
cher
hwr cher
yn hng
y jo
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns XI AN
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
211
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
a cc o mm o dat ion
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
Wheres a hotel?
212
z z
chyn byen
gwi jewe
wo da
Do you have a room?

double (suite)
single
twin
y mer y jyen
dun rrn
shwung rrn

my tyen dwor chyen
my rrn dwor chyen
nrng gy b fng jyen yewe si boo

(kng tyo) y wrn te
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
ng dee
ya jin

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
so myo
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns XIAN
ng nrng dwor n ee tyo

boo
213

The number is
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
s ightse e ing
ng nrng pay boo
sightseeing
Army of Terracotta Warriors
Big Goose Pagoda
Famen Temple
Hukou Waterfall
Qian Tomb
Tang Paradise Theme Park
214
chyn lng
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop

Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
dwor chyn

gy n (woo kwi) chyen
sho
dwor
meeting people
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
n ho
zo shung ho
sho p p ing X IAN
less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
215
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
shyen serng
shyao jye
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
prng yo
m
r zi
shee fer
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
216
shyoong dee
chee lye mer

ng li jerer
cho tsai
ly shwe

Do you speak (Xian)?

What do you call this in (Xian)?
za shwor
Whats this called?
Id like to learn some (Xian).
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
hi shng
nrng chrng
m ak ing co nver sat ion XI AN
217
Where are you from?
n tsong da lai
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
ng tsng lai
yng gway
shin shee ln
my gway
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
218
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
Im years old.
Too old!
Are you married?
Im
married
single
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
by lng
gong jyung
n
ng hi sway
n jy hoon lye mer
n chrng jya lye mer
ng
jy hoon lye
dn shern
tng ger
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
ng (boo)
n boo
rer
ng
ker
jao je
farewells
Keep in touch!
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
hi shng
fee lings & o p inio ns XIAN
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
219
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
eating out
e at ing ou t
Where would you go

for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
Can you recommend
a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking
table
220
boo
jy ba
k fy woo
pner
(hon toon) tuner
ye jung (wo ger

rrn dee) jwor zi
jy shwy dun
(boo) she yun dee

jwor zi

hi yng ye boo
Whats in that dish?
Whats that called?
Ill have that.
li yee ger
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
That was delicious!
Im full.
gwr rr
y
chng gy ng
wy ge
e ating o ut XIAN
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
l zi
221
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
jy
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
fy
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
(ye bay) k fay

(ye bay) ts
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
hng ts
jw hwa ts
lew ts
hwa ts
woo lng ts
bo jya (tng)
e at ing ou t

(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
(chrng) ji

ng chng kay
Cheers!
gun
Im feeling drunk.
222
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
yee pe jy
bay
shyo png
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass
of wine
red
white
po tao jy
hng
by
street eats
deep-fried persimmon pastry
dumpling stuffed
with hot gravy
che sun gwor kway
lyng pe

Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
gwr rrner
hi shyen
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies XI AN
rice and jujube cake

roasted mutton cubes on spit
Shaanxi sandwich
shredded pancake with beef
steamed cold noodles
223

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
z kai
chwr hwr lye
tso shin
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
y yee
224
ha boo
Im lost.
englishxian dictionary
In this dictionary, words are marked as n (noun), a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular), pl (plural), inf (informal) and
pol (polite) where necessary.
accident (mishap)
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
kng tyo
airplane
fy jee
airport
alcohol jy
all
swr y dee
allergy
ambulance
and hr
ankle hwi
antibiotics
arm
ATM
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
sh jee
centre n
change (money) v
lng chyn
cheap
pyn yee dee
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
r tng
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come li
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
dangerous
date (time)
day tyen
delay v
er zi
e nglishx ian
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag bao
baggage
shng lee
bank
yn hng
bar
jy ba
bathroom
zao tung
battery
beautiful
bed chwng
beer
pe jy
before
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat shwn
bottle png
boy
brakes (car)
s cher
breakfast
bus cher
business
buy v
mi
yn ts
225
dentist
depart
cho fa
diaper
dinner
direct a
dirty
zung dee
disabled
discount v
d jr
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
ki cher
driving licence
drug (illicit)
ear
east dong
eat chi
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY
far
fast
father
226
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good
ho dee
guide n
do y
half n
hand sh
happy
he t
head n
t
heart shing
heavy
help
here
j da
high
highway
hike v
holiday
jy chee
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ng
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
n
yw
food
foot jewe
free (of charge)
friend
prng yo
fruit
shway gwr
full
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
gift
girl
jewellery
job
sh shi
cho fng
shyo dao
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction) zwr
leg (body) twy
lesbian
less sho
letter (mail)
light n
gwung
like v
lock n
swr
long
chng dee
lost (items)
ye shi dee
love v
luggage
lunch
mail n
man
nn rrn
map
market
matches
hwr tsi
meat
medicine yewe
message
milk
ny ni
minute
mobile phone
sh jee
money chyn
month yewe
morning
zo shung
mother ma
motorcycle
mwr twr cher
mouth k
old (people) lo
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
y jo
pregnant
price n
quiet a
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
cho zoo
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back) hwn
return (go back)
hwy lai
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
fng jyen
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
send
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
e nglishx ian
name
mng zi
near
neck n
br zi
new
newspaper
night
no (not at all)
no (not this)
noisy
nonsmoking
north bay
nose
be zi
now
number
227
T
T
she t
sheet (bed)
chwng dun
shirt
tsern sun
shoes hi
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
pe foo
skirt n
chon zi
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south nn
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street jye
student
shwe serng
sun
sunscreen
swim v
y yng
DIC TION ARY
228
tampon
telephone n
that
wy ger
they
ta mern
(be) thirsty
this
jy ger
throat
h long
ticket
time
s jyen
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
mng tyen
tonight
tooth ny
toothbrush
ny shwa
toothpaste
tour n
towel
mo jin
train n
hwr cher
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
wallet
chyn bao
wash (something)
watch n
water n
fy
we
ng mern
weekend
j mor
west shee
wheelchair
when
where
who sy
why
wife
lo pwor
window
with hr
without
woman
write
Y
yes
yesterday
z tyen
you sg inf
you sg pol
n
you pl
ni mern
Yunnan Hua
TONES
ABOUT YUNNAN HUA
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHYUNNAN HUA DICTIONARY
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
243
244
245
248
248
249
tones
Yunnan Hua is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering
of pitch on certain syllables). In this chapter Yunnan Hua is represented with four
tones, as well as a fifth one, the neutral tone. Apart from the unmarked neutral tone,
we have used symbols above the vowels to indicate each tone, as shown in the table
t on es
high
tone
230
high rising
tone
high falling
tone
YUNNAN HUA
about Yunnan Hua
Ynnn may well be Chinas most diverse province. In the far southwest of the
country it borders Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Tibet; its noted for the variety of its
topography and myriad plant species, and is the most ethnically diverse province in
China, boasting communities of 25 of Chinas 56 recognised nationalities. These various communities speak a range of tongues from Tibeto-Burmese, Tai and HmongMien language families. Despite this linguistic diversity, Yunnan Hua (yn nn hw
) is broadly lumped together with other southwestern dialects of Mandarin
because of its similarity to Standard Mandarin. Yunnan Hua evolved this way due
to the influx of Mandarin speakers from northern China in recent centuries. To the
trained ear the only different elements of Yunnan Hua are a strong accent and some
minor differences in pronunciation and grammatical structure. The idiom of the City
dialect of Yunnan Hua, featuring some idiosyncratic pronunciations.
yunnan hua
ab o ut YUN N AN H UA
231
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
232
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
father
bed
ai
aisle
ch
cheat
air
lair with strong r
dog
ao
Mao
fun
ay
say
go
taken
hat
ea
yeah
jump
ee
see
kid
er
her
lot
ew
as in new, with
rounded lips
man
hit
no
low
ng
ring
oo
tool
pet
or
more
run
cut
sun
sh
shot
top
ts
cats
win
yes
lads
In this chapter, the Yunnan Hua

pronunciation is given in brown after
each phrase.
essentials
Yes.
No.
Please
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
bo hr
chng
zi jyn gr
m fn y h
Do you understand?
I (dont) speak Yunnan Hua.
Could you please ?
repeat that
speak more slowly
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
y
s
wo
lo
ch
b
sh
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
s sh
wo sh
lo sh
ch sh
b sh
lang uage dif f icult ie s YUN N AN HUA
233
time & dates
t ime & da te s
What time is it?

Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11).
minutes past (10).)
At what time
(does it start)?
(It starts) At 10.
Its (18 October).
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
sunrise
sunset
this
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
afternoon
spring
summer
autumn
winter
234
jy h
jy g
zo shng
shng wo
shyr wo
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Is this the to
boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
Is this the road to (the Green Lake)?
chn
yn hng
yw je
tr ansp o r t d ire ct ion s YU N NAN H UA
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
235
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn left/right.
Its straight ahead.
a cc o mm o dat ion
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
accommodation
Wheres a hotel?
236
zi
gwi jr
ny da
Do you have a
room?
double
single
twin
to


Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
ho jyo

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
get internet access
use a printer
use a scanner
zi n da
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns YUN N AN HUA
237
The number is
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
s ightse e ing
ny g sh n yng
Can I take a photo?
sightseeing
Green Lake
Shangri-la
Dragon Snow Mountain)
238
ho
tswy ho
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?

less
enough
more
sho
zo g
bigger
smaller
gyn d
sho p p ing Y UN N AN H UA
239
meeting people
Hello.
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
zi jyn g
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
240
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
This is my
brother
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
shng hwy
nn ryn
dwy shyung
she fo
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study

Do you speak (Yunnan Hua)?
What do you call this in (Yunnan Hua)?
Whats this called?

Id like to learn some (Yunnan Hua).

lyw shr
m ak ing co nver sat ion YU NN AN H UA
wn
241
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
m d s
bo kr nyn
Where are you from?

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
242
bn jy
m fn
wr tsng li
o d l y
my gr
Im years old.
Too old!
Are you married?
wr swy
Im
married
single
wr
feelings & opinions

Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
wr (bo)
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
wr (bo) jr d
What do you
think of it?
jyr j
fee lings & o p inio ns YUN N AN HUA
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
243
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
ti wo lyo l
bn jy
farewells
Keep in touch!
f a re wells
chng lyn sh
244
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
eating out
Where would you go
for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking
table
y g
myn gn
shyo ch dyn
ch sh
wr yo
e ating o ut YUN N AN HUA
Can you recommend

a ?
bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
245
Whats in that dish?
jy do tsi sh yng nn
Whats that called?

Ill have that.
ny g hn n yng
jyng da li m
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
bo yo fng
d swn
yw
lyng g
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
e at ing ou t
That was delicious!

Im full.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
zo dyn
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
shwy
jyng
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
246
wn fn
jw
kng chwn ch
kng chwn
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
sour plum drink
hng ch
lo ch
che shwy

Cheers!
Im feeling drunk.
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
y pe jw
d png
shyo png
a bottle/glass of
wine
red
white
hng
br
street eats
corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
pork pie (small)
rice cake
rice noodles
wonton soup
lyng fn
shyn bng
hwn dyn
e ating o ut YUN N AN HUA
a shot of (whisky)
247

Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
wo gr mn
ni jy pn
r
gr ryn

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
Wheres the nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
jw mng
yr fng


pi cho sr zi n da
ts sr zi n da
Im lost.
248
englishyunnan hua dictionary

n
sg
pl
inf
pol
A
accident (mishap)
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane
airport
alcohol jw
all
allergy
ambulance
and
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
A
A
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
day
e nglishyunna n hua
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
bottle
boy
brakes (car)
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
249
delay v
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
direct a
dirty
disabled
discount v
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
driving licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
DIC TION ARY
250
far
fast
father
n
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit
full
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good
guide n
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
jewellery
job
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife
L
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost
love v
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n
new
newspaper
night
no (not at all)
no (not this)
noisy
nonsmoking
north
O
old (people)
old (things)
one-way ticket
open a
outside
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor
receipt n
refund n
registered (mail)
rent v
repair v
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back)
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
send
sex (intercourse)
e nglishyunna n hua
mail n
man
map
market
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother
motorcycle
mouth
nose
now
number
251
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes
shop n
short
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
252
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
throat
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something)
watch n
water n
we
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why
wife
window
with
without
woman
write
Y
yes
yesterday
you sg inf
you sg pol
you pl
Zhuang
TONES
ABOUT ZHUANG
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHZHUANG DICTIONARY
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
262
263
264
267
268
268
272
272
273
tones
Zhuang is a tonal language (tonal quality refers to the raising and lowering of
pitch on certain syllables). Tones in Zhuang fall on vowels. The same combination of
sounds pronounced with different tones can have a very different meaning.
Zhuang has nine tones. In our pronunciation guide theyve been simplified to six
tones, indicated with accents on the letters, as shown in the tables below for the
vowel a. Weve represented the following tones with one symbol: high flat, high
even and high even short (eg ); high rising and high rising long (eg ); mid flat and
mid flat short (eg a). The last value for all three tones applies when the syllable ends
in k, p or t.
while lower tones are made by relaxing the vocal cords to get a lower pitch. Bear in
mind that the tones are relative to the natural vocal range of the speaker, eg the high
tone is pronounced at the top of ones vocal range. Note also that some tones slide up
or down in pitch.
ZH UAN G t on es
high
254
high
high
mid
mid
ZHUANG
about Zhuang
Zhuang (vaashueng) is a Tai-Kadai language related to Thai and Lao. Its spoken prigroup, with a population of around 18 million. Zhuang is tonal and largely monosyllabic. For many centuries, Zhuang has been written with a script borrowed from
fangkuaizi, square characters), but since the 1950s the government has promoted a system of romanisation called Zhuangwen. Zhuangwen can
be seen on road signs, official documents and in newspapers, and educated people
script to write Zhuang. In this chapter, we have provided a more user-friendly transliteration system rather than Zhuangwen. There are two main dialects of Zhuang:
northern and southern. The northern dialect represented here is based on that of
book and a spirit of goodwill and adventure, youll get along surprisingly well.
zhuang
ab o ut ZH UAN G
255
pronunciation
Vowels
ZH UAN G p r on uncia tio n
Symbol
256
English sound
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
run
like English b, but

unvoiced
aa
father
like English d, but

unvoiced
bet
fat
ee
like e, but longer
like English g, but

unvoiced
ew
as the oo in soon, with

hat
hit
as in luck, but with no

ii
machine
lot
vote
man
oo
like o, but longer
mb
a strongly voiced b
put
not
uu
like u, but longer
nd
a strongly voiced d
ng

as in nap, but with no

roach (guttural)
sh
ship
as in hat, but with no

Syllables within a word are separated by

a dot, eg:
.
th
thing
vote
yes
In this chapter, the Zhuang pronunciation is given in blue after each phrase.
In Zhuang, vowels can appear in combinations of two (diphthongs) or three
word some consonants can also appear
in combination, eg by, gv, gy, my, ngv,
ny
are
simply pronounced in series.
essentials
Yes./No.
Hello.
Goodbye. (said by person leaving)
Goodbye. (said by person staying)
Please
Thank you.
Excuse me. (asking for assistance)
Sorry.
Do you understand?
I (dont) speak Mandarin.

Could you please repeat that?
Could you please speak more slowly?
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
lng
ship
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
ngeiship
lang uage dif f icult ie s ZHUANG
257
time & dates

What time is it?
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Quarter to (11). (literally: Forty-five minutes past (10).)
(It starts) At 10.
ZH UAN G t ime & da te s
Its (18 October).
258
this
afternoon
yesterday
today
now
tonight
tomorrow
ngnlwen
ngnni
thini
hamni
ngnshook
sunrise
sunset
spring
summer
autumn
winter
thihaa
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
ngnthinggi
ngeinyiet
loknyiet
shipnyiet
shipngeinyiet

boat
bus
train
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change foreign money
post office
What village is this?

tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns ZH UAN G
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
thinggingei
thinggitham
259
Whats the address?

How far is it?
How do I get there?
Turn towards the left/right.
Its straight ahead.
ZH UAN G a cc o mm o dat ion
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
260
gihn
accommodation
Do you have a room?
double (suite)
single
twin
dau

(gungdu) vaai lo
shenat

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
Id like to
get internet access
The number is
b ank ing & c o mm unic atio ns ZH UAN G
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
261
sightseeing
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?
sightseeing
International Song Festival
ZH UAN G s ightse e ing
museum
262
Zhuang village
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
Id like to buy
Can I look at it?
How much is it?
dai beng lo
less
enough
more
dai noi
gu
meeting people
Hello. (said to one person)
mwng
Hello. (said to more than one person)
Welcome.
hoonyng
Goodbye. (said by person leaving)
Goodbye. (said by person staying)
Good night.
How are you?
Fine. And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
lo
m ee ting p eo p le ZH UAN G
bigger
smaller
263
a manner of speaking
When approaching people to ask assistance, its polite to address them with
one of the following terms, which differ according to the gender and age of the
person youre speaking to.
ZH UAN G m ak ing c o nve rs atio n
female older than your parents

female (adult) younger than your parents
male older than your parents
male (adult) younger than your parents
264
This is my
brother (older/younger)
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older/younger)
son
wife
lewk
daalewk
daboo
damee
dakyu/daayu m/f
daklewk
yaa
making conversation
Do you live here?
I love it here.
Have you eaten?
Im here
for a holiday
on business
to study
luhaak

Do you speak (Zhuang)?
What do you call this in (Zhuang)?
Id like to learn some (Zhuang).

sg/pl
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Oh, spare me!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
vei
gu lo, gu lo
m ak ing co nver sat ion ZH UAN G
Whats this called?
265
Where are you from?

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
yinggo
ZH UAN G m ak ing c o nve rs atio n
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
tradesperson
266
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
mwng
daalewk mwng
daklewk mwng
Im years old.
Too old!
dai lau lo
Are you married? (asking a man)
Are you married? (asking a woman)
mwng ha la
Im
married (said by a man)
married (said by a woman)
single
Do you have a family of your own?
budok
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
film
music
reading
sport
feelings & opinions
I (dont) feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
hohew
bak
ang

Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
yak raishai
gigvai/gihei
fee lings & o p inio ns ZHUAN G
Im (not)
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
267
farewells
Keep in touch!
Heres my (address).
Whats your (email)?
well-wishing
ZH UAN G f are wells
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
Happy (Chinese) New Year!
268
eating out
Where would you go for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
baan hoi hoo
Can you recommend a ?

bar
cafe
dish
noodle house
restaurant
snack shop
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
Id like (a/the)
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking table
Whats in that dish?
Id like it with
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
Whats that called?
lewkmaan
makfi
yu
e ating o ut ZHUAN G
Ill have that.
269
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
a sandwich
that one
two
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
(dai) maan
I love this dish.

That was delicious!
Im full.
ZH UAN G e at ing out
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
270
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
(cup of) coffee
(cup of) tea
with (milk)
without (sugar)
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
rng

(orange) juice
lychee juice
soft drink
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle of wine
a glass of wine
red
white
hng

Cheers!
This is hitting the spot.
I think Ive had one too many.
Im feeling drunk.
corn on the cob

dumpling (boiled)
dumpling (fried)
dumpling (steamed)
rice noodles
wonton soup
shi
fng
e ating o ut ZHUAN G
street eats
271

ZH UAN G s pe c ial die ts & alle rgie s
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
272
gyigi
noo
ngveimak

Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
Im lost.
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
englishzhuang dictionary
n
A
accident (mishap)
okthai
accommodation
adaptor
address n
after
air conditioning
airplane feigii
airport
alcohol
all
allergy
ambulance
and
ankle
antibiotics
arm
ATM
sg
boy
brakes (car)
breakfast
bus
business
buy v
pl
C
camera
cancel
car
cash n
cash (a cheque) v
cell phone
centre n
change (money) v
cheap
check (bill)
check-in n
chest (body)
children
cigarette
city
clean a
closed
cold (food/water) a
cold (weather) a
collect call
come
computer
condom
contact lenses
cook v
cost n
credit card
currency exchange
D
dangerous
date (time)
day
delay v
e nglishz huang
baby
back (of body)
backpack
bad
bag dai
baggage
bank
bar
bathroom
battery
beautiful
bed
beer
before (time)
behind
bicycle
big
bill
blanket
blood group
boat
bottle
273
dentist
depart
diaper
dinner
direct a shikthoo
dirty
disabled fi
discount v
doctor
double bed
double room
drink n
drive v
drivers licence
drug (illicit)
E
ear
east
eat
economy class
electricity
elevator
email
embassy
emergency
English (language)
evening
exit n
expensive
eye
F
DIC TION ARY
far
fast vai
father
274
n
food
foot
free (of charge)
friend
fruit mak
full (container)
full (stomach)
G
gift
girl
glass (drinking)
glasses
go
good
guide n
H
half n
hand
happy
he
head n
heart
heavy
help v
here
high
highway
hike v
holiday
homosexual
hospital
hot (temperature/weather)
hotel
(be) hungry
husband
I
I
ill
important
injury (harm)
injury (wound)
insurance
internet
interpreter
J
jewellery
job
K
key
kilogram
kitchen
knife sha
L
laundry (place)
lawyer
left (direction)
leg (body)
lesbian
less
letter (mail)
light n
like v
lock n
long
lost
love v
luggage
lunch
N
name
near
neck n ho
new mo
newspaper
night
no
noisy
nonsmoking
north
O
old (people)
old (things) ge
one-way ticket
open a
outside
passport
pay v
pharmacy
phonecard
photo
police
postcard
pregnant
price n
Q
quiet a
R
rain n
razor faakdi
receipt n
refund n
registered mail
rent v
repair v shooi
reserve v
restaurant
return (give back) hoi
return (go back)
return ticket
right (direction)
road
room n
S
safe a
sanitary napkin
seat n
send
e nglishz huang
mail n
man
map deido
market
matches
meat
medicine
message
milk
minute
mobile phone
money
month
morning
mother damee
motorcycle moodoshee
mouth
nose
now
number
275
sex (intercourse)
sex (gender)
shampoo
share (a dorm)
she
sheet (bed)
shirt
shoes hai
shop n
short dm
shower n
single room
skin n
skirt n
sleep v
slow
small
soap
some
soon
south
souvenir
stamp
stand-by ticket
station (train)
stomach
stop v
stop (bus) n
street
student
sun
sunscreen
swim v
DIC TION ARY
276
tampon
telephone n
that
they
(be) thirsty
this
throat ho
ticket
time
tired
tissues
today
toilet
tomorrow
tonight
tooth
toothbrush
toothpaste
tour n
towel
train n
translate
travel agency
travellers cheque
trousers va
twin-bed room
U
underwear
urgent
V
vacancy
vegetable n
vegetarian a
visa
W
walk v
wallet
wash (something) thak
watch n
water n
we (including you)
we (not including you)
weekend
west
wheelchair
when
where
who
why viima
wife
window
with
without
woman
write
Y
yes
yesterday
you sg
you pl
Mongolian
ALPHABET
ABOUT MONGOLIAN
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
IN THE GRASSLANDS
ENGLISHMONGOLIAN DICTIONARY
278
279
280
281
282
283
285
286
286
288
289
290
294
295
296
300
301
303
305
alphabet
Initial Medial Final Romanisation Initial Medial Final Romanisation
lh
ts
h
zh
zh
m
s z
xxI
a lph ab et
I *
d
c
oe
(
t & ^ _ + oa
)
h, kh
} F~ ~
ee
h, kh
} ~
w, v, e
Q l~ {
b, v, w
Q L~ {
ng
Extended letters (for Chinese and other

foreign words) are listed below.
2 b p
b p H k G k L M S Z D C
O a et $ # (
X e
oi n
, oo
o,
i, ee
Y R W
t t
I O
a a
Fe F Fi Fo Foi N
278
a, aa
Mongolian is written vertically, ie from top

to bottom (and read from left to right), in
a cursive alphabetic script consisting of 23
basic letters with the addition of several
extra characters used mainly to write words
borrowed from other languages.
s, sh
sh
t, d
ch
j
ch
Not all sounds listed in this table are found

in the phrases within this chapter. See the
pronunciation guide, p280.
Where two options are given in the table,
you might see either symbol used.
MONGOLIAN
Mo2go& kEla
about Mongolian
Mongolian (monggol hul Mo2go& kEla ) is a Mongolic language, thought to be
related to Turkish, Japanese and Korean. Its written using a cursive script in vertical
lines read from left to right (also see p282) one of few languages to be written
this way. According to legend, the script was instituted by order of Genghis Khan in
1204. Today, there are estimated to be around 10 million Mongols worldwide, the
majority living in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The standard
language for Mongols in China is based on the Chahar dialect (used in this chapter),
an official language alongside Mandarin Chinese. Mongolian restaurants and stores
can be found throughout Inner Mongolia, and if the Mongolian writing on the signs
is larger than the Chinese, you can be sure those inside speak Mongolian. Of course,
a trip to Inner Mongolia should include a visit to its famous grasslands. Travellers here will often be met by locals and presented with a ceremonial scarf, called a
khadag (haddug Hede(), along with verbal blessings. Foreigners speaking Mongolian cause great delight even more so if you say tan
rool togtukh boltoo
, meaning May your blessings come to pass!
mongolian
ab o ut MON GOL IAN
279
pronunciation
pr o nunc iatio n
Vowels
280
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
fat
bit
aa
father
ch
chin
ai
aisle
dog
ao
Mao
fun
ay
day
go
bet
hot
there
jump
ee
see
kid
pig
kh
as the ch in
Scottish loch
hot
lip
alone
map
e pronounced
with rounded lips
no
oi
oil
ng
sing
slightly longer
pet
oo
tool
run (very strong

and trilled)
cut
sip
good
sh
shoe
top
ts
cats
very
win
you
lads
In this chapter, the Mongolian pronunciation is given in green after each phrase.
The r in Mongolian is a hard, trilled
sound. Note that s should always be
pronounced as in sip regardless of the
sounds around it.
Syllables are separated by a dot and the
stressed syllable is marked by italics.
For example: Ferbea arbun
essentials
DeiimO / FoiheI
Dekt
Blo%T
se;a bE;%T oO ?
bEyerdeI
beyerle&T
FegocilegereI
Yes./No.
Yes, thats right.
Yes, that would be OK.
Hello.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
Excuse me./Sorry.
teem/oogway
tugu
bol
bayur
bayurlaa
ch
Da Fe2h7I kela Mede%T oO ?
ta anggul hul mutun n
Da Fo;legejO oO ?
ta oilgoj j
bU Fo;legeeesea ( FoihEI )
bee oilogsun(gway)
Could you please repeat that?
kElejO Blo%T oO ?
Dehigeoa Niht Fode)T
aad
hilj bolun n
daa
Could you please speak more slowly?
Fegeji^ Si( kElejO Blo%T oO ?
aajim shig hilj bolun n
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Det
Niht
Hoye*
Gorbt
Doirbt
De@X
Jirgo)T
Dolo)T
Neima
YisO
Ferbt
tig
nig
hoiyur
roo
roo
tav
gaa
doll
yis
araoo
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
HorI
GocI
DoicI
DebU
Jira
Dela
Neya
Yera
JegO
Mi2)T
Jegoa Doima
hur
teb
jir
dal
nai
yir
j
myang
lang uage dif f icult ie s MON G OLI AN
Do you understand?
281
time & dates

What time is it?
kEdoI Ce( BljO be;eeO BI ?
hut
Its (10) oclock.

(
Ferbea ) Ce( BljO be;%T
(ar
Quarter past (10).
DeBa MinoiDA
( Ferbea ) Ce( Ferbea
(arbun) chag arban

tavun minnut
Half past (10).

(
Ferbea ) Ce( Hege_
(arbun) chag hagas
Forty-five minutes past (10).
DeBa MinoiDA Doicia

( Ferbea ) Ce(
(arbun) chag chin

tavun minnut
kedoa Ce( DO ( FhilevX BI ) ?
huttee chagt (ukh
(It starts) At 10.
Ferbea Ce( ( Fca Fkile%T ) arbun chagaas (ukhlun
t ime & da te s
Its (18 October).
Ferbea Neimea )
oonoodur (arbun sarin
Foinodo* ( Ferbea Se*T iia
the day before
yesterday
yesterday
today
tomorrow
the day after
tomorrow
Forjido*
FoicohEdo*
Foinodo*
MergesI
NoivxhEdo*
jeedur
oochigdur
oonoodur
margaash
oodur
just a twist to the right

Mongolian script is written vertically and read from left to right. So if you want
to have a go at reading the script in this chapter, or when asking a local to read it
for you, simply turn the book 90 degrees clockwise. Our coloured pronunciation
guides, however, should simply be read the same way you read English.
282
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Gere( oa NihEa
Gere( oa Hoye*
Gere( oa Gorbea
Gere( oa Doirbea
Gere( oa DeBa
Gere( oa Jirgogea
Gere( oa Fdo*
garugeen nigun
garugeen hoir
garugeen bun
garugeen bun
garugeen tavun
garugeen jurgaa
garugeen dur
Is this the
to (Ulaan Hada)?
bus
train
plane
Wheres a/the ?
bank
convenience
store
currency
exchange
pharmacy
post office
restaurant
Moia oO ?
VO FocieeO
Fna ( Folegeeeeeda )
Mesia Derht
Neiida iia
GeldO Derht
NishE&
laanad)
ochikh
neetin mashin turrug
galt turrug
nisgul
Hemi)T be;eeO BI ?
bE2hiA
kEdO DelhEvx*
benk
khit dulgoor
Jogo_ SolieeO Geje*
js solikh gajjur
F^ oa DelhEvx*
Siodea DobciIT
Hogolea ke*
ummeen dulgoor
shdang tobch
hlan gur
Is this the road to (the Inner Mongolia Museum)?

Je^ Moia oO ?
un bol (oowoor monggolin
Moi}wI )VO YeBeeO
moo )d yavukh
Fna B& ( FoiB* Mo2go& oa
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns M ON GOL IAN
283
NededO JigejO Foihvx%T oO ?

Fvxa I Geje* oa Jiro( DehE*T
oonee gajrin jirrug dr

nadad jaaj
Where is it located?
Hemi)T bE;de( BI ?
haa
How far is it?
kEdoI Hola BI ?
hut
How do I get there?
FocieeO BI ?
bU YegehijO Deeda
bee yaaj tund

och
Turn towards the left.
JevxesI bea
joonshn
t ran sp or t & direc tio ns
Turn towards the right.
bEregoesI bea
Sigooa YeB%T
sht yavun
Blo%T oO ?
bU YebEgea FocijO
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
284
barnshn
Its straight ahead.
bee yavgun ochij

bolun n
FerO VonI
Fmo%T NI
Fo;relce)T
Foiecot DO be;%T
FservX De&T VonI
Deeda
ardun
oomnun
oirulch
usrug taldun
tund
accommodation
Hemi)T be;eeO BI ?
Jocioa oa begode&
jochdeen btul
haa
Foihvx% T oO ?
nadud nig hyemd
Si( Geje* DenilcegoljO
gajjur tanilchlj
NededO Niht kimdeeeea/ Se;a
gun n
JehiyeleeeO Sene)T DeI
r
bU Niht Foiroht
jakhaaldakh sannaa
bU Niht Foiroht JehiyeljeI
r jakhaaldjai
be;%T oO ?
Dea VO Foiroht
Hoye* Kimoa O
Geeeca Kimoa O
Hoye* ForO DeI
r
hoiyur hoo
ganch hoo
hoiyur or
kEdoI Jogo_ BI ?
Niht Hono( / Kimoa
nig honug/hoon
hut
bU ( Gorbt ) HonoeeO Sene)T DeI bee ( roo) honnokh sannaa

Blo%T oO ?
Doilhivx* iiea FoihcO
khoorn
bolun n
FoihcO Blo%T oO ?
Foihe*T Niht ( De2sa )
bolun n

(
:iet DiyoO ) FbderejeI
(kongteeaaoo) uvdur
YeBeeO BI ?
MergesI kEdoI Ce( DO
margaash huttee chagt

yav
ac c om mo d atio n MON GO LIAN
Do you have a
room?
double (suite)
single
twin
285
Could I have my
, please?
deposit
passport
Blo%T oO ?
MinO BcejO FoihcO
bericegea O Moi2vX
pesPrDA
minnee bchaj
bolun n
barreechaan
pasport
Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
internet cafe
bE;eeO BI ?
Hemi)T
DI :wea JI
Ne;da iia FodesO
NwDA bEge*
Niht Ce( kEdoI Jogo_ BI ? nig chag hut

kEdoI BI ?
Dea O Fodesoa Nomw*
tan
hut
tusun nomur
The number is
MinO Nomw* B&
minnee nomur bol
sightseeing
NehEhedet / Hegede( BI ?
kEdoa Ce( DO
huttun chagt
ndug/haa
piyoO kEdoI Jogo_ BI ?
peeaaoo hut
Is there a discount for student/children?
piyoO be;%T oO ?
SoroeecI iia / keoheoa oa
Id like a
catalogue
guide
map
286
tee kwan jee

neetin tas
net baar
een/hookhdeen
peeaa
bU FeBIT
bee avyaa
Jogecile& oa Debde*
jgaachuleen divtir
JemcileeecI
jamcheelugch
Geje* oa Jiro(
gajreen rug
Id like to see
FoijevX
Sene)T DeI
jikh sannaa
Whats that?
Dera YegO BI ?
Can I take a photo?
Blo%T oO ?
bU Sevxde* FebcO
bee soodur avch

bolun n
Can I take photos here?
Blo%T oO ?
F-eda Sevxde* FebcO
und soodur avch

bolun n
JogeceeeO FhEljI BleeO BI ?

kedoI Ce( Fca DeregecI iia
huttee chagaas daraacheen

jgaachikh lj bol
kEdoI Hogoce)T BI ?
huttee
sightseeing
Arjai Grotto (Utag Banner)
arjai agoi
Cegea SoBr)T
chagaan
rag
D Zho Monastery
Yeht JoO Soi^T
yikh j som
Dali Lake
DelO Nigo*
Coi2vX& oa GoO
DeBa SoBrgedO Soi^T
dal nr
khuleen gao
tavun
ragt som
Genghis Khans Mausoleum in Ordos
Ci2hi_ oa Fo2goa
chinggisseen onggun
Tomb of Zhaojun
JoO Jiyoia O Fo2goa
jao jeeyun
DehedO Ne;sle&
Yowea Folo_ oa
yooan seen
dd neeslul
gun
sigh tse eing M ONG OLI AN
FerjeI FegoI
287
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
s ho pp ing
market
souvenir shop
bE;de( BI ?
Hemi)T
Geje*
Sevxde* DedeeeO
Je(T DelhEvx*
Delhevx*
Gerolda iia
Mo2go& oa Foeca
haa
soodur tatakh
gajar
jakh dulgoor
monggoleen onch
garulteen
dulgoor

De;lvX BI ?
haanaas tan
kheen
Foeca Gerolda FebcO
onch garult avch
Hemi)T Fca Dea O FedehU iia dee
Fna I YegO be* kihsea BI ? unnee yoogaar hee
Id like to buy
bU FebEeO Sene)T DeI
bee avukh sannaa
Can I look at it?
bU FoijejO Blo% t oO ?
bee jij bolun n
Can I have it sent overseas?
Blo%T oO ?
gadaad sud yavlj
GedegedO Folo_ DO YeBgoljO
bolun n
How much is it?
kEdoI Jogo_ BI ?
hut
FoihcO Blo%T oO ?
Foi%T iI NI bicijO
neegeen bichij
bolun n
MesI FoinedeI
FoihvxIT
Dea VO ( DeBa Doivxrit )
288
tand (tavun
y
rug)
Can you lower the price?
kimdere%T oO ?
hyamdrun n
Is that enough?
Jogo_ Kiro%T oO ?
js run n
Its faulty.
FbderejeI
uvdur
Id like a refund.
FebcO Blo%T oO ?
Moi2vX bEa BcejO
Id like , please.
a bag
a receipt
n bochaj avch
bolun n
FoihvxhereI
SoiliyoO Fogoda
berimda
sleeao t
barimt
Hello.
Hi.
Goodbye.
Good night.
Se;a be;%T oO ?
S;a oO ?
beyerdeI
Se;a FemeregereI
Mr/Mrs
Ms/Miss
FeBgeI
FebeeeeI
av
av
How are you?

Fine. And you?
Se;a be;%T oO ?
Se;a oO ?
S;a Se;a ,
Dea O Felde* ?
MinO Ne*T
Se;eeea Denilce&T
tan aldur
minnee nur
khun tanilchlaa
Whats your name?

My name is
Im pleased to
meet you.
bayur
raa
m ee ting p eo p le M ON GOL IAN
meeting people
289
This is my
brother (older)
brother (younger)
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older)
sister (younger)
son
wife
Fna B& MinO

Fe(T
DevxO
keoheoa
keohea
Fe@X
NeiijI
Noivx*
FjI
kE* oa Kimoa
FhecI
kEohea DevxO
KiO
Fhene*
un bol minnee
akh
doo
hookhud
hookhun
aav
khur
j
gureen hoon
ugch
hookhun doo
hoo
ukhnur
making conversation
Do you live here?
F-eda SegojO be;%T oO ?

Hemi)T YeBeeO BI ?
haa ya
F-eda SegoeeO DoredeI oO ?
und skh
I love it here.
MesI DoredeI
mash
Have you eaten?
Fidehsea oO ?
idsun n
bE* Firehsea oO ?
F-eda Femerelda Foi2hErehEvX
290
und am
yirsun n
rkhr
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
Just joking.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
HemiIT FoihEI
bE)T KiliyejO bEI
ZoeelejO be;%T
Blolce)T DeI
HemiIT FoihEI
BleeO FoihEI
Blo% T Blo%T
Blcieee%T
for a meeting
to study
for travel
to work
to visit family
sho
bolulch
hamaagway
bolkhgway
bolun bolun
bolchikhun
bU F-eda FirejeI bee und yir

MeiimeI kivX be*
heekhr
Foi2herehEvX be*
amrilt
Femerelda
rkhr
Hore& kivX be*
khr
SorolceeeO be*
khaar
JogeceeeO be*
jgaachkhaar
FejilleeeO bE*
ajilkhaar
FoijevX be*
sadunaan
Sedoa iiea
khr
Da F-eda kEdoI FodeeeO BI ?
ta und huttee
How long have you been here?
FodejO be;eeO BI ?
Da F-eda Fireheoa kEdoI
ta und yird huttee
SegoeeO Sene)T DeI

bU Feda ( DoirbEa Gere( )
bee und ( bun garag)

skh sannaa
Can I take a photo of you?
Dea I SevXderlejO Blo%T oO ?
tannee soodurlj bolun n
Are you Mongolian?
Da Mo2go& Kimoa oO ?
ta monggol hoon n
Do you speak Mongolian?
Cide%T oO ?
Da Mo2go& kEla
ta monggol hul
chattun n
m ak ing co nver sat ion M ONG OL IAN
Im here
on business
for a holiday
yaa
hooyee
hamaagway
291
Whats this called?
Fna YegO BI ?
How do you say in Mongolian?
iie* YegehijO kElevX BI ?

kesea Fokt iI Mo2go&
gu
yaaj hu
gee monggolr
Id like to learn some (Mongolian).
mak ing c o nver satio n
Sene)T DeI
bU ( Mo2go& kEla ) SoreeO
bee (mong
sannaa
Jigelge%T oO ?
ta nadaar anggul hul
Da Neda be* FE2h7I kEla
jaalgann
Sorry, I didnt mean to do anything wrong.
bU Felbt bE* biSI
ch
FegocilegereI ,
bee alvaar bish
I didnt do it on purpose.
bU Felbt bE* biSI
bee alvaar bish
Je2si& Moia oO ?
un tan
kheen
Fna Dea O FedehU iia
jang
n
Where are you from?
Firehsea BI ?
ta haanaas yirsee
Da Hemi)T Fca
Where is your home county?
Dea O Nodo( CinI ?
Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
292
tan
bU Kimoa
FeoisDreliIT
qeneda
Fe2hlI
Si%T [ileedA
Femwriqt
tug chin
bee hoon
avstraaleeyaa
kanada
anggul
shin zeeland
amerik
Da Yeme* Feji& DeI BI ?

Im a/an
businessperson
doctor
foreign language
teacher
nurse
office worker
photographer
reporter
student
teacher
ta yamur ajil
bU
bee
Meiimeiicia
FmcI
umch
bEeesI
gadaad hulnee
GedegedO kElea O
bagsh
SobileeecI
sovlugch
Felbea Fejildea
alban ajiltun
SvxderlehcI
soodurlugch
SorBljileeecI
jeelugch
SoroeecI
rugch
bEeesI
bagsh
How old are you? (asking someone noticeably older than you)
Dea O Nesoa Sevxde* ?
tan
sun soodur
How old is ?
your daughter
your son
NesodeI BI ?
Dea O kedoa
kEohEa
KiO
tan hutun
nas
hoohun
hoo
Im years old.
bU NesodeI
bee nas
Dera NesodeI
tir nas
HereeedejO bE;%T
bU MesI JelegO
bee mash jal

ha
Are you married?
Da Horimleeesea oO ?
Im
single
married
ta hormulsun n
bU
HorimlegedoI
Horimlecieeeeesea
bee
horuml
hormulchikhsun
m ak ing co nver sat ion M ONG OL IAN
How old are you? (asking someone younger or close to your age)
Da kEdoa NesodeI BI ?
ta huttun nas
293
SegojO bE;%T
bU Niht Kimoa DeI HemdO
bee nig hoon
Da kEoheoa DeI oO ?
Do you like ?
I like
I dont like
art
film
music
reading
sport
294
ta hookhd
Da DoredeI oO ?
bU Do*T DeI
bU Do*T FoihEI
Jiro( DO
qinX FoijevX
Kihji^ VO
No^ Fo2sieeO
KidelhEhEa VO
Demi* oa
ta
bee
bee dr oogway
rugt
keen jikh
jimt
nom shikh
temreen
gnd
feelings & opinions

I feel
I dont feel
Are you ?
cold
drunk
happy
hot
hungry
sad
thirsty
tired
bU be;%T
bU FoiheI
Da bE;a oO ?
DegerejO
SoeedejO
bEyerlejO
HelegocejO
FoiloscO
JobejO
FomdegesejO
YederejO
bee oogway
daarch
sog
ba
halchij
daasch
yadurj
mixed emotions
be)T
JobejO be;%T
bU bE)T
Yeht
SocijO bE;%T
bU Yeht
MesI Yeht
beyerlejO be;%T
bU MesI Yeht
a little
Im a little sad.
very
Im very surprised.
extremely
Im extremely happy.
bag sag
yikh
bee yikh so
mash yikh
bee mash yikh
ba
BdojO be;%T oO ?
Fvxa O DoeeeI YegO
awful
beautiful
boring
great
yoo
mash m
mash goi
weedgar
yaasun
son
gur shig
sonin hachin
farewells
bU MergesI YeB%T
bee margaash yavun
If you come to my country you can stay with me.
Neda DeI HemdO SegojO Blo%T ta minnee ad ochbul nad
Da MinO Folo_ DO FocibE&
hamt sj bolun
Keep in touch!
ha
Heres my (address).
Fna B& MinO ( kE* oa Heyi( ) un bol minnee (girreen hayig)
Whats your (email)?
Dea O ( Fimw& ) CinI ?
tan (ee
f arewe lls MON GO LIA N
interesting
OK
strange
MesI MegO
MesI GoYO
Foiioeeee* DeI
Se;a BI
Yegehieesea
SonireeeldeI
Joihe* Sit
Sonia Hecia
oon
bo
295
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
s n yava
Congratulations!
ba
gee
Good luck!
aaj jargal hoosee
Happy birthday!
Doirohsea Fdo* oa
ba
sun reen
gee
Happy New Year!
Se;a SinelebeO ?
voo
eating out
Can you recommend a (restaurant)?
e at ing ou t
kElejO FoihcO Blo%T oO ?

ta nadud un hvr yamar
S;a ( Hogolea kE* ) be;eeO iI sain (hlung gur) khee
Da NededO Fna HebU bE* Yeme*
bolun n
bar
cafe
dish
teahouse
bEge*
Hogolea kE*
Hogola
CeI iia Moeeole(
baar
hlung gur
hl
geen
Id like a table for (five).

(
DeBa ) Kimoa O Sireht
(tavun) hoon
What are the local specialities?
Gerolda DEI BI ?
F-eda Yeme* Foeca
und yamar onch

ga
Id like to see the menu.
[eI Vea FoijeUT
tsay
Can we have a private room?
bE;%T oO ?
HobU iia Foiroht
296
hb
lukh
Can we have the bill?
De2sa bea BdoIT
dangsaan boddeey
be;%T oO ?
FodO bEsa Hogola
od
be;eeO BI ?
F-eda Yeme* Se;eeea Hogola
und yamar khun
Fidedet BI ?
( Foirlohtiia Hogolea )
Da YerO Vehea Yeme*
dn yamar
lgeen hl)
it
Whats that called?
Dera YegO BI ?
Whats in that dish?
YegO be* kidet BI ?
yoogur hee
Ill have that.
Dera I FeBIT
turee avee
geegin iloo
heechikh
bitgee hee
laajao
sarimsug
wee jing
hoshig
tos
Id like
a piece
one bottle
one box/carton
one jing (500gm)
that one
two
bU FeBIT
Niht kEset
Nikt Lo2eeO
Nikt Heiirce(
Nikt Jiet
Dera iI
Hoye* I
bee avee
nig husug
nig longk
nig chug
nig jing
turee
hoiree
e ating o ut MON G OLI AN
Id like it without
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
kiciht
iI NI FilevXO
bidehEI kiA
LejiyoO
Serimse(
WwI Jiet
Hosi)T
DosO
Id like it with
297
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
Fna Hogola
( MesI ) Helegoa
MesI FemdedeI
un hl
(mash) haln
mash amt
I love this dish.
Do*T DeI
bU Fna Hogola iI FidevX
bee un hllee idukh
Do*T DeI
bU Fna Geje* oa Hogolea VO
bee un gajreen hllund
That was delicious!
MesI FemdedeI
mash amt
Im full.
e at ing ou t
bU Ceoede&T Fide&T
bee chattul idl
breakfast
lunch
dinner
drink (alcoholic)
Foirloht iia Hogola

Foida iia Hogola
ForoI iia Hogola
FeriheA
Fomdegea
lgeen hl
een hl
rgeen hl
arikh
undaan
water
boiled
cold
still mineral
FosO
Bceloeesea
Kiidea
Cebe*
bochilsun
hweetun
chuvur
not your cup of tea?

Mongols are generally tea, rather than coffee, drinkers. Be warned, though, that
Mongolian food and drink customs are quite different to those in other parts of
China. For instance, milk tea sounds innocent enough, but many people are
surprised to find lumps of flour and meat, as well as animal fats, butter, millet
and salt added to a Mongolian cuppa. And dont expect a cup and saucer locals
usually drink their tea from a bowl.
298
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
KfiA
CeI
black tea
fresh drinking
yoghurt
kumiss (fermented
mares milk)
milk tea
He*T CeI
Fe;re(
kf
rug
Ceht
chugu
SoA DeI CeI
soo
of beer
a glass
a large bottle
a small bottle
piwoA
peev
nig chomo
tom longk
bag longk
red/white wine
Foijo^ oa FerihiA
Folegea/ Cegea
( He*T FerihiA )
Niht Hoede)T
a shot of (rice wine)
Niht ComO
DomO Lo2eeO DeI
bE)T Lo2eeO DeI
aan/chagaan
meen arikh
nig dug
(har arikh)
FebcO FoihvXIT
Dea VO Fomdegea
tand undaan
avch y
Da Yegoa VO DoredeI BI ?
ta yoond
Cheers!
togtoiyo
Yegehieesea Se;a BI
yaa
Im feeling drunk!
bU SoeedojO bE;%T
bee sog
Im totally drunk!
(lit: Ive become a domestic animal)
bU Me& Blcieee&T
bee mal bolchikhl
e ating o ut MON G OLI AN
Da YegO FoogoeeO BI ?
299
street eats
boiled dumplings
boiled meat
butter (to add to milk tea)
dried beef strips
fried bread
fried-meat pancake
fried millet
fried millet with
sweet cream
huruud (a type of curd)
noodles
rm (hardened skin of milk)
steamed dumplings
bE2sI
Cineeesea Mi(T
Si*T DosO
Brca
Zelbiet
Hegoroeesea Bde)T
JoihEhEI DeI Bde)T
chansun makh
shar tos
borch
sun bb
shalbing
hrsun bodaa
j
daa
Horooa
MiyeeDiyoo*
Foiro^T
Boja
ood
meeentiyor
ooroom
bs

Im a vegetarian.
bU SeyoO
bee saay
I cant eat pork.
Fidedet FoihEI
bU GeeeeI iia Mi(T
bee ga
itduggway
Where can I find halal food?
Hogola be;eeO BI ?
Hemi)T Hodoet Foiedosodea O
haa ho
I only want to eat vegetables.
kEjO BdojO be;%T

bU Nogo)T FideIT
300
bee nog ideey

gij bo
Could you prepare

a meal without ?
Im allergic to
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
Blo%T oO ?
FoiheI kijO
Fna Hogola I
DegereeeO FoikEI
FoiheI , NededO
bU FidejO BleeO
kihsea Yego^T
SoA be*
Foiedeht
Mi(T
Hosi)T
Fidehea
DeleI iia
un hlee
oogway heej
bolun n
bee iduj bolkh
gway nadud
taarukhgway
soogaar
heesun yim
dug
makh
hoshug
dal
iddn
in the grasslands
in the gra ssland s MON GO LIA N
Id like to visit a Mongolian family on the steppe.

FocijO FoijevX Sene)T DeI
bee hudgeen mong
bU Kideht iia Mo2go& Fe;& VO
ochij jikh sannaa
Id like to see some traditional Mongolian life.
Sene)T DeI
bee lamjeelalt monggol
Femidore& I FoijevX
amdurlee jikh
bU FolemjileldO Mo2go&
sannaa
Id like to find a company that arranges tours of the grasslands.
:mpEnIFrivX Sene)T DeI
bee tal geen
Jogecile& oa
gaachileen
bU De&T Nodo( oa
kompan urikh sannaa
Can you help me?
Da NemeiI Dosele%T oO ?
ta na
n
kEdoI Jogo_ BI ?
nig hoon
Niht Kimoa
huttee
Id like to see a traditional Mongolian yurt.
FoijevX Sene)T DeI
bee monggol gur jikh
bU Mo2go& kE*
sannaa
301
Where can I hire a horse?
BleeO BI ?
MorI DoiriyesolejO
Hemi)T Fca
haanaas mur
sulj
bol
kedoI Jogo_ BI ?
Niht Ce(
nig chag
huttee
Can I have a guide?
in t he gr assla nds
Blo%T oO ?
JemcI FoljO FoihcO
bolun n
Id like to
do some archery
ride a buggy
do some wrestling
bU Sene)T DeI
NomO SomO HerBeeO
Derht berieeO
Biht bErildoeeO
bee sannaa
harvukh
turug barikh
barildukh
horse
horse riding
reins
saddle
steppe/grasslands
stirrup
MorI
MorI FonoeeO
JilogO
FmehE&
De&T Nodo(
Doiroht
mur
mur nakh
joll
uml
tal tug
r
Stop!
jogssch
My saddle is hurting me.
FbeoehejO be;%T
Fna FmEhE& NemeiI
un uml na
Can I change horses?
Blo%T oO ?
bU MorI bEa SoliIT ,
bee murn solleey

bolun n
Can we stop here?
BloaT oO ?
F-eda JoeesoIT ,
302
und jogsy
bolun n
just a twist to the right

Mongolian script is written vertically and read from left to right. So if you want
to have a go at reading the script in this chapter, or when asking a local to read it
for you, simply turn the book 90 degrees clockwise. Our coloured pronunciation
guides, however, should simply be read the same way you read English.
Can we go back now?
Blo%T oO ?
bida FodO HerijO
bid od herij
bolun n
Lets go back now.

bid od hereeyaa
Can you help me get off this horse?

Help!
em avraa
Could you help me, please?
Blo%T oO ?
Da Neda iI HebsorcO
ta naddee khav
bolun n
Ive been injured.
bU Sireeedocieee&T
bee sharkhugtichukhlaa
My friend has been injured.
MinO NeiijI Sireeedocieee&T
minnee
Theres been an accident.
F-ede& Gercieee&T
undul garchikhlaa
Wheres the nearest phone?
Hemi)T bE;eeO BI ?
Hemo( oa Fo;*T FodesO
hamgeen r tas
We need to get to a doctor.
Hordoa FocieeO kErehdeI

bida FmcI VO
bid umchud
dun ochikh hu
laa
e me rg enc ie s & he alth MON G OLI AN
naddee blgaagaach
303
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
Hemi)T bE;eeO BI ? hamgeen r

Hemo( oa Fo;*T
Sidoa O FmcI
shood
FmcI
umch
HoriIT
umnulgeen
Fmnelht iia
horr
F^ oa Delhevx*
umeen dulgoor
Im ill.
bU Fbeoecihe&T
My friend is ill.
MinO NeiijI Fbeoecihe&T
304
minnee
englishmongolian dictionary
n
inf
sg
pl
pol
A
accident (mishap) Foso& Fede& sul undul
accommodation be;rI
adaptor biyea Ya CI beeyen yaa chee
after Dere)T daraa
air conditioning :iet DiyoO kongteeaaoo
airplane NishE& gul
airport NishE& oa bEgode& guleen btul
alcohol FerihiA a
all BivX
ambulance DoirhEa FeBrelda iia Mesia
teen ma
and bt ba
ankle Ze)T shaa
arm Ge*
C
camera SevxderlevX Mesia
ma
car Mesia Derkt ma
tur
cash n bElea Moi2vX bul
cell phone Ge* FodesO tas
centre n Doi$
change (money) v Jogo_ SolieeO js
cheap kimda hyemd
check (bill) n De2sa dangs
chest (body) CehejI chj
children keohEoa hoohud
cigarette DemehiA ta
city Hoda hot
clean a Cebe* chu
closed Fvxda HegejeI ood haa
cold a K;dea hweetun
come FirevX yi
computer :mpioDw*
pyoo
condom bU Yoia DoO bee yoowun tao
cook v Hogola kivX
cost n Foi%T
credit card FidehemjI iia qErDA
jeen
currency exchange Jogo_ SolieeO Geje*
js
ga
customs (immigration) Bgomda iia Ge;lI
bm
D
dangerous FeyoldeI a
date (time) Fdo*
day Fdo*
delay v HocoreeO hoch
dentist Sidoa O FmcI
depart YeBeeO ya
dinner ForoI iia Hogola rgeen hl
direct a Sigooa sht
dirty Bje*
e nglishm o ngo lian
baby Nil(T kEohEoa nyel khoo

back (of body) NirogO r
backpack BeecO bogch
bad MegO m
bag Fogoda t
baggage Bgode& btul
bank bE2heA
bar bEge*
bathroom Fohiyel)T iia kE* gaal
battery Viyea ooI deeen ch
beautiful GoyO
bed ForO
beer piwoA peev
before Fmo%T
behind Ho;%T hn
bicycle DogoI gway
big DomO tom
bill De2sa dangs
blanket Kiejila khoon
blood group Cisoa Doiro& sun too
boat JebiA jab
book (make a reservation) v JehiyeleeeO
aa
bottle Lo2eeO
boy KiO hoo
breakfast Foirloht iia CeI lgeen hl
broken (out of order) FbderhEI

bus Neiida iia Mesia Derht
neet ma
tur
buy v FebeeO a
305
disabled Jemdet jimdug

discount v kimderegoleeO hyemtr
doctor FmcI umch
double bed Hoye* Kimoa O ForO
hoi hoo
double room Hoye* Kimoa O Foiroht
hoi hoo
r
drink n Fomdegea undaan
drink v FoogoeeO
drive v JilogooeeeO jol
driving licence JilogocI iia Demdet
jolcheen tumdug
drug (illicit) HoordO F^
E
ear CihU
east Jevxa joon
eat FidevX id
electricity Cehilgea cha
elevator Cehilgea ZedO cha
email FimW& ee
embassy Flcia Se;oa oa Yemoa
ul
deen yamun
emergency bEci^ kEret ba
hu
English (language) Fe2h7I kEla anggul hul
evening ForoI r
exit n FvXda ood
expensive FoinedeI
eye NidO
half n Hege_ hagus

hand Ge*
happy bEyerlejO be;%T ba
he Dera
head n DologeI tol
heart Jiroht
heavy KiedO
help DoselemjI lamj
here F-eda und
high Foiedo*
hike v YebEgea YeBeeO yavgun ya
holiday Femerelda am
homosexual
am
horse MorI
hospital Fmnelht iia HoriIT
um
r
hot Helegoa haln
hotel Jocioa oa bEgode& jochdeen btul
(be) hungry FoilosvX
husband F*T Noivx*
I bU bee
far Hola hol

fast Hordoa hurdun
father FE@X aav
HorogO r
bEIT iia kErecI
bEci^ FeBrelda iia He;rce(

ba
DIC TION ARY
306
glass (drinking) ComO chom

glasses Nidoa Si&
go YeBeeO ya
good Se;a
guide n JemcI jamch
chug
DerivXa Jerht iia

n JigesO jaggas
food Hogola hl
foot Ki&
free (of charge) JoihE*
friend
fruit Jimi_ jimus
full DoivXreet doo
roon jirgeen
bay
ill FbeoecideI ub
injury n Sir(T
insurance beIT iia Degeoeeee&
bayyeen daatgul
internet SoiljiIT j
interpreter kElemorcI hul
J
jewellery Frdeni_ ur
job Feji& a
gift bElet bullug

girl Foihia o
key Doilhivx* khoor

kilogram Qilohre^
l
kitchen Dogogea kE* togn

knife kido)T khutag
L
laundry (place) HobcesO FohiyeeeO Geje*
hubchus gaakh ga
lawyer HeolicI hlch
left (direction) JevXa joon
leg (body) Ki&
less Coihea chn
letter (mail) Jehide& jakhdul
light n kEre& gu
like v DoredeI
lock n FonisO us
long FordO
lost (items) kEhehsea gsun
love v He;redeI
luggage Bgode& btul
lunch Foida iia Hogola deen hl
N
name Ne*T
near Fo;*T
neck n
joo
new Si%T
newspaper Sonia
night SoinI
no (not at all) FoiheI oogway
no (not this) bisI
noisy ZoohiyeedeI shgaan
O
old (people) NesodeI
old (things) Hegocia h
open a NehEheldedeI nlt
outside Gede%T gadun
passport pEsPrDA
pay v Jogo_ FoihvX js
pharmacy F^ oa DelkEvx* ummeen dulgoor
photo Sevxde*
police Ceeede)T chagdaa
Siodea DobciIT dang tobch
pregnant Jirmosoa jirumsun
price n Foi%T
Q
quiet a De;Bet vung
R
rain n Brogea
n
razor Seeee& oa kido)T
leen tug
receipt n piyoO peeao
rent v KilosolevX
repair v JeseeeO
restaurant Hogolea kE* h
return (give back) FoihvX
return (go back) BcejO YeBeeO bochuj ya
return ticket YeBjO HerieeO bilwDA
yavj ha
right (direction) bEregoa barn
road Je^ jam
room n Foiroht r
S
safe a Femo* Doibsia a
seat n Segode& dul
send YeBgoleeO yav
sex (act) Horice& horchul
sex (gender) Cine* oa Filge& chan
yilgul
shampoo kEjiht FohiyeeeO Si2hEa
gu
aakh
gun
e nglishm o ngo lian
mail n Siodea dang

man Kimoa hoon
map Geje* oa Jiro( gaj
ug
market Je(T DelhEvx*
goor
matches Co;deeit chweedung
meat Mi(T
medicine F^ um
message JehiIT jakhaa
milk SoA soo
minute MinoiDA minnut
mobile phone Ge* FodesO tas
money Jogo_ js
month Se*T
morning Foirloht l
mother FjI j
motorcycle MoDo* mo
mouth Fema em
north HoiidO ht
nose Heme* ha
now FodO od
number Nomw* no
307
she Dera
sheet (bed) Kiejila khoon
shirt Cemca chamch
shoes ZeeeeI
shop n DelhEvx* dulgoor
short BgonI bogun
single room Geeeca Kimoa O Foiroht
ganch hoo
r
skin n FeresO
skirt n bE2je& bang
sleep v FoedeeeO
slow Fodegea daan
small
ji
soap SeBet vung
some Jeri^ jar
soon Fode& FoihEU dulgway
south Fmo%T un
souvenir Doreseee& oa FdA
stamp ywO piyoO yoo peeao
station (train) GeldO DerhEa Foirdeht
galt tur
t
stomach kEdesO gudus
stop v JoeesoeeO jog
stop (bus) n Joeesoge& jog
street GodomjI gdumj
student Foyodea yootun
sun Nera
sunscreen feet ZeI zoweet
yee
wong
swim v FombeeeO om
DIC TION ARY
308
telephone n FodesO tas

temperature (weather) Dolegea O kEmjiIT
laa
j
that Dera
they Deda tund
(be) thirsty FomdegeseeO undaa
this Fna un
throat HogoleI h
ticket piyoO peeao
time Ce( chag
tired YederejO bE;%T ya
tissues CegesO chaas
today Foinodo* oonoo
toilet Jorloet jorlong
tomorrow MergesI
tonight FoinO ForoI noo r
tooth SidO
toothbrush Sidoa Zowesa dun umch
toothpaste Ya GoO yaa gao
ViyembE* dee
tour n Feyele& aylul

towel Felcigo* al
train n GeldO Derht galt tur
translate ForcigoleeO
trousers FoimodO mud
Hoye* ForO DeI Foiroht

hoi
U
underwear Dodo*T FoimodO do
urgent YegereldeI yaa
mud
V
vegetable n Nogo)T nogg
vegetarian a SeyoO y
visa Wi}I veez
W
walk v YeBgea YeBeeO yabgun ya
wallet Jogo_ oa BeecO un bogch
wash (something) v FohiyeeeO gaakh
watch n Ge* Ce(
water n FosO
we bida
weekend Gere( oa SevxlcI gargeen soolch
west beregoa barn
when kEjiIT huj
where Hemi)T haa
who kEa hun
why Yegekigeoa yaagaad
wife Fhene* ukh
window Co2eeO
with DeI
without FoiheI oogway
woman FmehdeI um
write bicivX bi
Y
yes De;mO teem
yesterday Foicohedo* oo
you sg inf CI chee
you sg pol Da ta
you pl Da Ne*
yurt kE*
Tibetan
ALPHABET
ABOUT TIBETAN
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHTIBETAN DICTIONARY
310
311
312
313
314
315
317
318
319
320
321
322
325
326
327
329
329
331
alphabet
Tibetan script consists of 30 basic characters and four symbols for vowels, which can
be added to these characters.
Each of the consonants in the writing system includes an a. This is because
consonants in Tibetan are represented as syllabic units and all have an inherent a
sound in their basic form. Consonants are arranged according to where the sound
comes from in your mouth (from the throat to the lips).
Symbols are added above or below the consonant to indicate different vowel
sounds weve used the first consonant, (ka), as an example. Note that the
Tibetan symbol for each vowel can be pronounced in different ways because the
pronunciation is affected by the letters around it.
Vowels (consonant ka used as example)
ki
ku
ke
ko
a lph ab et
Consonants
310
ka
kha
ga
nga
ca
cha
ja
nya
ta
tha
da
na
pa
pha
ba
ma
tsa
tsha
dza
wa
zha
za
ya
ra
sha
sa
ha
la
TIBETAN
about Tibetan
The language of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan (bodskad
), belongs to
the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan language family, with Burmese its closest relative. Its spoken by more than six million people, mainly in Tibet but also in
neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan, India and Pakistan. Tibetan has many dialects, but the
Lhasa dialect (used in this chapter) is the most influential and considered the standard. Written Tibetan was devised in the 7th century by a scholar sent to India by the
Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to enable the translation of Buddhist literature into
Tibetan. The new script was based on the Devanagari characters used to write many
Indian languages. Since its introduction, the writing system of Tibetan has barely
changed, but the spoken language has evolved considerably. As a result, written
and spoken Tibetan are quite different. The importance of Mandarin Chinese is also
a reality in Tibet in urban areas almost all Tibetans speak Mandarin. Nevertheless,
making an effort to get a few Tibetan phrases together will be greatly appreciated by
the Tibetans you encounter on your travels.
tibetan
ab o ut TIBE TAN
311
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
English sound
Symbol
English sound
run
bed
ago
cheat
aw
law
dog
ay
say
dz
adds
bet
go
ee
see
hat
hit
jar
so
kit
her
lot
oo
zoo
man
glue
not
flute (with a
raised tongue)
ng
ring
In this chapter, the Tibetan pronunciation

is given in pink after each phrase.
ny
canyon
pet
Some consonants in Tibetan can be

aspirated (pronounced with a puff of
air after the sound). Aspirated sounds
are represented with an h following the
consonant: ch, kh, ph, th and tsh.
An n, m or ng following a vowel indicates
a nasalised sound (pronounced with air
escaping through the nose).
run (pronounced
deep in the throat)
sun
sh
shot
top
ts
hats
win
yes
zero
zh
pleasure
Tibetan also has tones but, unlike in

some Asian languages, they arent crucial
to meaning and havent been indicated
in this chapter.
Syllables are separated by a dot.
For example:
tujaychay
312
Consonants
Symbol
essentials
Hello.
Goodbye. (by person staying)
Goodbye. (by person leaving)
Please.
Thank you.
Sorry./Excuse me.
tashi delek
kalee pay
kalee shu
tujaysig
tujaychay
gongda
kayrng injikay shinggi ybay
Do you understand?
ha ko songngay
I understand.
ha ko masong
Could you speak more slowly, please?
yngkya kalee kalee soong nng da
Could you repeat that, please?
te yngkya soong nngda
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
laykoh
chig
nyi
soom
shi
nga
doog
dn
gye
gu
chu
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000
1,000,000
nyishu
soomchu
shibchu
ngbchu
doogchu
dnchu
gyaychu
goobchu
gya
chigtong
sayachig
lang uage dif f icult ie s TIBE TAN
ha kosong
I dont understand.
313
time & dates

What time is it?
tnda chuts ktsayray
Its (two) oclock.
( )
Its quarter past (six).
( )
Its half past (two).
( )
Its quarter to (three).
( )
t ime & da te s
The Western calendar date is (28 June).

(
)
314
chuts (nyi)pa ray

chuts (doog)dng kama
chnga ray
chuts (nyi)dng chayka ray
(soom)pa sinba kama
chonga
tering chinda (doogbay tsay
nyishu tsbgye) ray
now
today
tonight
tnda
tering
dhogongtshen
this morning
this afternoon
tering shohgay
tering chitoh
yesterday
tomorrow
sunrise
sunset
kaysa
sanyin
nyinma shard
nyinma noobd
spring
summer
autumn
winter
chika
yarga
tnga
gnga
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
sa dawa
sa migma
sa lhgb
sa phubu
sa pasng
sa pempa
sa nyim
Tibet uses both the traditional lunar calendar, in which each month has 30 days, and
the Gregorian calendar, as used in the West. There are 12 months in each, and they
are simply referred to as the 1st month, the 2nd month etc. However, the Lunar
New Year is about six weeks after the Western New Year.
dawa dngpo
dawa nyipa
dawa soompa
dawa shipa
dawa ngapa
dawa doogpa
dawa dnpa
dawa gyepa
dawa gupa
dawa chupa
dawa chuchigpa
dawa chunyipa

Where is this
going?
boat
bus
plane
kabah dohgi ray

druzing
chich lngkhodi
nmdu
tr ansp o r t & d ire c tio ns TI BE TAN
1st month
(Tibetan lunar)
2nd month
3rd month
4th month
5th month
6th month
7th month
8th month
9th month
10th month
11th month
12th month
315
What times the

bus?
first
last
next
Id like to hire a
car
donkey
landcruiser
How much is it daily/weekly?

/
Wheres the ?
bank
post office
tourist information
office
Does this road lead to ?
Can you show me (on the map)?

(
)
Whats the address?
chich lngkho
chuts ktsayla
dohgi ray
tngpote
thamate
jemate
nga chig yar dhy
mota
boonggu
len curusa
nyin/duntg rayray
gong ktsay ray
kabah yray
ngkhng
dakhng
yukor tochm
laykhoong
lmgadi
dohya rebay
(spta dinng) tn nngda
kachng kray ray
Is it far?
ta ringpo rebay
How do I get to ?
Turn left/right.
/
Go straight ahead.
la kntehsi dohg ray

ynla/yehla kyognng
katoogdo
316
behind
in front of
near (to)
opposite
there
gybl
dnl
teel
phachogl
phakay
accommodation
Im looking for a
campsite
chig mig tagiy

gur gybnay
dsay sacha
drnkhng
drkhng
guest house
hotel
drkhng
kabah yray
ygsh
kesh

khngmichig la gy
Do you have a room with two beds?
nyetinyi chaypay khngmi ybay
Do you have a room with a double bed?
minyi shongsay nyeti
chaypay khngmi ybay
How much for ?
one night
a week
two people
la gong ktsay ray

tsen chig
dunt chig
minyi
ac c om mo d atio n TIBE TAN
Wheres the
hotel?
best
cheapest
317
For (three) nights.
Could we have
(a/an) ?
(extra) blanket
mosquito net
our key
tsen (soom) ring

ngntsoh g
The (heater) doesnt work.

(
)
nyechay (tb)
nyegur
ngnts dimig
(tsalog) di kyn
shorsha
Is there somewhere to wash clothes?

dulog trsa y rebay
Can we use the kitchen?

tbtsng baych chayna
digi rebay
Do you have a safe where I can leave my valuables?
rintngchen chalg
chsa ybay
What time do we have to check out?
ngntso chuts katsay
tngray

Im looking for
a/the
bank
public telephone
kabah ymay
tagi y
ngkhng
mimng khapah
I want to exchange some money.

nga chigay ng jaygy
Whats the exchange rate?
ngjegongtsay kray ray
Is there a local internet cafe?
sanayday intanet baych
tongsa ypay chakhng
318
Id like to get internet access.

nga intanet baych chaygo y
How much is it for an hour?
chutschig laja ktsay ray
I want to make a long-distance call to (Australia).
(
)
nga (otaliya)la khapah
tnggo y
I want to make a collect call.
khapah tongla phchognay tsigya
chogpay khapahchi tng goy
The number is
khapah ahngdng ray
sightseeing
mig tad y
sacha phagi kray ray
Is it OK if I take a photo?
par gybna digi rebay
takor gyn ringl doya yray
/
chuts ktsayla go chaygi/

gybgi ray
Is there an admission charge?

zla taygo rebay
sigh tse eing TIB E TAN
Id like to see
Whats that place?
319
sightseeing
monastery
mosque
mountain
museum
old city
palace
park
statues
temple
waterfall
gompa
kachay lhakhng
ri
demtn khng
dronkay nyingba
phodng
lingga
dku
lhakhng
bbchu
How much is a guide?

nayshay gyakhen
lacha ktsay ray
Where can I get a local map?
sanayki spta knay ragiray
s ho pp ing
shopping
320
Wheres the
nearest ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
Do you have any ?
nyaysh kabah
yray
par tsongkhng
trom
drenten chalg
tsongkhng
kayrngla tsongya ybay
Can you show me that?

phagi ngah mik tnd
sanay rngnay tnpay
denten chalg
nyosa gabah yray
Is this made from ?

leopard bone
leopard skin
onyx
tiger bone
tiger skin
turquoise
diy gyubja rebay

sigki rkoh
sigpg
si
tggi rkoh
tgpg
yu
How much is it?

gong ktsay ray
Can you write down the price?
gong shugutog dih nngda
Its too expensive.
gong chaytasha
Ill give you
ngay tay go
buln shogjngtog
rimpa tayna digi rebay

less
enough
more
nyoongnga
digpa
mngwa
meeting people
Hello.
Goodbye. (said by
person staying/
leaving)
Good night.
tashi delek
kalee pay/
kalee shu
simja nnggo
m ee ting p eo p le TIB E TAN
ngtsinng nont shorsha
321
How are you?

kayrng kusu depo yinbay
Fine. And you?
deboyin kayrngyng
kusu depo yinbay
Whats your name?
kayrnggi tsenl krayray
My name is
Pleased to meet you.
ngaymingla ray
kayrng jelpa ghpo choong

This is my
brother
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
sister
son
wife
khong ngay ray

pnkya bu
bumo
papha
tokpo/tokmo m/f
kyoka
ahma
pnkya bumo
bu
kyeman
making conversation
Do you live here?
kayrngday shugi ybay
kayrng kabah paykay
kayrngday kyipo dugay
I love it here.
nga day kyipo du
322
Im here
on business
on holiday
to study
nga day yin

tsonglaychay
goongsengchay
lobjong jechay

kayrngday yn ringl
daykiyin
Im here for weeks/days.
/

(
)
nga day dnta/

nyinma daykiyin
(kayrng) parchig gybna
digiy raybay
Id like to learn some of your local dialects.
m ak ing co nver sat ion TIB E TAN
nga ymiykay jngdy

ngay kayrngla injikay
lb gbay
Whats this called?
dila kray sa
How do you do this in your country?
kayrnggi loongpay
loogsla
Is this a local or national custom?
di ymiy loogsl yinna
gyakb chiyonggi
loogsl yinna
Im sorry, its not the custom in my country.
gongta teda
ngnts loongpay
loogsla ymaray
Thank you for your hospitality.
naylen yakpo nngwa
tujaychay
323
local talk
Just a minute.
I see.
Its OK.
Sure.
tehsi guah
ahleh
digi ray
yindayin
Where are you from?
kayrng loongpa kanay yin

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
What do you do (for a living)?

(
)
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
teacher
nga nay yin

otaliya
kanada
inji loongpa
nuzeeland
yuesay/ahmirika
kayrng (tsotbche) layk
kray chaykiy
nga yin
tsongpa
laykoong layka
chaykhen
gaygan
How old are you?

kayrng lo ktsay yin
Im years old.
How old is your ?

daughter
son
324
nga lo yin
lo ktsay ray
kayrnggi bumo
kayrnggi bu
Are you married?

kayrng chngsa kyn tsabay
We live together, but were not married.
nganyi nymtu dki yte
chngsa gybmay
Im
single
married
nga
mihreng yin
chngsa gybtsah
Do you like ?
I dont like
I like reading.
kayrng la kabo ybay

nga la kabo may
nga teb loyala kabo y
I like music.
nga rja tongya kabo y
nga tsaymo tsiya kabo y
feelings & opinions

Im
Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
sad
thirsty
tired
worried
nga gi du
kayrng gi dugay
khya
tsawa tsi
drkog tog
sem kyo
ka kom
klay ka
semtel lng
Im happy.
nga kyipo du
Im well.
nga depo yin
fee lings & o p inio ns TIBE TAN
I like playing sport.
325
Im in a hurry.
nga tewa y
What do you think about ?
I thought it was
boring
great
horrible
OK
too expensive
kayrng togla smts

krayy
ngay smph
te chi raysha
nyobto
pay ygpo
pay doogchg
digtsm
dohsong chenpo
farewells
f a re wells
Tomorrow is my last day here.
326
sanyin nga day dya nyin

tamate yin
If you come to (Scotland) you must come and visit us.
kayrng gaysi
(
)
(sokotland)la phebna
ngatssah ngaypadu
Whats your address?
kayrnggi kachng kray ray
Whats your (email address)?
(
)
kayrnggi (eemel kachng)
kray ray
Heres my (address).
( )
ngay (kachng) diray
Keep in touch!
mutnay daywa nngah
well-wishing
Congratulations!
tashi delek
Happy birthday!
kyekahnyin tashi delek
Happy New Year!
losar tashi delek
eating out
Im looking for a restaurant.
sakhng kabah ymay tagi y
A table for , please.
Can I see the menu, please?
mi la chogtsechig nangro
ngah khalagitho tn nangda
What do you recommend?

kayrng chayna kray ygiray
sanayki sachay migsay
kray kray tsongya yray
Ill have
Ill have what theyre having.
nga g
khongts chyate nashin ngala g
Whats in that dish?

khala phaginng kray yray
I love this dish.
nga khala dila kabo y
We love the local cuisine.
ngntso sanayki khalala kabo y
e ating o ut TIBE TAN
Whats the local speciality?
327
street eats
fried meat dumplings
fried rice
noodle soup
pork spare ribs
rice soup
roasted pancake (bread)
soup with meat, vegetables
and noodles
steamed meat dumplings
vegetable dumplings
momo ngpa
day ngpa
gyathuk
tsibsha
daythuk
ahmdho bklay
tenthuk
momo
tsay momo
The meal was delicious!

khala shimbu shayta choong
e at ing ou t
Please bring the (bill).

(
)
breakfast
lunch
dinner
a bottle of
(boiled) water
(mineral) water
(orange) juice
soda
coffee (without milk)
black tea
tea
tea with sugar
328
(khalagi zihn)chig nngda

shogkay khala
nyingoong khala
gongda khala
(
(
(
shaytmchig
chu (khma)
(butog)chu
(tslumay) khuwa
chu ngamo
)
)
)
cha kabi (ohma maypa)

chatng
cha
cha ngamo

toongyachig ngay nyogo
kayrng kray g
You can get the next one.
jemate ngg chogi ray
beer (home-brew)
beer (bottled)
Chinese brandy
liquor
wine
chng
beeyar
gyamee ahrk
ahrk
gndoom chngrk

nga sha misaken yin
Not too spicy, please.
menna shayta
magyronng
Im allergic to
eggs
dairy products
fish
meat
peanuts
ngah phogiy
gonga
karchu
nyasha
sha
batm

Help!
Stop!
Go away!
Thief !
Fire!
Watch out!
rog nngda
kha kgdng
phh gyook
kuma du
may bhgee
sb sb nng
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies TIB E TAN
Im vegetarian.
329
Call !
a doctor
an ambulance
the police
kay tongda
ahmchi
naypa orkhen mota
korsoongwa
Please help me.

ngah ro nngd
Could I please use the telephone?
khapah baych chayna
digi rebay
Im lost.
nga lmga lasha
sngch kabah yray
korsoongway lekoong
kabah yray
330
englishtibetan dictionary
In this dictionary, words are marked as n (noun), a (adjective), v (verb), m (masculine), f (feminine),
sg (singular) and pl (plural) where necessary.
A
accident (collision)
dhongtu gybpa
accommodation
dhnay
adaptor
logshoog choya
address
kachng
after
jela
air-conditioned
dnglog
airplane
nmdu
airport
nmtng
all
tshngma
allergy
phognay
ambulance
naypa orkhen mota
and dng
ankle
kngtsig
antibiotics
naybu gokmen antibayeotik
arm
lgpa
C
camera
parchay
cancel
chiten chaypa
car mota
cell phone
lgpa kyeya khapa
centre (city)
drongkaykyil
change v
jewa
cheap kaypo
chest (body)
bnggo
child/children pugu
cigarettes
thama
city
dongkay
clean
tsngma
closed
go gybpa
cold a
dngmo
come
yongwa
computer
cmputah
condoms
ligshoob
cook v
khala sowa
cost n gong
credit card
buln shogjng
customs (at border)
gomsl
D
dangerous
nyanga
date (time)
tshepa
day nyinma
delay
gyngwa
dentist
so ahmchi
depart
chi thnpa
diaper
pug chuden
dinner
gongda khala
direct
kathoog
dirty
tsogbachen
disabled
wngpo kynchen
e nglishtib e tan
baby pugu
back (of body) gyb
backpack
gyaphay
bad
dhukcha
bag
bagla
baggage claim
togtay lensa
bank
ngkhng
bar
chngkhng
bathroom
trkhng
battery
baytiri
beautiful
nying jepo
bed
nyeti
beer (bottled)
/ beeyar
beer (home-brew) chng
before
ngnla
behind
gybla
bicycle
knggari
big
chenpo
bill (account)
ngtsi
blanket
nyechay
blood group
tgrig
boat
druzing
book (make a reservation)
ngnngg chaypa
bottle
shaytm
boy bu
breakfast
shogkay khala
broken
chgpa
bus
chich lngkho
business tsong
buy v nyowa
331
discount
gong chgpa
doctor
ahmchi
double bed
minyi shongsay nyeti
double room
minyi dsay khngmi
drink n
toongya
drive v
mota tongwa
driving licence
mota tongya lgkay
drug
simen
E E
ear
ahmchog
east shr
eat sawa
electricity log
email
eemel
embassy
shoongtsab
emergency
zadg
English (language)
inji
evening
gongda
exit
dnsa
expensive
gong chenpo
eye mig
ta ringpo
gyokpo
papha
phingsho
DIC TION ARY
zugu
332
half
chayka
hand
lgpa
happy
kyipo
have
ypa
he kho
head go
heart nying
heavy
jikog
help v
rog nngwa
here
day
high
thopo
hike v
kngdr gykpa
holiday (vacation)
goongseng
homosexual
ph phola chgpa chaypa
hospital
menkhng
hot tshapo
hotel
drkhng
hungry
drkog togpa
husband kyoka
I
I nga
F
far
fast
father
katoog baych chayyamench yochay

nya
nyasha
food
khala
foot
kngpa
free (of charge)
rin maypa
friend
/
tokpo/tokmo m/f
fruit
shingtog
full
khengpa
G
gift
lgtg
girl bumo
glass
gelasi
go
dohwa
good
ygpo
guide (person)
ngotr lgkay
ill nawa
important
kaychenpo
injury
maykyn
insurance
inshuren gangya
internet
intanet
J
jewellery
gyenj
job
layka
K
key
dimig
kilogram
kilogarm
kitchen
thbtsang
knife ti
L
lmtnpa
laundry
tulog trkhng
lawyer
timtspa
left (direction)
yn
leg (body)
kngpa
lesbian
m mola chgpa chaykhen
less
nyoongwa
letter yige
light (sun/lamp) w
like
gapo chay
lock
gonchg
long
ringpo
love v
gapo chay
luggage
togtay
lunch
nyingoong khala
M
mail dg
man pho
map
spta
market
trom
matches
tsgta
meat sha
medicine men
message
khalen
milk ohma
minute
kamachig
mobile phone
money
ng
month dawa
morning ngatoh
mother
ahma
motorcycle
bhgbhg
mouth kha
quiet a
khakhu simbu
R
lgpa kyeya khapa
rain
chahpa
razor tadi
receipt
choongzin
refund n
chilog
registered mail
tebkyeldg
rent v
yrwa
repair v
soch gykpa
reservation
ngnngg
reserve v
ngnngg chaypa
restaurant
sakhng
return v
chih logpa
return ticket
yalm malm doya tikasi
right (direction)
yeh
road (main)
lmchen
room
khngmi
S
safe a
nyenga maypa
sanitary napkins
tsngday shugu
seat
koobkya
send
tongwa
sex
phomo tg
shampoo
tatrya shmbu
share (a dorm)
chikhngnng nymtu dhpa
she mo
sheet (bed)
chatah
shirt
ttoong
shoes
lhmko
shop n
tsongkhng
e nglishtib e tan
name ming
near
tihla
new
sarba
newspaper
tsgba
night
gongda
no / / /
min/may/maray/mindu
noisy
kaychoh
north chng
nose
nakhoog
now tnda
old
nyingpa
one-way ticket
yalm chigpo doya tikasi
open a
khachay
outside
chilog
passport
pasepot
pay v
rin trpa
pharmacy
men tsongkhng
phonecard
khapah tongya lgkye
photo par
police
korsoongwa
postcard
dgshog
dakhng
pregnant
pugu kyeya ypa
price n gong
333
short (height)
mpo
short (length)
toongtoong
shower
soogpo truya torcho
single room
khngmichig
skin
pgpa
skirt
mayyog
sleep v
nyi nyaywa
slowly
kalee kalee
small
choongchoong
soap yitsi
some
kashay
soon
gyokpo
south lho
souvenir shop
drenten chalg tsongkhng
stamp
dgtg
station
bbtsoog
stomach
drkog
stop v
kgpa
stop (bus) n
kgsa
street
lmga
student
lobtoog
sun nyima
sunscreen
nyibta gok
swim v
chukye gykpa
DIC TION ARY
334
tampons
makha gokchay sinbay
teeth so
telephone n
khapah
nmshi
that phagi
they
khongtso
thirsty
kha kompo
this di
throat
mikpa
ticket
tikasi
time
dts
tired
tng chaypa
tissues
tsngta shugu
today
tering
toilet
sngch
tomorrow
sanyin
tonight
tohgong
toothbrush
sotr
toothpaste
somen
logshu
tour
takor
tourist information
yukor tochmpay laykhoong
train rili
translate v
phbgyur chaypa
travel agency
dimdr laykoong
travellers cheques
drsh ngzin
trousers
gtoong
twin beds
nyeti chachig
U
underwear
urgent
nnggyn hapan
kay chenpo
V
vacant
tongpa
vegetable
ngotsay
vegetarian
sha misakhen
visa viza
W
walk v
gompa gykpa
wash (something) v
tr gykpa
watch n
chuts
water n chu
we ngntso
weekend
sa penpa dng nyinma
west noob
wheelchair
khol koobgya
when
kad
where
kabah
who su
why
kray chaynay
wife
kyeman
window
gaykoong
with
nymtu
without
/
maypa/minpa
woman
kyeman
write
tiwa
Y
yes / / / yin/ray/y/du
yesterday
kaysa
you sg/pl
/
kayrng/kayrngtso
Uighur
ALPHABET
ABOUT UIGHUR
PRONUNCIATION
TIME & DATES
ACCOMMODATION
SIGHTSEEING
SHOPPING
MEETING PEOPLE
MAKING CONVERSATION
FEELINGS & OPINIONS
FAREWELLS
EATING OUT
ENGLISHUIGHUR DICTIONARY
336
337
338
339
340
342
343
344
344
345
346
347
350
351
352
355
356
357
uighur alphabet
word-final word-medial word-initial alone
sound
aa
a
b
p
t
j
ch
h
d
r
z
z
s
sh
r
f
k
k
g
ng
l
a lph ab et
m
n
ee
o
u
v
v
e
i
336
UIGHUR
about Uighur
The old language of the Central Asian steppe, Uighur (ooyroorcha
) is spoken
Uighur Autonomous Region. True to its history as a language of the Silk Road, Uighur
has absorbed elements of Arabic and Persian and can be heard in pockets of neighbouring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Russia. Buddhist texts from the
9th century were written in old Uighur script (read from bottom to top) and for much
of the following 1000 years Uighur scribes dutifully recorded the history of Central Asia
using a modified Arabic script. Since the 1970s some Uighur speakers have used the
Roman alphabet, but the modified Arabic script (written from right to left) still predominates in China. Uighur is a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek and similar to modern Turkish. As the guardians of a venerable language, the Muslim Uighurs also enjoy
a reputation for longevity, with over 25% of all centenarians in China being Uighur. Its
not unusual for Uighur people to invite foreigners into their homes with a few of the
phrases in this chapter youre sure to impress your hosts.
uighur
ab o ut UIG HU R
337
pronunciation
p r on uncia tio n
Vowels
338
Consonants
Symbol
English sound
Symbol
English sound
hat
bed
aa
father
ch
cheat
bet
dog
ee
as the ee in sleep,
but produced from f
the throat
fat
hit
go
go
hat (pronounced
with a puff of air)
as the e in her,
pronounced with
rounded lips
joke
oo
tool
king
put
live
i pronounced with
rounded lips
man
not
ng
sing
pet
room (produced
from the throat)
In this chapter, Uighur pronunciation is

given in purple after each phrase.
Syllables are separated by a dot, and

s
stressed syllables are indicated with italics.
sh
For example:
t
kachrueng
v
sun
shut
top
very
yes
zoo
essentials
Yes./No.
.
Please
Hello.
.
Goodbye.
.
Thank you.
.
Excuse me.
.
(to get past)
Excuse me. (to
get assistance)
Sorry.
.
eeaa/yaak
mareeammat
yaahshimusiz
hayrhosh
rahmat sizga
kachrng tvaalaay
kachrng ga
kaandaak baaridu
kachrng
siz chshandingizmoo
I understand/dont understand.
man chshandim/chushanmidim
I speak/dont speak Mandarin.

man ortaak tildaa szliyalayman/
szliyalmayman
Do you speak (Uighur)?

siz (ooyroorcha) szliyalamsiz
What do you call this in (Uighur)?
buni (ooyroor tilidaa) nima
dap aataaysilar
Can we try to speak in (Uighur)?
man (ooyroorcha) szlap sinaap
baaksaam bolaamdoo
Could you please ?
repeat that
speak more slowly
haapaa bolmaay
kilip biralamsiz
yana bir danga
aastiraak szlang
lang uage dif f icult ie s UIG HU R
siz inggiliska bilamsiz

Do you understand?
339
numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
nl
bir
ikki
ch
tt
bash
aalta
yatta
sakkiz
tokkuz
on
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1,000
1,000,000
yigirma
ottuz
kirik
allik
atmish
yatmish
saksan
toksaan
bir yz
bir mng
bir milyoon
time & dates

What time is it?
eeaazir saaat kancha boldi
Its (10) oclock.
saaat (on) boldi
Quarter past (10).

(on) din bir chaarak tti
t ime & da te s
Half past (10).

(on) yerim boldi
Quarter to (11).
(oonbir) raa bir kaarak tti

saaat kaankida (baashlaaydoo)
(It starts) At 10.
saaat oondaa (baashlaaydoo)
Its (18 October).
.
now
today
tonight
340
(oninchi aayning onsakkizinchi

kni) boldi
eeaazir
bgn
bgn aahshaam
this
afternoon
morning
(after breakfast)
morning
(before lunch)
bgn
chshtin keyin
atigan
chshtin burun
tngn
ata
sunrise
sunset
kn chikish
kn olturoosh
spring
summer
autumn
winter
baaeeaar
yaaz
kz
kish
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
dshanba
sayshanba
chaarshanba
payshanba
jma
shanba
yakshanba
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
yaanvaar
fiviraal
maart
aapril
maay
iyoon
iyool
aavroost
sintabir
ktabir
noyaabir
dekaabir
tim e & d ates UI GH UR
yesterday
tomorrow
341

Is this the
to (Kashgar)?
boat
bus
train
bu (kashkar)ga
baaraamdu
kima
aaptooboos
poyiz
Wheres a/the ?
bank
place to change
foreign money
post office
nada
baankaa
chatal pooli
aalmaashtooridiraan
oroon
poshtaahaanaa
Is this the road to (Kashgar)?

bo (kashkar)ga baaridihaan yolmo

maangaa bu yarning haritidiki
ornini krsitip biramsiz
Whats the address?
aadirisi kayar
How far is it?
kaanchilik yiraak
u yarga piyaada barrili boolaamdu
How do I get there?
Turn right/left.
Its straight ahead.
Its
behind
in front of
near
on the corner
opposite
there
342
kaandaak maangidu
ongraa/solraa kaayrilip
udul aaldiraa mengip
.
.
ning
aarkidaa
aaldidaa
atraapidaa
ning bulungidaa
ning kaarshi
taripida
uyar
accommodation
kayarda meemaanhaanaa baar
yaahshiraak/arzaanraak
yaatidiraan yardin birni
tavsiya kilinga
mining yarlik meemaanhaanidaa
.
toorroom baar
.
man yaataak zaakaas kilmaakchi idim
.
man aaldin tizimlitip koyraan
yaataak baarmu
bir yrsh
yaalrooz kishlik
kosh kishlik

eear bir knliki/aadamgee
nachcha pool
man (ch) kn yaatmaakchi idim

yaataakning aachkuchini biramsiz
man bir taal (adiyaal) aartook
aalsaam boolaamdoo
.
(eeaavaa tangshigchning)
chaatiki baarkan

saaat kaanchida yaataak kaaytooridu
ac c om mo d atio n UIG HU R
Do you have a room?

double (suite)
single
twin
343
Could I have my ,
please?
deposit
passport
man zmningki
ni elivaalsaam
bolaamdoo
zaakaalat puli
paasport

Wheres a/an ?
ATM
public phone
nada
aaptomaatik pool
elish maashinisi
aammivi telifoon
telifoon numuringiz kaancha

The number is
numuri bolsaa

yikin atraaptaa torhaanaa baarmu
Id like to
get internet access
man kilaay digan

torraa chikish
pirintir/sikanir
sightseeing
man yarlik manzirni kray degan
Id like to see
.
man kray degan
Whats that?
u nima
Can I take a photo?
sratka taartivaalsaam bolaamdoo
mining bu yarning
.
yarlik manzirsini krgm baar
344

bu yarni kaanchilik vaakittaa
saayaaeeat kilip bolrili bolidoo
sightseeing
Etgal Mosque
eeytkaar jama
maschiti
boordaa kli
kaanaas kli
sayraam kli
mahmoot kashkiri
kabrisi
ming y
ipaarhaan kabrisi
Heaven Pool
Kanasi Lake
Lake Sayram
Mahmuds Tomb
Thousand-Buddha Cave
Xiangfei Tomb
shopping
Wheres a ?
camera shop
market
souvenir shop
supermarket
Id like to buy
mining ni setivaalroom baar
Can I look at it?

krp baaksaam bolaamdoo
How much is it?
kaancha pool
baaeeaasini haatirlap koyong

.
bak kimmatkan
Ill give you (five yuan).

.
sizga (bash yuan) biray
sho p p ing U IGH UR
nada
srathaanaa
baazaar
haatira boyoomliri
maagzini
trlk maallaar
maagzini
345

bu yarda inaavatlik kaartuchkaa
ishlitishka boolaamdoo
eeysaavaat taalunidaa
masila baar ikan
nadin yarlik maeesoolaatlaarni
setivaalrili boolidoo
bu nada yaasaalraan
.
less
enough
more
bigger
smaller
aaz
yitarlik
kp
chongraak
kichikrak
meeting people
Hello.
346
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Goodbye.
Good night.
.
.
.
.
.
assaalaamu alaykom/
yaahshimusiz
hayrlik saeear
chshtin keyinlikingiz
hayrlik bolsoon
kachlikingiz
hayrlik bolsoon
hayrhosh
hayrlik kach
Mr
Mrs
Ms/Miss
apandim
haanim
henim
How are you?

Fine, and you?
Whats your name?
My name is
Pleased to meet you.
kaandaak aeevaalingiz
yaahshi sizchu
sizning ismingiz nima
mining ismim
didaar ranimat
This is my
brother (older)
brother (younger)
child
daughter
father
friend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister (older)
sister (younger)
son
wife
bu mening
ukaam
inim
baalaam
kizim
daadaam/aataam
dostoom
ar
aapaam/aanaam
laayikim
aacham
singlim
orlum
aayaalim
making conversation
Im here
siz bu yarda tooraamsiz

naga baarisiz
bu yarni yaaktoordingizmu
bu yarni bak yaaktoordoom
taamaak yidingizmu
bu yarga saayaaeeat
kilrili kalganmu
for a holiday
on business
to study
man bu yarga
kalgan
saayaaeeat kilish
komaandoroopkiraa
chikish
okoosh

sizbu yarda kaanchilik toorisiz
.
man (tt) eeapta tooriman

man (sizni) sratka
taartivaalsaam boolaamdoo
m ak ing co nver sat ion UI GH UR
Do you live here?

I love it here.
.
Have you eaten?
Are you here on
holidays?
347
What language/dialect do you speak at home?

silar yoortoonglaardaa kaaysi
tildaa szlishisilar
Do most of the people here speak (Uighur)?
bu yarda kpncha aadam
(ooyrurcha) szlishamdoo
Id like to learn some (Uighur).
mining (ooyroor tili)ni
.
gangim baar
maangaa aazraak inggilischa
gtp koyooshni haalaamsiz
Whats this called?
buni nima daydoo
local talk
Great!
Hey!
Its OK.
Just a minute.
.
Just joking.
.
Maybe.
No problem.
No way!
Sure, whatever.
Thats enough!
.
.
.
.
!
Where are you from?

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA
Whats your
occupation?
348
kaaltis
kaandaak aeevaal
heli yaahshi
birdam saaklaap tooroong
chaakchaak kilip koydoom
balkim
eechkisi yook
moomkin amas
bolidoo maakol
boldi yitarlik
!
.
siz nadin kaldingiz

.
man din kaldim

aavistiraaliya
kaanaadaa
angiliya
yengi zinlaandiya
aamrikaa
siz nima ish bilan
shooroonlinisiz
Im a/an
businessperson
office worker
mining kaspim
soodigar
ishhaanaa hizmat
haadimi
ishchi
tradesperson
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son
kaancha
yaashkaa kirdingiz
siz/san pol/inf
kizingiz
orlingiz
Im years old.
man yaashkaa kirdim

oo yaashkaa kirdi
Too old!
bak keri ikan
man kichik kruniman
Are you married?

siz toy kildingizmu
siz yaatlik boldingizmu
.
Im
single
married
Do you like ?
I like/dont like
art
film
music
reading
sport
mining jptim baar
man
boytaak
toy kildim
siz ni yaahshi
kramsiz
man ni yaahshi
kriman/krmayman
sanat
kino krsh
muzikaa aanglaash
kitaap krsh
tantarbiya
m ak ing co nver sat ion UI GH UR
349
feelings & opinions

Are you ?
cold
hot
hungry
thirsty
tired
siz boldingizmu
sorook
issik
aach
oossaash
eerish
I feel
I dont feel
Do you feel ?
happy
sad
worried
.
.
What do you think

of it?
Its
awful
beautiful
boring
great
interesting
OK
strange
man ees kildim

man ees kilmidim
siz bolivaataamsiz
hooshaal boloosh
haapaa boloosh
ansirash
sizningcha kaandaakraak
u
bak naachaar
bak gzal
bak zerikishlik
bak yaahshi
bak manilik
bop kaalidoo
ralita
mixed emotions
a little
very
extremely
aazraak
bak
intaayin
Im a little sad.
man aazraak haapaa boloop kaaldim
Im very surprised.
man bak eeayraan kaaldim
Im extremely happy.
.
350
man naaeeaati hooshaal
I didnt mean to do anything wrong.

mining haataa ish kilroom yok

bu yarlik rp aadatmu
farewells
well-wishing
Bon voyage!
Congratulations!
Good luck!
!
Happy birthday!
Happy New Year!
!
!
!
!
sapiringizga
aakyol bolsoon
mubaarak boolsoon
syaga aamat tilayman
tooroolraan kningizga
moobaarak bolsoon
yengi yilingizraa
moobaarak bolsoon
f arewe lls UIG HU R
.
man ata maangiman
poorsat boloop kaalsaa
(shotlaandiya) ga baarsingiz
.
meni izdang
Keep in touch!
.
aalaakiliship turaayli
siz bilan tonushkanlikimdin
.
intaayin hooshaalman
Heres my address.
.
aadirsimni sizga dap biray
Whats your email?
siz ning tor aadirsingiz chu
351
eating out
Where would you go
for (a) ?
banquet
celebration
cheap meal
local specialities
yum cha
Can you recommend
a ?
maangaa birar raak tin

birni tavsiya
kilaamsiz
kaavaakhaanaa
kaeevahaanaa
grahaanaa
tahsa
aashhanaa
ooshshaak yimakliklar
maagzini
chkrahaanaa
kochidiki ooshshaak
yimakliklar
chaayhaanaa
bar
cafe
noodle house
dish
restaurant
snack shop
e at ing ou t
(wonton) stall
street vendor
teahouse
Id like a/the
table for (five)
bill
drink list
local speciality
menu
(non)smoking
table
352
uchun naga berish

kirak
muraasim
tkzsh
tabriklash paaaaliyiti
tkzsh
arzaanrak
yimakliklarni
yiyish
yarlik yimakliklar
chaay ichish
man kilaay digan

(bash) kishlik
stal
hisaavaat taalooni
ichimlik
tizimliki
yarlik aalaaeeyda
korumaa
korumaa tizimliki
taamaaka chikish
(mani kilinraan)
stal

silar yana sodaa kilaamsilar
kaandaak korumni tavsiya kilisiz
attiganlik taamaaktaa
aadatta nima yaydoo
Whats that called?
ooni nima daydoo
Whats in that dish?
bu koromining huruchliri nima
Ill have that.
maangaa bir kishlik bering
Id like it with
.
Id like it without .
chilli
garlic
MSG
nuts
oil
This dish is
(too) spicy
superb
maangaa ni
bir paarcha
bir kishlik
aashoo shoo
ikki
bu ning korumisi
(bak) aachchik
bak yaahshi
I love this dish.

bu korumaa shoondaak mizilik boptoo

.
bu yarning korumiliri shoondaak

ohshaaptoo
That was delicious!

shoondaak yiyishlik boptoo
Im full.
.
e ating o ut UIG HU R
Id like , please.
one slice
a piece
that one
two
ni kprak seling
buni aarlaashtoormaay
kizil mooch
saamsaak
ispirt
meriz
maay
man toydoom
353
breakfast
lunch
dinner
atiganlik taamaak
chshlk taamaak
kachlik taamaak
drink (alcoholic)
eeaaraak
ichimliklar
water
boiled
cold
sparkling mineral
still mineral
e at ing ou t
(cup of) coffee

(cup of) tea
with milk
without sugar
soo
kaaynaak
soovootoolraan
minralni
bulaak
(bir istaakaan) kaeeva

(bir piyaala) chaay
st koshkaan
shikar koshmiraan

(orange) juice
soft drink
ketik
aplisin (syi)
gaaz syi
black tea
chrysanthemum tea
green tea
jasmine tea
oolong tea
kizil chaay
joeeaagl cheyi
kk chaay
gl cheyi
vulong cheyi
a of beer
glass
large bottle
small bottle
bir piva
rumkaa
chong botoolkaa
kichik botoolkaa
a shot of (whisky)
a bottle/glass of
wine
bir rumkaa (viski)

bir botoolkaa/rumkaa
zm eeaariki

nima ichkingiz baar
Ill buy you one.
.
354
man meemaan kiliman

nemini haalaaysiz
Cheers!
hosha ee

tami taazaa yaahti
I think Ive had one too many.

kp ichip koyraandak
kiliman
Im feeling drunk.
man aazraak mas boloop
kaaldim
street eats
langpoong
kkbaash kunaak
banshira
poshkaal
saamsaa
polo
gsh naan
keymilik piranik
y larmini
kaavaap
naan
chchra

kktaatlik yimakliklar baarmu
ni aarlaashtoormaay
bir korumaa korisa boptikan
sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies UI GH UR

corn on the cob
dumpling (boiled)
egg pancake
fried stuffed (meat) bun
hand pilaf
pork pie (large)
pork pie (small)
pulled noodles
shish kebab
stuffed naan bread
wonton soup
355
Im allergic to
maangaa riaaksiya
kilidoo
stlk mahsoolaatlaar
tuhoom
gsh
meriz
dengiz mahsoolaatliri
dairy produce
eggs
meat
nuts
seafood
356
Help!
Go away!
Fire!
Watch out!
!
!
kutkuzunglaar
yokaal
ot katti
eetiyaat kiling

maangaa yaardam kilaalaamsiz
telifuningizni ishlitip
toorsam bolaamdoo
Im lost.
man ezip kaaldim

tazlik yi kayarda
sakchihaanaa kayarda
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
pharmacist
ang yekin
kayarda
chish dohtoori
dohtoor
dohtoorhaanaa
dorihaanaa
englishuighur dictionary
In this dictionary, words are marked as n (noun), a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular), pl (plural), inf (informal)
and pol (polite) where necessary.
A
accident (mishap)
ktlmigan bahitsizlik
accommodation
koonaalru
adaptor
maaslaashkoochi
address n
liksiya szlash
after
din kiyin
air conditioning
eeaavaa tangshigch
airplane
aayroopilaan
airport
aaydooroom
alcohol
ispirt
all
eeammisi
allergy
ziyaan kilish
ambulance
jiddi kootkoozoosh maashinisi
and
bilan
ankle
hooshouk
antibiotics
aanti bioktip
arm
bilak
ATM
aaptomaatik pool elish maashinisi
C
camera
aapaaraat
cancel
amaldin kaaldooroosh
car
kichik maashinaa
cash n
nak pool
cash (a cheque) v
pool chiki
cell phone
yaan telifoon
centre n
markaz
change (money) v
pool aalmaashtooroosh
cheap
arzaan
check (bill)
taaloon
check-in n
yokloomiraa tsh
chest (body)
mayda
children
baalilaar
cigarette
taamaakaa
city
shahar
clean a
paakiz
closed
taakaak
cold a
sorook
come
kilish
computer
kompooyotir
contact lenses
mikro aynak
cook v
taamaak itish
cost n
chikim
credit card
inaavatlik kaartochkisi
currency exchange
pool aalmaashtooroosh
chatallik kchmanlar
e nglishuigh ur
baby
bovak
back (of body)
dmba
backpack
yk taak
bad
aski
bag
somkaa
baggage
sapar laazimatlikliri
bank
baankaa
bar
kaavaakhaanaa
bathroom
moonchaa
battery
baataariya
beautiful
chiraaylik
bed
kaarvaat
beer
piva
before
booroon
behind
kaynida
bicycle
valsipit
big
chong
bill
taaloon
blanket
adyaal
blood group
kaan tipi
boat
kima
bottle
botoolkaa
boy
orool baalaa
brakes (car)
toormooz
breakfast
attiganlik taamaak
tartipsiz
bus
aaptooboos
business
sodaa saahasi
buy v
setivelish
357
dangerous
hatarlik
date (time)
chislaa
day
kn
delay v
kichiktrsh
dentist
chish dohtoori
depart
aayrilish
diaper
zaakaa
dinner
kachlik taamaak
direct a
bivaasta
dirty
maynat
disabled
miyip
discount v
itibaar birish
doctor
dohtoor
double room
kosh kishlik yaataak
drink n
ichimlik
drive v
haydash
driving licence
shopoorlook praavisi
drug (illicit)
zaharlik chikimlik
DIC TION ARY
ear
koolaak
east
shark
eat
yiyish
economy class
aadattiki oroon
electricity
tok
elevator
li
email
ilhat
embassy
dlat konsulhaanisi
emergency
jiddi ahvaal
English (language)
inggiliz tili
evening
kach
exit n
chikish erizi
expensive
kimmat
eye
kz
358
F
far
yiraak
fast
tiz
father
daadaa/aataa
nigaatip
baarmaak
jiddi kootkoozoosh saandooki
birinchi darijilik
n
belik
food
yimaklik
foot
poot
free (of charge)
eeaksiz
friend
dost
fruit
miva
full
toyoosh
G
gift
sooraat
girl
kiz baalaa
glass (drinking)
istaakaan
glasses
kz aynak
go
berish
good
yaakshi
guide n
saayaahat yitakchisi
H
half n
yerim
hand
kol
happy
hooshaal boloosh
he oo
head n
baash
heart
yrak
heavy
erir
help
yaardam
here
booyar
high
igiz
highway
tiz sratlik taashyol
hike v
piyaada mengish
holiday
tatil
hospital
dohtoorhaanaa
hot
issik
hotel
meemaanhaanaa
(be) hungry
korsiki echish
husband
eri
I
I
man
kimlik
ill
kisal
important
mooeeim
injury (wound) yaaraa
insurance
istiraahooaaniya
internet tor
interpreter
chshandrsh
J
jewellery
job
ncha marvaayit
hizmat
K
key
kitchen
knife
aachkooch
aashhaanaa
pichaak
L
laundry (place)
kirhaanaa
lawyer
aadookaat
left (direction)
sol
leg (body)
paachaak
less
aazraak
letter (mail)
tor hatchakliri
light n
chiraar
like v
aamraak
lock n
kooloop
long
oozoon
lost
ezip kelish
love v
yaahshi krsh
luggage
yk taak
lunch
chshlk taamaak
N
name
isim
near
yekin atraap
neck n
boyaan
new
yengi
newspaper
gezit
night
aahshaam
no (not at all)
eechkisi yok
noisy
vaaraang chooroong
shimaal
booroon
eeaazir
noomoor
O
old (people)
yaashaanraanlaar
old (things)
konaa narsilar
one-way ticket
bir yollook
bilat
open a
ochook
outside
sirt
P
passport
paasport
pay v
tlash
pharmacy
dorieeaanaa
phonecard
telifoon kaartisi
photo
srat
police
saakchi
postcard
aatkirtkaa
poshtaahaanaa
pregnant
eeaamildaar
price n
baaeeaa
Q
quiet a
jimjit
R
rain n
yaamroor
razor
oostoor
receipt n
taaloon
refund n
kaaytooroosh
registered (mail)
royhatka elish
rent v
aariyatka elish
repair v
rimot kilish
reserve v
zaakaas kilish
restaurant
taamaakhaanaa
return (go back)
kaaytip kitish
return ticket
kaaytip kilish beliti
right (direction)
ong
road
yol
room n
y
S
safe a
bihatar
sanitary napkin
taazilik karizi
e nglishuigh ur
mail n
hat
man ar
map
harita
market
baazaar
matches
sarangga
meat
gsh
medicine
doraa
message
oochoor
milk
st
minute
minoot
mobile phone
yaan telifoon
money
pool
month aay
morning
attigan
mother
aanaa/aapaa
motorcycle
motosikilit
mouth
eriz
north
nose
now
number
359
seat n
oroon
send
yollaash
sex (gender)
jinsi
shampoo
chaach soopooni
share (a dorm)
tang ishlitish
she oo
sheet (bed)
kirlik
shirt
kynak
shoes
aayaar
shop n
maagzin
short
kiskaa
shower n
yooyoonoosh
single room
bir kishlik yaataak
skin n
tira
skirt n
yopkaa
sleep v
oohlaash
slow
aastaa
small
kichik
soap
shorpaa
some
bazan
son
orool
south
janoop
souvenir
haatira boyoomi
stamp
pochta maarkisi
station (train)
bikat
stomach
aashkaazaan
stop v
tohtaash
stop (bus) n
aaptooboos bikiti
street
kochaa
student
okooroochi
sun
kooyaash
sunscreen
kooyaash nooridin saaklinidiraan
swim v
soo zsh
DIC TION ARY
360
tampon
kaan tohtitish paahtisi
telephone n
telifoon
timpooraatooraa
that oo
they
oolaar
(be) thirsty
oossaash
this boo
throat
borooz
ticket
bilat
time
vaakit
tired
eerish
tissues taalaa
today
bgn
toilet
oboorni
tomorrow
ata
tonight
bgn aahshaam
tooth
chish
toothbrush
toothpaste
chish paastisi
chish malhimi
mashal
tour n
saayaaeeat
saayaaeeat idaarisi
towel
lngga
train n
poyiz
translate
tarjima kilish
travel agency
saayaaeeat shirkiti
travellers cheque
saayaaeeat cheki
trousers
ishtaan
U
underwear
urgent
ich kiyim
jiddi
V
vacancy
bikaar hizmat orni
vegetable n
kktaat
vegetarian a
gshsiz taamaak yigchilar
visa
ytkash rasmiyiti
W
walk v
mengish
wallet
eeamyaan
wash (something)
yooyoosh
watch n
saaat
water n soo
we
biz
weekend
hapta aahiri
west
rarip
wheelchair
chaaklik oroondook
when
kaachaan
where
kayar
who
kim
why
nima chn
wife
aayaali
window
dariza
with
bilan
without
yok
woman
aayaal kishi
write
yezish
Y
yes
eeaa
yesterday
tngn
you sg inf/pol
san/siz
you pl
silar
Culture
The glory of China is the sheer diversity of its

culture from a rich history and regional cuisines to
colourful festivals, China has it all.
Here we present you with a cultural snapshot of the
country and give you the tools to travel
in an exciting and respectful way.
history timeline
Take a wander through the rich history of China
Early settlements established in modern-day Shaanxi and Hnn.
c 3000 BC
and Five Sovereigns.
c 22001700 BC
Dynastic rule commences with the Xia.
17001100 BC
The Shang dynasty comes to power. Bronzeware production is perfected, and the consistent use of Chinese characters is documented.
1100221 BC
The Western and Eastern Zhou dynasties rule.

Laotzu, the founder of Taoism, is reputedly born.
Confucius is born.
Petroglyphs indicate the spread of Buddhism in Tibet at this time.
The short-lived Qin dynasty is established.
C H IN A hist or y time line
221206 BC
362
The Qin kingdom conquers the surrounding states to create the first
unified China.
Emperor Qin indentures thousands of labourers to link existing city
walls into one Great Wall.
The Han dynasty takes over.
Chinese traders and explorers follow the Silk Road all the way to
One of the first documented accounts of tea-drinking in China.
AD 220581
strong division between north and south China.
The Sui dynasty rules.
The Grand Canal, the worlds longest artificial canal, is constructed.
608
The first mission is sent from the Tibetan court to the Chinese emperor.
618907
The Tang dynasty holds sway.

The first Christian missionaries are believed to have arrived.
Pilgrim Xuan Zhuang sets out for India, returning 16 years later with
countless Buddhist holy texts.
625705
Wu Zetian is the first and only woman to become emperor.
9601279
The Song dynasty is in power.

The major inventions of the premodern world paper, printing,
gunpowder and the compass are all commonly used in China.
12791368
Kublai Khans vast Mongol empire includes all of China.
13681644
Chinese ethnic rule is restored with the Ming dynasty.
13851464
medic, inventor of Tibetan opera and builder of 108 bridges in Tibet.
Ming Emperor Yongle begins the construction of the Forbidden City.
The Portuguese establish a permanent trade base in Macau.
The classic tale Journey To The West is published made known to
many by its incarnation as 1970s TV series Monkey Magic.
The qpo (cheongsam) becomes a fashionable frock for women.
16441911
Conquerors from Manchuria establish the Qing dynasty.

Emperor Kangxi declares Tibet a protectorate of China. Two Chinese
representatives, known as Ambans, are installed at Lhasa, along
with a garrison of Chinese troops.
Hong Kong is ceded to the British in perpetuity.

185664
The Taiping uprising establishes army rule in parts of eastern China
C ULTURE
Chinese officials, the pretext for the First Opium War.
363
189495
First Sino-Japanese war.

Two-year-old Puyi ascends the throne as Chinas last emperor.
191112
Revolution brings dynastic rule to an end with Sun Yatsens republican government and abdication of the emperor.
192122
Lu Xuns The Story of Ah Q, the first work to be written entirely in
192327
Chiang Kaisheks Kuomintang rounds up and kills thousands of com
begins, travelling 6400km northwest.

Mao Zedong is recognised as head of the Chinese Communist Party
C H IN A hist or y time line
193745
364
Japanese invasion and occupation of China.

Communists and the Kuomintang fail to form a coalition government, and plunge China back into civil war.
The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is established.
China supports North Korea in the Korean War.
but criticisms of the regime lead Mao to imprison or exile thousands.
The Taiwan Straits crisis.
195862
The Great Leap Forward ultimately causes mass starvation.

Widespread revolt in Tibet is suppressed. Amid mounting violence
the 14th Dalai Lama flees to exile in India.
The establishment of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Red Book of quotations is published.
The US national table tennis team becomes the first American delegation to set foot in China in 49 years; Nixon soon follows.
Deng Xiaoping returns to power as Deputy Premier.
Diplomatic relations are established with the US.
The Last Emperor collects an Oscar for best picture.

Hundreds of civilian demonstrators are killed by Chinese troops in
the streets around Tiananmen Square. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin
Gyatso, wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Deng Xiaoping dies. Britain returns Hong Kong to the PRC.
Macau is handed over from Portugal to the PRC.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is formed between China,
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. China
also joins the World Trade Organization.
Hu Jintao becomes president. SARS hits Hong Kong and mainland
China. China sends its first astronaut into space. The Golden Shield
Project is put in place to control internet usage.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao addresses Japans parliament. Jiang
Rong wins the first Man Asia Literary Prize for his novel Wolf Totem.
tally with 51 gold amid pro-Tibet demonstrations.

The global financial crisis sees a 10-year low in Chinas economic
C ULTURE
365
food
the chinese & food
The Chinese live to eat not just to eat, but to eat well, to eat indulgently and to eat
flavoursome, interesting, well-cooked food at every meal.
Chinese cuisine can be divided into four main schools, summed up in the Mandarin saying
(meaning the east is sour, the west
is spicy, the south is sweet and the north is salty). Cantonese (southern) cuisine
is the nations most varied and elaborate; we can also thank it for
(eastern) cuisine is generally richer, sweeter and oilier,
relying on preserved vegetables, pickles and salted meats.
(northern) food
while
(western or Schu n) style is renowned for red chillies and peppercorns firing up pork, poultry, legumes and soybeans. Finally,
(east coast
cuisine) is relatively vegetarian-friendly and is home to meat simmered in dark soy
sauce, sugar and spices. And there are many other influences, like Macaus Portuguese touches, Hong Kongs gift at importing the best and Tibets
(steamed
dumplings) and
(fermented barley beer).
eat by number
C H IN A f o o d
A Chinese saying talks of seven basic daily necessities: fuel, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce,
vinegar and tea. Another seven is the seven tastes incorporated in dishes: sweet,
salty, sour, bitter, hot,
(wok essence) and
(a kind of savoury, moreish element sometimes created with MSG). Then there are five elements that must
be attended to in cooking: colour, aroma, flavour, shape and texture. In addition,
food is considered medicine for the (life energy). Accordingly, a meal must balance (cool and moist) and
(warm and solid), the five elements (wood,
earth, fire, water, metal) and the four states (moist, warm, cool, dry).
366
staples
If it walks, crawls, slithers, swims or flies, someone in China will probably eat it. In
pions, cicadas, land and water beetles, snakes (the bile and blood is meant to help
impotence) and turtle. The term for meat is , which will generally mean pork
unless otherwise stated, and lard is laced in breads and sweets alike. From the water,
sample
(catfish) in Schu n, and live
self-respecting restaurant has live shellfish and fish on the front step. Eat all
(seafood) hot from cooking, even the medicinally cold
(crab), best steamed
with ginger and spring onions and eaten with yellow rice wine.
Vegetables and fruit are diverse and readily available, but vegetarians will face
(beef stock) and
(oyster sauce) in nearly everything dont be
suckered by the term
(vegetable dish), which is not usually vegetarian but
rather features a particular vegetable. Meantime, try out the chillies of Hnn, the
soft flavour of cabbage and the yammy taste of taro. In addition to
green
leafy vegetables), the Chinese make use of delicate, crisp turnips in salads, and fennel
tops in dumplings across the north. Dont miss out on Ynnns coal-cooked sweet
(flat peaches), the
(jujube, also
called Chinese date) and
(dragon eyes, also called longan).
Although grains other than (rice) play their part in Chinese cuisine wheat, millet, sorghum, corn rice is so important that is a symbol for all meals. It is prepared
as flour, noodles, porridge and more, and even the aroma from rice cooking is revered.
Black rice is glutinous and used in sweets, jasmine rice dominates towards the southeast
border, and red rice is used for alcohol and vinegar. In the northwest, noodles are more
likely to be made from wheat, while in Inner Mongolia and Tibet millet is probably used.
.
Breads include the famous
(deep-fried bread). And finally theres the versatile
(soy bean), which
the Chinese have been fermenting, smoking, maturing and eating for over 3000 years
best known in
(tofu) and
(soy milk drink).
fishy business
An ingredient, its form and the manner of eating it may hold symbolic meaning
in China. For example, serving a whole fish means prosperity, as it has a logical
beginning and end. Yet youd never turn it over once youve eaten the top side, as
this is reminiscent of a boat capsizing at sea and therefore means death.
mystery ingredients
(star anise) is used
continent-wide in marinades and braised dishes. Look out for
(Schu n pepper, a prickly ash bud that sends your tongue numb), as well as the ubiquitous
(coriander),
(sesame seeds) and
(five spices mix, using cassia bark,
star anise, fennel seeds, black pepper and cloves).
C ULTURE
So what are Chinas secret herbs and spices?
367
Soy sauce,
comes in dark and thick or light varieties, and is used for dips
as well as in cooking. Toasty-flavoured
(sesame oil) is a finishing touch,
while in Schu n
(sesame paste) and
(chilli sauce) are everpresent. Fjins Pacific oysters provide
(oyster sauce), and other flourishes
come from
(red rice vinegar) and syrupy black Chinkiang vinegar.
A wealth of dried ingredients is available, with over 30 kinds of mushrooms, not
to mention
(wolfberries),
(caterpillar consumed from the inside
by a rabid fungus) and dried
(sea cucumber).
mushroom)
is the most common fungus, but also try
(wood-ear fungus) and
(monkey-head mushrooms). Nuts and legumes abound, the more unusual ones
being
(bitter apricot kernels) and
(ginkgo nuts). Meat is also dried
and the
And then theres the outright exotic, such as bamboo worms, deer penis and wild
cat. Other local treats are
(preserved or thousand-year eggs) and
(birds nest made from the saliva of swiftlets).
C H IN A f o o d
drinks
368
No true Chinese will miss out on their tea. There are at least 320 strains of the tea
plant
fer the heady, gutsy nature of
(oolong) or
(black) teas, while the
(green) tea. In Ynnn
they prefer Puerh tea
, a fermented black tea. While most teas in China are
drunk without milk or sugar, in Inner Mongolia they prefer to add cream or butter to
their milk tea
, while Tibetans fancy it with rancid yak butter and salt
. Also check out
(brick teas made from tea that has been compressed
into a brick shape) and
(scented teas).
For other nonalcoholic options, try
(lychee juice),
(sour plum
drink) or
(almond milk) in the south. In the north, youll find
(yoghurt) as a breakfast item. You could also sample the near-nonalcoholic lemon
beer and pineapple beer, or
(coffee), popular with the up-and-coming younger
generation.
Alcohol definitions in China are a little slippery:
(white wine) actually means near-toxic firewater, containing 40% to 60% alcohol try Ynnns
Long Chuan rice liqueur and Chinese flowering quince wine. Other renowned wines
include red rose liqueur, and
(yellow rice wine), with a 2400-year history
is Chinas universal alternative to tea. Always
ask for your beer
(cold). In Macau test the evocatively named Lgrima de Cristo
(Tears of Christ), a Portuguese white port.
table manners
The word
(bustling) encapsulates the atmosphere of restaurants across China,
where people value enthusiastic participation in conversation as well as the meal.
Meals come not in individual servings but in
(communal plates) do get your
hepatitis A shots but dont miss out on the fun. At the table, wait until your host picks
up their chopsticks before you begin eating. When choosing your food, go for the dish
closest to you or ask people to pass your choice never reach over the table. Dont
tap the side of your bowl with your chopsticks (the sign of beggars), nor stick the
chopsticks upright in your rice as that resembles funerary incense. Finally, its polite
to offer to pay the bill, even if youre clearly the guest. Bluffing or not, say:
(You were tonights host, but Ill pay the bill). And
should you need a night off the dreaded white spirits, a good escape is to turn your
glass upside down and explain that your doctor wont let you drink.
street food
moon
dumplings, and in Macau dont miss the distinctive pastries on Rua da
Felicidade. Hong Kong tempts with
(cows organs),
(fish balls),
(roasted chestnuts) and
(rice noodles). Tibetan markets offer the challenge of
(dried yak cheese), white balls eaten like a
boiled sweet.
C ULTURE
Be prepared: any Chinese with a gas bottle and a wok can become a
(street vendor). Eat only freshly made
(snacks) and only where appreciative
crowds are gathered, and you neednt miss out on local delicacies such as
(sticky rice in bamboo leaves),
(wonton soup) or
(egg and spring
onion pancake). Ubiquitous
(meat- or vegetable-stuffed dumplings) are a
treat locals mix
(chilli), (vinegar) and
(soy sauce) according to
taste in a little bowl, then dip. Postparty in Hong Kong, grab some
(dim
sum) to soak up the beer try
(steamed shrimp dumplings) or
(steamed rice-flour rolls with shrimp, beef or pork). Some Chinese street-fare
shows a Persian influence, like
369
festivals
festivals in china
A-Ma Festival (A-Ma Temple, Inner Harbour, Macau) The birth of the Taoist goddess
of fisherfolk A-Ma is celebrated on the 23rd day of the third lunar month (March/April).
One legend has it that a junk sailing across the South China Sea was embroiled in a storm,
the passengers facing certain death. Behold, a beautiful young woman on the boat stood
and ordered the sea be calm, saving all on board. A temple was built in her honour in
1488 at the location of their safe return to land and A-Ma is worshipped along the
coast under the names Mazu, Tin Hau and Niangniang. On the festival day, seafarers and
their families throng the Ming dynasty temple, leaving offerings, burning incense and
praying for safe journeys. Enjoy the Chinese opera performances and take in the gorgeous
poetry inscribed on the surrounding cliff walls.
C H IN A fes tivals
Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Cheung Chau, Hong Kong) On the island of Cheung
Chau the Buddhas birthday public holiday is marked by the construction of rocket-shaped towers, standing up to 20m high, covered with sacred bread rolls. At midnight on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month (April/May), competitors scramble up
the towers, grabbing a bun for good luck the higher the bun, the better the fortune.
For 26 years the festivities were kept to ground level after a tower collapsed in 1978, but
the bamboo structures have been replaced by metal and climbers now use safety ropes.
Swirling around the towers is the greater festival, with processions featuring floats, stilt
walkers and people dressed as characters from legend and opera. Most interesting are
the floating children, carried through the streets atop long poles. Make the most of the
vegetarian feast and check out the colourful fishing boats in the harbour.
370
Theres something special about being in one of Chinas

major cities for Lunar New Year (January/February), the real thing after seeing it in
the Chinese year, and for the most part this is a family festival. Throughout the country,
couplets) pasted on door posts, door gods brightening up alleys and streets, and shops
glistening with red and gold decorations. Work colleagues and relatives present each
of fireworks at midnight both to welcome in the New Year and ward off bad spirits, plus
the special services held at Longhua and Jingan Temples. Stay hungry for the eight- or
Dragon Boat Festival (Mi Lo River, Hnn) During the Dragon Boat Festival (fifth day
of the fifth lunar month, May/June), the Mi Lo fills with colourful crafts decked out to
imitate dragons, from fearsome snout to scaly tail. The China-wide festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a revered poet-statesman who drowned himself in 278 BC to protest the
Qin states invasion. Onlookers tried to keep fish and evil spirits from Qu Yuans body by
splashing their oars and beating drums. Today festival spectators snack on zngzi (sticky
rice in bamboo leaves) in memory of the rice scattered as an offering to the poets ghost.
Arrive waterside early to see the dragon-head prows blessed with incense and gongs.
The race is won when a rower straddles his crafts dragon head and grabs the flag. The
festival is also a tribute to the god of water, and homes fill with invocations of physical
and spiritual wellbeing. The herbs calamus and moxa are hung from front doors and pictures of Chung
Kuei, the demon slayer, are pinned up. Adults also enjoy hsiung huang (a type of rice
wine) and the party continues after dark with firecrackers and dragon dances.
revolves around over 1300 fanciful and elaborate ice sculptures built by teams from about
20 countries, including recreations of famous buildings and structures (such as a scaled-
Attractions include ice lanterns, skiing, ice skating, outdoor swimming, hunting, dog-sled
rides and art performances not to mention whooshing down ice slides and the ice-axe
free-for-all that marks the festivals end.
Also known as the Moon Festival or the
Moon Cake Festival, this festival on the full moon of the eighth lunar month (September/
October) is a holiday for lovers, families and the homesick. Loved ones meet under the lunar
symbol of unity to barbecue, eat pomelos (draping the rinds on their heads), do fire-dragon
C ULTURE
lives on the moon with a jade rabbit. The

(moon cakes) themselves are made of a
thin dough shell containing fillings such as jelly, dates and nuts or red bean paste during
an uprising against the Mongols in the 14th century, revolutionary plans were secretly
passed around in the cakes. A popular spot to moonbathe is
three candlelit towers.
371
since 1999. Entertainment comes in the form of local and foreign folksingers showing
off their modern and classical numbers, dancing galas and dramatic lighting displays.
gewei (song gathering) for the Zhuang minority,
Ocean of Folk Songs. The Zhuang sing their way through daily life, while working the
fields, collecting firewood, attending funerals and, of course, courting. At a gewei, young
people sing an impromptu antiphonal song cycle (a one-to-one song competition) telling
of their love; women hand the successful swain xiuqiu, a ball made of 12 silk stripes like
flower petals.
Tomb-Sweeping Day, also called Clear and Bright Festival, sees families returning to their
ancestors graves. The dead are honoured by cleaning weeds from gravestones, touching
up inscriptions, offering chrysanthemums and favourite foods, and burning paper goods
and zhiqian (Bank of Hell money) so the ancestor will be wealthy in the afterlife. The
particularly devout hang a willow branch in the doorway to their homes, preventing the
dead from entering if they roam free of the cemetery. For most its a spring celebration
rather than a day of mourning, with families feasting on the offerings and flying kites.
Traditionally, trees are planted to welcome the warmer weather, and tea leaves picked
before this date are prized for their subtle aromas (and priced accordingly).
C H IN A fes tivals
in order to show his obedience to Allah. Allah saved the boy and a lamb was sacrificed
in his place, and today an important part of Qurban is the sacrifice of a goat or cow to
commemorate this occasion. During the three-day festival, Muslims across China dress
372
and sacrifice, though this is also a time for entertaining family and friends, gift-giving
and partaking in traditional festival foods, including sanzi, a deep-fried noodle-shaped
(falling in September until 2017, then August). This is a particularly interesting time for
Saga Dawa Festival (Lhasa & Mt Kailash, Tibet) Buddha Sakyamunis conception,
wholesome or unwholesome actions is multiplied by 100,000 another good reason
for most of Lhasas population to walk the Lingkhor circuit. Prayer wheels are turned
on the streets, Tibetan operas recount history and legend, and boats are paddled in the
Dragon King Pool at the foot of the Potala Palace. Alternatively, you can trek to holy Mt
instructions. Lung ta (prayer flags; literally wind horses) are hung to the tune of sacred
horn-and-cymbal music, the faithful circle the pole, and if its positioned correctly all
bodes well for Tibet.
Love is in the air during this courtship
medium of sticky rice. To a soundtrack of music from the
(a reed instrument), and
amid dancing, paper-dragon fights and buffalo fighting, young women dress in exquisite
embroidery and kilograms of silver jewellery shaped into neck rings, loin chains, and
multiple headdresses. The suitors arrive, serenading the women and presenting a parcel
rice parcels containing unspoken messages two chopsticks indicate acceptance, one
means no thank you, a leaf is a request for some satin before giving a decision, while
lunar month (March/April), marks the time when married women return home and see
their parents.
Tradition has it that
the worlds first kite an eagle made out of wood was held aloft from Mount Lu
C ULTURE
thousands of enthusiasts arrive to display and compete over three days. Visitors will be
awestruck by enormous structures being hauled aloft by jeeps, or dragon kites over 800m
long. The creativity and presentation of the kites, which are often based on traditional
folk designs, is the focus of the festival. Performances include an opening parade of
participants, an impressive fireworks display to close and regional songs and dances.
Be sure to take in the kite museum, whose peacock-blue roof is designed to resemble a
dragon-head centipede kite.
373
116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
addressing people
24
50
72
96
admission
(sightseeing)
21
47
age
119 143 168 191 216 240 268 289
Uighur
addresses
92, 115, 140, 164, 188, 212, 236, 260,

316, 342,
295
100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268
326 351
Tibetan
68
Zhuang
44
Xian
Chaozhou
19
17,
67,
43, 51
18
76
Sichuan
Cantonese
accommodation
Hunanese
Mandarin
Mongolian
Hakka
92
Yunnan Hua
Dongbei Hua
Shanghainese
INDEX
346
264 286 319
242,
122 146 170 194 218
266 293 324 349
243
74
98
alcoholic drinks
27
53
79
103 126 151 174
allergies
27,
30
54,
56
80
104 127 152 175 199 223 248 272 300 329 355
alphabet
ambulances
28
54
amounts
23
49
71
95
119 143 167 191 215 239 263 297 321 346
apologising
13
39
65
89
113 137 161 185 209 233 257
art & architecture
198,
223 247 271 299 329 354,
199
278 310 336
330
281,
339,
313
292
351
362-5
374
baggage
16,
29
42,
55
banking
18,
20
43,
45
67,
69
92, 115, 139, 163, 187, 211, 235, 259,

316, 342,
283
93 117 141 165 189 213 237 261
318 344
bars
26
52
76
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 269 296
bargaining
23
49
71
95
118 143 167 191 215 239 263 289 321 345
basic phrases
13
39
65
89
113 137 161 185 209 233 257 281 313 339
352
IN DE X
IN DE X
119 143 167
263
321 346
boats
16
42
67
91
115 139 163 187 211 235 259
315 342
booking
(accommodation)
19
44
68
93
116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
booking (tickets)
15
41
Uighur
95
Tibetan
71
Mongolian
49
Zhuang
23
Yunnan Hua
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 269 297 328 352
Xian
77
Sichuan
Dongbei Hua
Shanghainese
Chaozhou
52
Hunanese
Cantonese
26
bill (shopping)
Hakka
Mandarin
bill (restaurant)
border crossings
15
40
bus
16,
17
42
67
91
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283
22,
24
48,
50
70
95
118 142 166 190 215 239 262 288 320 345
315,
342
316
C
cameras
car
17
43
changing money
18,
20
43,
45
67
92
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 318 342
checking out
19
45
69
93
117 141 164 189 213 237 261 285 318 343
civilities
13
39
65
89
113 137 161 185 209 233 257 281 313 339
communications
20
45
69
93
117 141 165 189 213 237 261 286 318 344
complaints
(shopping)
23
49
71
95
119 143 167
consonants
12
38
64
88
112 136 160 184 208 232 256 280 312 338
contact details
cost
(accommodation)
25
51
76
100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268 295 326 351
19
45
68
93
116 141 164 188 213 237 261 285 317 343
cost (general)
23
49
71
95
118 143 167 191 215 239 263 288 321 345
cost (internet)
20
46
286 319
cost (phone)
21
46
286 319
316
263 289 321 346
INDE
DEXX
IN
375
Cantonese
Chaozhou
Dongbei Hua
Hakka
Hunanese
Shanghainese
Sichuan
Xian
Yunnan Hua
Zhuang
21
47
cost (taxi)
17
43
countries
25
51
74
98
121 146 170 193 218 242 266 292 324 348
credit cards
23,
29
49,
55
71
95
119 143 167 191 215 239 263
cuisine
366-9
culture
362-73
customs (local)
Tibetan
Uighur
Mongolian
Mandarin
cost (sightseeing)
286 319
321 346
292,
323 351
301
52
73
97
121 145 169 193 217 241 265
dates
14
40
66
90
114 138 162 186 210 234 258 282 314 340
days of the week
14
40
66
91
114 138 163 186 211 235 259 283 315 340
dentist
29
55
80
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272 304
dictionary
31
57
81
105 129 153 177 201 225 249 273 305 331 357
18
43
67
28,
29
26,
27
54,
55
303,
330 356
304
78, 102,
150,
198, 222, 246, 270, 298, 328,
126
174
354
79 103
151
199 223 247 271 299 329
368
directions
doctor
drinks
53
drinks (China)
91
356
115 139 163 187 212 236 260 283 315 342
80
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272
E
eating out
52
76
100 124 148 172 196 220 245 268 296 327 352
46,
51
55
69,
76
94, 117, 141, 165, 189, 213, 237, 261, 286, 319, 344,
100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268 295 326 351
emergencies
28
104 127 152 175 200 224 248 272 303 329 356
English, use of
54
39,
52,
56
80
13,
29
65,
73
89, 113, 137, 161, 185, 209, 233, 257, 281, 313, 339,
97 121 145 169 193 217 241 265 292 323 348
IN DE X
email
embassies
entertainment
376
370-3
IN DE X
26
20,
25
28
75
99
26
52
76
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 268 296 327 352
122 147 171 194 219 243 267 294 325 350
festivals
food & drink
Uighur
Tibetan
Mongolian
feelings
Zhuang
120 144 168 192 216 240 264 290 322 347
96, 119, 143, 167, 191, 215, 240, 263, 289, 321, 346,
100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268 295 326 351
Yunnan Hua
96
71,
75
Xian
72
50
Sichuan
Hakka
Shanghainese
Dongbei Hua
51
24
Hunanese
Cantonese
25
farewells
Chaozhou
Mandarin
family
370-3
food (China)
366-9
G
goodbyes
24
50
71,
75
96, 119, 143, 167, 191, 215, 240, 263, 289, 321, 346,
100 123 147 171 195 219 244 268 295 326 351
greetings
24
50
71
96
guides
21
47
health
29
55
80
hire (car)
history
17
43
119 143 167 191 215 240 263 289 321 346
286,
320
302
H
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272 303 329 356
362-5
316
356
hospitals
29
55
80
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272 304
hotels
15,
19
41,
44
68
92
illnesses
30
56
interests
25
52
74
internet
20
46
69
introductions
24
50
72
99
93,
94
96
122 146 170 194 218 243 267 294 325 349
318,
117 141 165 189 213 237 261 286
344
319
119 144 168 191 216 240 263 289 322 346
25
51
74
98
122 146 170 193 218 242 266 293 324
116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
304
jobs
348,
349
INDE
DEXX
IN
377
37
63
87
111 135 159 183 207 231 255 279 311 337
11
37
63
87
111 135 159 183 207 231 255 279 311 337
literature
Uighur
11
Tibetan
111 135 159 183 207 231 255 279 311 337
language map
language
speakers
Mongolian
113 137 161 185 209 233 257 281 313 339
87
Zhuang
89
63
Yunnan Hua
Hakka
65
37
Xian
Dongbei Hua
39
11
Sichuan
Chaozhou
Shanghainese
Cantonese
13
language history
Hunanese
Mandarin
362-5
local food
26
53
76, 100,
268, 296,
352,
124, 148, 172, 196, 220, 245,
327,
77, 101,
269, 298,
353,
127 151 175 199 223 247
328
79 103
271 300
355
lost
16,
29
42,
55
80
luggage
16,
29
42,
55
21
47
24
50
72
96
maps
18,
21
43,
47
67
92
115 139 163 187 212 236 259
markets
22
48
70
95
118 142 166 190 215 239 262 288 320 345
marriage
74
99
122 146 170 194 218 243 266 293 325 349
meals
26
53
78
102 125 150 173 197 222 246 270 298 328 354
medicine
29
56
meeting people
24
50
71
96
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272
330 356
378
120 144 168 192 216 241 264 290 322 347
6-7
284, 316,
342
286 320
119 143 167 191 215 240 263 289 321 346
menus
26
52
77
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 269 296 327 352
money
18,
20,
23,
29
43,
45,
49,
55
67
92
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 318 342
67
91
115 139 163 187 211 235 259
months
315 341
IN DE X
IN DE X
mail
making
conversation
map (language)
90
25
51
74
98
122 146 170 193 218 242 266 293 324
opinions
75
99
ordering
(restaurant)
26
52
77
101
ordering (taxi)
17
42
P
pharmacies
29
55
80
phone
20,
21,
28
45,
46,
55
69,
80
photography
24
50
photos, taking
22
47
70,
73
plane
16
police
29
post office
18,
21
54,
55
43,
47
pronunciation
12
38
23
receipts
refunds
42
Uighur
65
Tibetan
39
Mongolian
13
246, 270,
298 328 354
247 271
113 137 162 185 209 233 257 281 313 340
Zhuang
121 146 170 193 218 242 266 292 324 348
102 126 150 174 198 222
Yunnan Hua
98
78
Xian
74
53
Sichuan
Hakka
51
26
O
occupations
Shanghainese
Dongbei Hua
25
Hunanese
Chaozhou
nonalcoholic
drinks
numbers
Cantonese
nationalities
Mandarin
348,
349
122 147 171 194 219 243 267 294 325 350
124, 148, 172, 196, 220,
269,
246
296 327 352
125 149 173 197 221
270
283,
356
304
93,
141,
213, 237,
318,
117,
165, 189,
261, 286,
344,
94,
142,
214, 238,
319,
128
176 200
272 303
356
104
152
224 248
330
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272
94, 117, 142, 166, 190, 214, 238, 262, 287, 319, 344,
97 120 145 169 192 217 241 265 291 323 347
283 315
80
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272
330 356
67
92
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 316 342
64
88
112 136 160 184 208 232 256 280 312 338
49
71
95
119 143 167 191 215 239 263 297 321 346
23
49
289
23
49
289
Q
R
INDE
DEXX
IN
quantities
379
reservations
(accommodation)
reservations
(tickets)
19
44
68
93
15
41
Uighur
Shanghainese
Tibetan
Hunanese
Mongolian
Hakka
Zhuang
Dongbei Hua
Yunnan Hua
Chaozhou
49
Xian
Cantonese
repairs
Sichuan
Mandarin
23
religion
362-5
116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
restaurants
26
52
76
283,
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 269
327 352
296
rooms (hotel)
19
44
68
93
116 140 164 188 212 236 260 285 317 343
S
script (alphabet)
seasons
66
91
seating
16,
17,
26
41,
42,
52
77
101 124 148 172 196 220 245 269 296 327 352
shopping
22
48
70
95
118 142 166 190 215 239 262 288 320 345
sightseeing
21
47
70
94
117 142 166 190 214 238 262 286 319 344
95
118 142
104 127 151 175 199 223 248 272 300 329 355
souvenirs
22
48
70,
71
special diets
27
54
79
114 138 162 186 210 234 258
278,
310 336
282
315 341
166,
345,
190 215 239 262 288 320
167
346
street food
369
IN DE X
380
taxis
17
42
telephone
20,
21,
28
45,
46,
55
69,
80
93,
141,
213, 237,
318,
117,
165, 189,
261, 286,
344,
94,
142,
214, 238,
319,
128
176 200
272 303
356
104
152
224 248
330
161,
90 114 138
186 210 234 258 282 314 340
162
telling the time
14
40
66
theft
16,
29
42,
55
329
tickets
15
41
Mongolian
Tibetan
Uighur
346
toilets
28
55
80
104 128 152 176 200 224 248 272
tones
(pronunciation)
10
36
62
86
110 134 158 182 206 230 254
Zhuang
119 143 168 191 216 240 264 289
Yunnan Hua
Hakka
96
Xian
Dongbei Hua
72
Sichuan
Chaozhou
Shanghainese
Cantonese
50
Hunanese
Mandarin
24
timeline
titles (addressing
people)
362-5
330 356
tours
22
47
70
94
287,
118 142 166 190 214 238 262
319 345
301
trains
16
42
67
91
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283
transport
16
42
67
91
115 139 163 187 211 235 259 283 315 342
travellers cheques
20,
23,
29
45,
49,
55
valuables
20,
29
45,
55
318
vegetarian food
27
54
79
104 127 151 175 199 223 248 272 300 329 355
vowels
12
38
64
88
27
53
78
102 126 150 174 197 222 246 270 298 328 354
76
100 123 148 172 195 220 244 268 296 327 351
womens health
29
56
work
25
51
74
98
342
V
112 136 160 184 208 232 256 280 312 338
W
water (drinkable)
well-wishing
122 146 170 193 218 242 266 293 324
348,
349
INDE
DEXX
IN
381
382
N OTE S
OTESS
NNOTE
383
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China

PHRASEBOOK & DICTIONARY

Cha Don Hak Hun Sha

Xia Yun Zhu Mon Tib

62 86 110 134 158 182 206 230 254

278 310 336

time & dates

tickets & luggage

banking & communications

Cha Don Hak Hun Sha

Xia Yun Zhu Mon Tib

feelings & opinions

special diets & allergies

L ANG UAGE MAP

L ANG UAGE MAP

did you know?

officials established a committee

low fallingrising tone

3rd low falling-rising

4th high falling

father (fun, sung)

In this chapter, the Pinyin is given in

lang uage dif f icult ie s MAN DARI N

time & dates

Its (18 October).

Im staying at (the Pujiang Hotel).

I have something to declare.

tickets & luggage

b o rd er c ro ss ing MAN DARIN

I have nothing to declare.

Id like a (non)smoking seat.

How much is it to (the Great Wall)?

Please take me to (this address).

Please stop/wait here.

tr ansp o r t MAN DARI N

Please put the meter on.

Whats the address?

Id like to book a room.

For (three) nights.

Can I get an extra (blanket)?

The (air conditioning) doesnt work.

ac c om mo d atio n MAN DARIN

How much is it per night/person?

banking & communications

b an kin g & co m munic at io ns

Wheres the local internet cafe?

What are the rates?

sigh tse eing MA NDARI N

Please send it by airmail/surface mail to (Australia).

Can I have it sent overseas?

sho p p ing MAN DARIN

Can you develop this film?

I want to buy a film for this camera.

When will it be ready?

Whats your (email)?

m ak ing co nver sat ion MANDAR IN

special diets & allergies

sp e cial d iet s & alle rgies MANDARI N

Could you please help?

Wheres the police station?

I want to contact my embassy/consulate.

I need a doctor (who speaks English).

Could I see a female doctor?