Although there are a number of languages and many regional dialects spoken in different parts of China, the national language is Mandarin. It is perfectly all right for you to use Mandarin wherever you are in China.
The Chinese appreciate it when foreign visitors speak–or try to speak–to them in their language, and are tolerant of faulty attempts because they are well aware that it is difficult for foreigners to quickly master the up-and-down tones of the language.
I have included English-language phonetics for the Chinese words and phrases used in this book. They do not account for the tones, but they are generally close enough that you will be understood. Here are personal titles, some common greetings, and useful expressions.
Mr: Xiansheng (she-inn-shuung)
Miss: Xiaojie (she-ow-jay)
Ms: Nushi (nu-she)
Madame or Mrs: Furen (fuu-wren) or Taitai (tie-tie)
Master: Shifu (shurr-fuu)–This term of respect is used to address professional people whose names you do not know, including waiters, chefs, craftsmen, repairmen, and so on.
Family: Jiá (jow)
Family name: Jiá Xingming (jow sheeng-meeng) Given name: Mingzi (meeng-dzu)
Father: Fúqin (fuuu-cheen)
Mother: Mŭqin (muuu-cheen)
Husband: Zhángfu (jahng-fuu)
Wife: Qizi (chee-jee)
Wife, madame: Taitai (tie-tie)
Children: Háizi (hie-jee)
Age: Niánling (nee-enn leeng)
Oldest child: Laoda (lough-dah)
Second-born child: Lao’er (lough-urr) Third-born child: Laosan (louth-sahn) Youngest child: Laoyao (lough-yow)
Elder brother: Xiong (she-ohng)
Youngest brother: Xiaodi (she-ow-dee)
Chairman of the Board: Dongshizhang (doong-she-jahng) President: Zongcai (johng-t’sie)
Managing Director: Zhong jingli (johng jeeng-lee) Manager: Jingli (jeeng-lee)
Head of a factory: Changzhang (chahng-jahng)
Minister: Buzhang (buu-jahng)
Bureau Director: Juzhang (juu-jahng) Division Director: Chuzhang (chuu-jahng) Governor: Shengzhang (shuung-jahng) Mayor: Shizhang (she-jahng)
Hello: Ni hao (Nee how)– Ni hao is also used as the equivalent of good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, but there are also specific terms for these expressions. It is also the form of greeting that is used by Chinese to foreigners, and is also recommended for foreigners to use to Chinese.
Hello (said to an older person): Nin hao (Neen-how)–This is a more polite form of ni hao, commonly used when speaking to seniors.
You may hear the Chinese use a variety of greetings among themselves. Here are some of the most common:
Chiguo fan le ? (Chee-gwaw fahn luh?):
Have you eaten?–This traditional greeting is becoming less common, especially in the developed areas of China, as
there is less concern about the next meal.
Mang ma ? (Mahng mah?):
Are you busy?–This is now a common greeting among Chinese, particularly among friends. It is the equivalent of “What’s up?” and “How are you doing?”
Nin qu nar a ? (Neen chu nahhr ah?):
Where are you going?–This is more or less the equivalent of “What are you up to?”
Other expressions that are used as greetings include references to things people are doing, such as “You are reading,” "You are working,” and so on.
Saying hello and good-bye
Good morning (until about 10 a.m.):
Zaoshang hao (Zow-shahng how)
Good afternoon: Xiawu hao (Shee-ah-woo how)
Good evening: Wanshang hao (Wahn-shahng how)
Good night: Wan an (Wahn ahn)
Hello, manager: Jingli hao (Jeeng-lee how)–It is common in China to greet people by their titles. Jingli (jeeng-lee) means “manager,” so jingli hao is the equivalent of hello, good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, manager; much as a Westerner might say, “Good morning, boss.”
Is it time to go?: Jidian zou ? (Jee-dee-in zoe?)
Good-bye: Zai-jian (Zigh-jee-in)
Excuse me (May I trouble you?): Mafan ni (Mah-fahn nee) Excuse me (to get attention): Lao jia (Lough jee-ah)
Getting to know each other
What is your name?: Ni jiao shenme mingzi ?
(Nee jee-ow shuun-muh meeng-dzu?)
My name is_________:
Wo jiao __________ (Waw jee-ow__________)
What is your family name?:
Ni xing shenme ? (Nee sheeng shuhn-muh)
My family name is____________:
Wo xing _____________ (Waw sheeng___________)
This is Mr __________: Zhe wei shi ___________ xiansheng
(Dze way she __________ she-inn-shuung)
This is Mrs ___________: Zhe wei shi ___________ tu ren
(Dzu way she __________ too wren)
This is Miss ___________: Zhe wei shi ___________ xiajia
(Dzu way she __________ she-ah-jah)
I’m pleased to meet you:
Hen gaoxing renshi ni (Hin gow-sheeng wren-she nee)
OR Jiuyang (jew-yahng)
I am an American:
Wo shi Meiguo ren (Waw she May-gwoh wren)
I am a Canadian:
Wo shi Jianada ren (Waw she Jee-ah-nah-dah wren)
I am British: Wo shi Yingguo ren (Waw she Eeen-gwoh wren)
I am Australian: Wo shi Aodaliya ren
(Waw she Ah-oh-dah-lee-yah wren)
I am on a holiday: Wo lai dujia (Waw lie duu-jah)
I am here on business:
Wo lai zuo shengyi (Waw lie dzwoh shuung-ee)
In conversation
Thank you: Xie xie (Shay shay)
Very good: Hen hao (Hin how)
That’s no good: Bu hao (Boo how)
That’s right: Duile (Dwee-luh)
That’s all right: Mei guanxi (May gwahn-she)
All right/okay: Hao/hao ba (How/how bah)
Please come in: Qing jin (Cheeng-jeen)
Please sit down: Qing zuó (Cheeng dzwoh)
Welcome: Huánying (Hwahn-eeng)
You are welcome: Bú xié (Boo shay)
Don’t mention it: Bú kéqi (Boo kuh-chee)
Excuse me/sorry: Dui búqi (Dwee boo-chee)
I’m sorry/I apologize: Duibuqi (Dwee-boo-chee)
I am very sorry: Hen baoqian (Hin bow-chee-in)
Please hurry!: Qing gankuai! (Cheeng gahn-kwie!)
I know: Wo zhidao (Waw jr-dow)
I don’t know: Wo bu zhidao (Waw buu jr-dow)
I understand: Wo dong (Waw doong)
I don’t understand: Wo bu dong (Wa boo doong)
Do you understand?: Dong ma ? (Doong mah?)
Do you speak English?:
Ni hui Yingwen ma ? (Nee hwee Eeng-wun mah?)
Please repeat that: Qing ni zaishuo yibian
(Cheeng nee zigh-shwaw ee-bee-in)
What did you say?:
Ni shou shen mo ? (Nee shwaw shuun mwo?)
I need an interpreter:
Wo xuyao fanyi (Waw shu-yow fahn-ee)
Please write it down:
Qing xie xia lai (Cheeng she-eh she-ah lie)
Please write it in Roman letters:
Qing yong Pinyin xie (Cheeng young Peen-een she-eh)
Please write it in Chinese:
Qing yong Zhongwen xie (Cheeng young Joong-wun she-eh)
Can you go with me?:
Ni neng he wo yiqi qu ma ? (Nee nuung huh waw ee-chee chuu mah?)
Where is the toilet?:
Cesuo zai nali ? (T’suh-swaw jzigh nah-lee?)
It’s hot!: Man re du ! (Mahn ruh duu!)
It’s cold!: Man leng de ! (Mahn luung duh!)
It’s raining: Xia yu le (She-ah yuu luh)
It’s windy: Feng da (Fuung dah)
What time is dinner?:
Wancan shi jidian ? (Wahn-t’sahn shr jee-dee-in?)
I’m hungry: Woe le (Waw uh-luh)
Let’s go eat: Rang wo women qu chifan
(Rahng waw waw-mun chu chee-fahn)
Where shall we eat?:
Women qu nali chi ? (Waw-mun chuu nah-lee chee?)
I have a reservation: Wo yuding le fangjian
(Waw yuu-deeng luh fahng-jee-in)
I like Chinese food:
Zhong can xihuan (Joong t’sahn she-hwahn)
We would like to eat Chinese food:
Women xiang chi Zhongcan
(Waw-mun she-ahng chee Johng-tsan)
We would like to eat Western food:
Women xiang chi Xican (Waw-mun she-ahng chee She-tsan)
Do you have a menu in English?:
You Yingwen caidan ma? (Yoe Eeeng-wren t’sai-dahn mah?)
Just a little, please:
Jiu yidianr dianr (Jeo ee-dee-in-urr dee-in-urr)
That’s enough: Na xie goule (Nah she-eh go-luh)
That’s too much: Na xie tai duo-le (Nah she-eh tie dwaw-luh)
That is/was delicious!: Haochi ! (How-chee!)
Thank you for the delicious meal:
Xiexie fan tai xiong (Shay-shay fahn tie shee-ong)
Let’s go get a drink:
Women qu he jiu (Waw-mun chu huh jeo)
What do you want to drink?: Ni xiang he shenme ?
(Nee shee-ahng huh shuun-muh?)
I can’t drink very much: Wo bu neng he tai duo
(Waw buu nuung huh tie dwaw)
At the office
I would like to see Mr. Li: Wo xiang kankan Li Xiansheng
(Waw she-ahng kahn-kahn Lee She-in-shuung)
May I speak to Mr. Wang?:
Wo keyi he Wang Xiansheng shuorhua ma ? (Waw kuh-ee huh Wahng Shee-in-shuung shwaw-urr-hwah mah?)
I am waiting for Mr. Li: Wo zai deng Li Xiansheng
(Waw zigh duung Lee Shee-in-shuung)
What time does the meeting start?:
Huiyi jidian kai shi? (Hwee-ee jee-dee-in kigh shr?)
What time is the appointment?:
Yuehui shi jidian? (Yu-eh-hwee shr jee-dee-in?)
At the hotel
Are there any messages for me?:
Zheli you wo-de liuyan ma ?
(Juh-lee oe waw-duhleo-yahn mah?)
Where is your business service center?:
Nali shi shangwu fuwu zhongxin ?
(Nah-lee shr shahng-wuu fuu-wuu joong-sheen?)
On the road
I want to go to the railroad station:
Wo yao qu huoche zhan (Waw yah-oh chuu hoe-chuh jahn)
Where is the ticket office?: Nali shi shou piao chu ?
(Nah-lee shr show pee-ow chuu?)
I want to go to the airport: Wo yao qu feiji chang
(Waw yah-oh chuu fay-jee chahng)
How long does it take to get to the airport?:
Dao jichang yao duoshao shijian ?
(Dow jee-chahng yow dwaw-shou shr-jee-in?)
Please call me a taxi:
Qing gei wo jiao che (Cheeng gay waw jee-ow chuh)
The airport, please:
Qing qu jichang (Cheeng chu jee-chahng)
Please take me to this address:
Quing dai wo dao zheige dizhi
(Cheeng die waw dow jay-guh dee-jr)
Please go to Tiananmen Square:
Qing qu Tiananmen Guang Cheng
(Cheeng chu Tee-in Ahn-mun Gwahng Chuung)
Can you wait for me?:
Ni neng deng wo ma ? (Nee nuung duung waw mah?)
Please wait just a moment:
Qing deng yi xia (Cheeng duung ee she-ah)
How much do I owe you?:
Wo gai fu ni duoshao ? (Waw guy fuu nee doe-sha-oh?)
I prefer to walk:
Wo xi huan zuo lu (Waw she hwahn zwaw luu)
Is it too far to walk?:
Zuo lu qu tai yuan-le? (Zwaw luu chuu tie wyen-luh?)
What time are we leaving?:
Women shenme shijina zou ?
(Waw-mun shuun-muh shr-jee-in zoe?)
Technology and communications
Let me see your cell phone for a second:
Rang wo kankan ni de shou ji
(Rahng waw kahn-kahn nee duh show jee)
Let’s go to a computer store:
Zanmen qu diannao shangdian ba
(Zahn-men chuu dee-in-now shahng-dee-in bah)
May I use your computer?: Wo keyi yong jisuanji ma ?
(Waw kuh-ee young jee-suu-ahn-jee mah?)
I found you on Google!:
Wo zai gougou sousuoyinqing shang chadao ni le ! (Waw zigh
go-go soe-swaw-een-cheeng shahng chah-dow nee luh!)
Show me your homepage: Rang wo kankan nide wangye
(Rahng waw kahn-kahn nee-duh wahng-yeh)
I want to log on to the Internet:
Wo xiang zai wang shang denglu
(Waw she-ahng dzye wahng shahng duung-luu)
You must log on first:
Ni bi xu xian denglu (Nee bee shu she-ahn duung-luu) OR
Shou xian ni bi xu denglu
(Show she-in nee bee shuu dung-luu)
My computer has been infected by a worm (virus):
Wo-de diannao ganran le yizhong bingdu
(Waw-duh dee-in-now gahn-rahn luh ee-joong beeng-duu)
Where is the post office?:
Youju zai nali ? (Yoe-juu zigh nah-lee)
Money
Where can I exchange money?: Nali keyi duihuan qian ?
(Nah-lee kuh-ee dwee-hwahn chee-in?)
Where is the closest ATM?:
Li zheli zuijin de zidong tikuanji zainaer ? (Lee juh-lee zwayjeen
duh dzu-doong tee-kwahn-jee zigh-nar?)
How much is that in U.S. dollars?:
Zhe zhi duoshao Mei yuan ?
(Juh jr dwaw-sha-oh May ywen?)