'''Cantonese''' (_A___b Gwongd?ngwah) is a widely spoken Chinese language. It is the local language in current use within the province of Guangdong, China, official language in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, as well as in the Special Administrative Region of Macau, and used in many overseas Chinese communities in South-East Asia and elsewhere, with Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) being two places where Cantonese is the dominant language in a Chinese community that is in turn huge and influential. Cantonese is also the dominant language in many Chinatowns all over the world, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Vancouver, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The word "dialect" means something different when applied to Chinese than it does for most other languages. Chinese "dialects" have not only widely diverging pronunciations of the same words, but also use different words for expressing the same thing, and different grammar such as different word order. As a result, different Chinese dialects can be mutually unintelligible. The difference between one dialect and another can be as small as that between, say, Spanish and Portuguese, or as large as that between German and English. Meanwhile, there are different variations of the Cantonese dialect that differ greatly from one another. For example, the Cantonese spoken in the far west of Guangdong province (eg. Taishan) is hardly or not at all intelligible to a native of Guangzhou city.
Speakers of all Chinese varieties do, in general, use the same characters in reading and writing. Written language is more formal and closer to standard Mandarin ''Pout?ngwah'' (Mandarin), even when used by Cantonese speakers. Oral Cantonese contains many words for which there has traditionally not existed a written form. In recent decades, however, characters for many of these words have been created, chiefly by the Hong Kong popular printed media such as newspapers and magazines. It should be noted that the different Cantonese-speaking communities use one of two different forms of writing: in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and many overseas Chinese communities, ''traditional'' Chinese characters are in use, whereas the Cantonese-speaking communities in mainland China's Guangdong province as well as Singapore use ''simplified'' Chinese characters.
In many cases the regional varieties are not clearly regionalised but vary gradually across a region. Thus linguists can identify anywhere between seven and seventeen separate Chinese languages where the speakers of different dialects are mutually unintelligible. This list is based on the Cantonese spoken in Guangzhou. Note that the Cantonese spoken in Hong Kong and Macau differ slightly due to Western influences, though standard Cantonese as spoken in Guangzhou would be understood by everyone. The Cantonese spoken in Singapore and Malaysia also differ slightly due to Malay influences.
Some of the phrases in the list cannot be translated from English to Cantonese.
Pronunciation guide
The pronunciations given in this guidebook use the Yale Romanization system. Sounds can only be approximated at best using romanisation. This guide gives a general indication of the correct sound to make, but the best way to be completely accurate is to listen closely to native speakers and mimic the sounds they make.
Consonants
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Finals
The final consonants ''p'', ''t'', and ''k'' are '''unreleased'''. This means that they are virtually silent and you hear no "puff of air" at the end of the syllable.
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Tones
Cantonese is a tonal language. This means that the same syllable, pronounced in a different tone, has a different meaning. To complicate this, there may be more than one character pronounced as the same syllable with the same tone (though this is uncommon). In this case, context usually helps resolve the ambiguity. This may sound daunting, but is in fact is better than say, English, where there are a great deal of words that are spoken identically (eg. their, there, they're) and have nothing but context to help determine which one it is. Cantonese has context and tone to help distinguish words.
Different variations of the Cantonese dialect have a different number of tones, from as few as six to as many as ten or more. Most speakers, however, and all modern linguistic interpretations get by with being able to distinguish (both in spoken and heard Cantonese) between the following six tones:
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The tonal pronunciation of Cantonese is by far the most difficult aspect of the often daunting language. The very minor initial difficulty in learning the tones is sometimes more than made up for by simple grammar, and absence of almost all plurals, genders, tenses and forms that make many other world languages seem difficult by comparison.
Phrase list
Basics
; OPEN : _z____ / _J
; CLOSED : _x__ / __
; ENTRANCE : ____
; EXIT : _o__
; PUSH : __
; PULL : _f
; TOILET : ______
; MEN : _j
; WOMEN : __
; FORBIDDEN : ___~}}
; Hello. : ?_D. Neih hou.
; How are you? : ?_y____? Neih dim'yeuhng a? / ?_D?? Neih hou ma? / _y__Dim a? (''informal'')
; Fine, thank you. : ___D. Gei hou. (''No need to say "thank you" after answering "fine" in Cantonese'')
; What is your name? : ?__??____? Neih giu m?t'yeh mehng a?
; My name is ______ . : ______________. Ngoh go mehng giu ______ .
; Nice to meet you. : _K__. Hahng'wuih.
; Please. : __. Ching.
; Thank you. (''after someone does something for you''): _I_Y. M?h'g?i.
; Thank you. (''when someone gives you a gift''): ____ D?jeh.
; You're welcome. : _I_g. M?hsai. / _I_g_q__. M?h'sai haak3 hei3. / _I_g_I_Y. M?hsai m?h'g?i.
; Yes. : _W. Haih.
; No. : _I_W. M?h'haih.
; Excuse me/Pardon me/Sorry. : ___I_Z. Deui-m?h-jyuh.
; Goodbye : ____ Joigin.
; I can't speak Cantonese. : ___I___u_A___b. Ngoh m?h's?k gong Gwongd?ngwa.
; Excuse me, do you speak English? : ____?___I___u_p____? Chingmahn neih s?k-m?h-s?k gong Y?ngman a?
; Is there someone here who speaks English? : _____L?_l___u_p____? Chingmahn yauhmoh yahn s?k gong Y?ngman a?
; Help! : _~____! Gau mehng ?!
; Look out! : ___S! Sius?m!
; Good morning. : ____. Jousahn.
; I don't understand. : ___I__. Ngoh m?h'mihng.
; Where is the toilet? : ___x_L____? B?ndouh yauh chi soh?
Problems
; Leave me alone. : _I_D?__. M?h'hou gaau ngoh.
; Don't touch me! : _I_D?__! M?h'hou dihm ngoh!
; I'll call the police. : _______x_@. Ngoh wuih giu gingchaat.
; Police! : _x_@! Gingchaat!
; Stop! Thief! : ?__! ___e! Maih jau! Chaahkjai!
; Please help me. : _I_Y?__. M?h'g?i b?ng ngoh.
; It's an emergency. : _D___}. Hou gan'g?p.
; I'm lost. : _______H. Ngoh dohngs?t louh.
; I lost my bag. : ___I__?____. Ngoh m?h'gin jo go doih.
; I dropped my wallet. : ____?______. Ngoh dit jo go ngahn b?au.
; I'm sick. : ___I____. Ngoh m?h sy?fuhk.
; I've been injured. : ____?__. Ngoh sauh jo s?ung.
; Please call a doctor. : _I_Y?________. M?h'g?i b?ng ngoh giu y?s?ng.
; Can I use your phone? : ___I_________d_b_p__? Ho-m?h-ho'yi je go dihnwah yuhng a?
Numbers
; 1 : __ y?t
; 2 : __ yih
; 3 : _O s?am
; 4 : _l sei
; 5 : __ ?gh
; 6 : _Z luhk
; 7 : __ ch?t
; 8 : __ baat
; 9 : __ gau
; 10: _\ sahp
; 11 : _\__ sahpy?t
; 12 : _\__ sahpyih
; 13 : _\_O sahps?am
; 14 : _\_l sahpsei
; 15 : _\__ sahp?gh
; 16 : _\_Z sahpluhk
; 17 : _\__ sahpch?t
; 18 : _\__ sahpbaat
; 19 : _\__ sahpgau
; 20 : ___\ yihsahp
; 21 : ___\__ yihsahpy?t
; 22 : ___\__ yihsahpyih
; 23 : ___\_O yihsahps?am
; 30 : _O_\ s?amsahp
; 40 : _l_\ seisahp
; 50 : ___\ ?ghsahp
; 60 : _Z_\luhksahp
; 70 : ___\ch?tsahp
; 80 : ___\baatsahp
; 90 : ___\gausahp
; 100 : ___S y?tbaak
; 200 : ___S yihbaak
; 300 : _O_S s?ambaak
; 1000 : ____ y?tch?n
; 2000 : ____ yihch?n
; 10,000 : ____ y?tmaahn
; 100,000 : _\__ sahpmaahn
; 1,000,000 : ___S__ y?tbaakmaahn
; 10,000,000 : ______ y?tch?nmaahn
; 100,000,000 : ____ y?ty?k
; 1,000,000,000 : _\__ sahpy?k
; 10,000,000,000 : ___S__ y?tbaaky?k
; 100,000,000,000 : ______ y?tch?ny?k
; 1,000,000,000,000 : ____ y?tsiuh
; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : ______j houh
; half : __ bun
; less : __ siu
; more : __ d?
Time
; now : ____ y?g?
; later : __ chih
; before : __ jou
; morning : ____ j?ujou
; afternoon : ____ aanjau
; evening : __? yeh maahn
Clock time
; one o'clock : ___y y?t dim
; two o'clock : ___yleuhng dim
; two five : ___y__ / ___y____ leuhng dim y?t/leuhng dim daahp y?t
; two ten : ___y__ / ___y____ leuhng dim yih/leuhng dim daahp yih
; two fifteen : ___y_O / ___y___O leuhng dim s?am/leuhng dim daahp s?am
; two thirty/Half past two : ___y'''__''' leuhng dim '''bun''' (''not ___y_Z / ___y___Z'')
; two forty-five : ___y__ / ___y____ leuhng dim gau/leuhng dim daahp gau
; two fifty : ___y_\ / ___y___\ leuhng dim sahp/leuhng dim daahp sahp
; two fifty-five : ___y___\__ leuhng dim daahp sahpy?t (''not ___y_\__'')
; two fifty-seven : ___y___\____ leuhng dim ?ghsahpch?t f?n
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : _____ ____ f?nj?ng
; _____ hour(s) : _____ ____ go j?ng
; _____ day(s) : _____ __ yaht
; _____ week(s) : _____ ___X_` go laihbaai
; _____ month(s) : _____ ____ go yuht
; _____ year(s) : _____ _Nnihn
Days
; today : ____ g?m'yaht
; yesterday : _q__ chahm'yaht
; tomorrow : ____ t?ngyaht
; the day before last : _O__ chihnyaht
; the day after tomorrow : ____ hauh'yaht
; this week : _____X_` g?m go laihbaai
; last week : _____X_` seuhng go laihbaai
; next week : _____X_` hah go laihbaai
; Sunday : _X_`__ laihbaai yaht
; Monday : _X_`__ laihbaai y?t
; Tuesday : _X_`__ laihbaai yih
; Wednesday : _X_`_O laihbaai s?am
; Thursday : _X_`_l laihbaai sei
; Friday : _X_`__ laihbaai ?gh
; Saturday : _X_`_Z laihbaai luhk
Months
; January : ____ y?t'yuht
; February : ____ yih'yuht
; March : _O__ s?am'yuht
; April : _l__ seiyuht
; May : ____ ?gh'yuht
; June : _Z__ luhk'yuht
; July : ____ ch?t'yuht
; August : ____ baat'yuht
; September : ____ gauyuht
; October : _\__ sahpyuht
; November : _\____ sahpy?t'yuht
; December : _\____ sahpyih'yuht
Colors
;black : _K_F h?k s?k
;white : ___F baahk s?k
;gray : _D_F f?i s?k
;red : _g_F huhng s?k
;blue : ___F laahm? s?k
;yellow : ?_F wohng s?k
;green : ___F luhk s?k
;orange : ___F chaahng s?k
;purple : ___F ji s?k
;brown : ?_F f? s?k
Transportation
Bus and train
In Cantonese, "train" is translated into ____ (foch?) and "bus" is _b_m (b?si). The language uses measure words or numeral classifiers before the actual nouns. In context of the following examples, the respective Cantonese measure words for ____ and _b_m are __ (b?an) and __ (ga).
; How much is a ticket to _____? : ____________v_____A?? Heui _____ j?ung f?i yiu geid? chin gah?
; One ticket to _____, please. : _____________, _I_Y. Y?t j?ung f?i heui _____, m?h'g?i.
; Where does this train/bus go? : ? [______]/[___b_m] _____x?? N? [b?an foch?]/[ga b?si] heui b?n?
; Where is the train/bus to _____? : _______ [______]/[___b_m] ?___x__?? Heui _____ [b?an foch?]/[ga b?si] hai b?ndouh daap gah?
; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : ?[______]/[___b_m]___I_______?? N? [b?an foch?]/[ga b?si] tihng-m?h- tihng _____ gah?
; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : _______[______/___b_m]___y__?? Heui _____ [b?an foch?]/[ga b?si] geidim jau gah?
; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : [______]/[___b_m]_____y_________?? [B?an foch?]/[Ga b?si] wuih geidim heuidou _____ gah?
Directions
; How do I get to _____ ? : _______y_________? Ngoh ho'yi dim heui _____ a?
; the train station : ______ foch? jaahm
; the bus station? : _b_m__ b?si jaahm
; the airport? : _@__ g?icheuhng
; downtown? : _s__ sih'k?ui
; the youth hostel? : ___N___q ch?ngnihn leuihseh
; the _____ hotel? : _____ ___X _____ jaudim
; the American/Australian/British/Canadian consulate : ____/___\__/_S_B/_p__ ______? Meihgwok/Ouj?u/Y?ng'gwok/G?nahdaaih lihngsihgun
; Where are there a lot of_____ ? : ___x____?___D_________? B?ndouh ho'yi wandou houd? _____ a?
; restaurants : _`_K ch?ant?ng
; bars : __? jaub?
; sites to see : ___y gingdim
; Can you show me on the map? : ___I____?___n___x_w________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi hai j?ung deihtouh douh ji bei ngoh tai a?
; street : _X g?ai
; Turn left. : _z__ Jyun jo.
; Turn right. : _z_E Jyun yauh.
; left : __ jo
; right : _E yauh
; straight ahead : ___s jihk'haahng
; towards the _____ : _______ heui _____
; past the _____ : __? _____ gwojo _____
; before the _____ : ______V_O j?chihn
; Watch for the _____. : ___Z_____. Taijyuh _____.
; intersection : _\___H__ sahpjihlouh'hau
; north : _k__ b?kmihn
; south : ____ naahm'mihn
; east : ____ d?ngmihn
; west : ____ s?imihn
; uphill : ___R seuhngs?an
; downhill : ___R lohks?an
Taxi
; Taxi! : _I_m! D?ksih!
; Take me to _____, please. : ___________, _I_Y. Joi ngoh heui _____, m?h'g?i.
; How much does it cost to get to _____? : ________v_____A?? Heui _____ yiu geid? chin gah?
; Take me there, please. : ______?_x, _I_Y. Joi ngoh heui godouh, m?h'g?i
Lodging
; Do you have any rooms available? : ??_L?___[__? Neihdeih yauh-mouh h?ngfong a?
; How much is a room for one person/two people? : _d_l_[/___l_[ _v_____A__? D?anyahnfong/S?ungyahnfong yiu geid? chin a?
; Does the room come with _____? : ___[_L?_____?? G?an fong yauh-mouh _____ gah?
; bedsheets : ____ chohngkam
; a bathroom : ____ yuhks?t
; a telephone : _d_b dihnwah
; a TV : _d__ dihnsih
; May I see the room first? : ___I___________[____? Ho-m?h-ho'yi tai-hah g?an fong s?n a?
; Do you have anything _____? : _L?___[_______?? Yauh-mouh g?an fong hui _____ gah?
; quieter : __? jihngd?
; bigger : __? daaihd?
; cleaner : ____? g?njehngd?
; cheaper : __? pehngd?
; OK, I'll take it. : _D, ___v?__. Hou, ngoh yiu n? g?an.
; I will stay for _____ night(s). : ____?_x_Z_____?. Ngoh hui haidouh jyuh _____ maahn.
; Can you suggest another hotel? : ?___I_________________X______? Neih ho-m?h-ho'yi gaaisiuh daihyih g?an jaudim bei ngoh a?
; Do you have a _____?: ??_L?_____?? Neihdeih yauh-mouh _____ gah?
; safe : ____ gaapmaahn
; lockers : _____C chyuhmahtgwaih
; Is breakfast/supper included? : ___I__ ___`/?_` ?? B?au-m?h-b?au jouch?an/maahnch?an gah?
; What time is breakfast/supper? : ___y_L ___`/?_` ?? Geidim yauh jouch?an/maahnch?an gah?
; Please clean my room. : _I_Y?_________[. M?h'g?i b?ng ngoh j?p-hah g?an fong.
; Can you wake me at _____? : ___I_________________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi _____ giuseng ngoh a?
; I want to check out. : ___z___[. Ngoh seung teuifong.
Money
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : ??___I__ __/_S/__ __?? Neihdeih s?u-m?h-s?u Meih/Ou/G? yuhn gah?
; Do you accept British pounds? : ??___I___p??? Neihdeih s?u-m?h-s?u Y?ngbohng gah?
; Do you accept credit cards? : ??___I___M_p??? Neihdeih s?u-m?h-s?u sun-yoong-caht gah?
; Can you change money for me? : ___I____?_____A__? Ho-m?h-ho'yi b?ng ngoh cheung chin a?
; Where can I get money changed? : ___________x___A__? Ngoh ho'yi heui b?ndouh cheung chin a?
; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ___I____?_________s_x_[__? Ho-m?h-ho'yi b?ng ngoh cheung j?ung leuih'hahng j?piu a?
; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ___________x_______s_x_[__? Ngoh ho'yi heui b?ndouh cheung j?ung leuih'hahng j?piu a?
; What is the exchange rate? : _____W______? Wuihleut haih geid? a?
; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ___x_L_C___@__? B?ndouh yauh gwai'hyuhn'g?i a?
Eating
; A table for one person/two people, please. : ____ ___l?/___l?, _I_Y. Y?t j?ung y?tyahntoi/yihyahntoi, m?h'g?i.
; Can I look at the menu, please? : _____`_v____, _I_Y. Bei j?ung ch?anpaai ngoh tai, m?h'g?i.
; Can I look in the kitchen? : ___I______?___C_[__? Ho-m?h-ho'yi tai-hah g? chyuhfong a?
; Is there a house specialty? : _L???_H_o__?? Yauh m?tyeh yehsihk ch?utmeng gah?
; Is there a local specialty? : _L?_{_n?_H?? Yauh-mouh bundeih yehsihk gah?
; I'm a vegetarian. : ___H_f. Ngoh sihk sou.
; I don't eat pork. : ___I_H__. Ngoh m?h'sihk jy?.
; I don't eat beef. : ___I_H__. Ngoh m?h'sihk ngauh.
; I only eat kosher food. : _____W_H___^?. Ngoh jihnghaih sihk ch?ngj?n yeh.
; Can you make it "lite", please? (Literally, ''Do not add too much oil, please.'') : _I_D__?____, _I_Y. M?h'hou lohk gamd? yauh, m?h'g?i.
; fixed-price meal : ___` touch?an
; a la carte : ___`_v g?n ch?anpaai (''means "as on the menu"'')
; breakfast : ___` jouch?an
; lunch : __ aan / ___` ?ghch?an
; tea (''meal'') : ______ hah-?gh-chah
; supper : ?_` maahnch?an
; I want _____. : ___z_v_____. Ngoh seung yiu _____.
; I want a dish containing _____. : ___z_v___L_____. Ngoh seung yiu yeuhng yauh _____.
; chicken : ? g?i
; beef : __ ngauh
; fish : __ yuh
; ham : ____ foteui
; sausage : ____ h?ungcheuhng
; cheese : ___m j?si
; eggs : _` daan
; salad : ____ s?leut
; (fresh) vegetables : (_V_N)____ (s?ns?n) s?choi
; (fresh) fruit : (_V_N)____ (s?ns?n) s?ang'gwo
; bread : ?__ mihnb?au
; toast : ___m d?si
; noodles : ? mihn
; rice : __ faahn
; beans : __ dau
; May I have a glass/cup of _____? : ___I_______t_________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi bei b?i _____ ngoh a?
; May I have a bottle of _____? : ___I_______M_________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi bei j?un _____ ngoh a?
; coffee : ?? gaf?
; tea (''drink'') : __ chah
; juice : ___` gwoj?p
; bubbly water : _L____ yauh'hei seui
; water : __ seui
; beer : ?__ b?jau
; red/white wine : _g/__ __ huhng/baahk jau
; May I have some _____? : ___I______?_________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi bei d? _____ ngoh a?
; salt : _d yihm
; black pepper : _K__ h?kj?u
; butter : ____ ngauhyauh
; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): _____I_Y. Sihying m?h'g?i.
; I'm finished. : _H__?_h. Sihkyuhn gela.
; It was delicious. : _D_H. Housihk
; Please clear the plates. : _I_Y?________?. M?h' g?i b?ng ngoh ch?ng-hah j?ung toi.
; The check, please. : ___d, _I_Y. Maaihd?an, m?h'g?i.
Bars
; Do you serve alcohol? : ??_L?____?? Neihdeih yauh-mouh jau yam gah?
; Is there table service? : _L?______??? Yauh-mouh sihying maai toi gah?
; A beer/two beers, please. : __/___t ?__, _I_Y. Y?t/leuhng b?i b?jau, m?h'g?i.
; A glass of red/white wine, please. : ___t _g/__ __, _I_Y. Y?t b?i huhng/baahk jau, m?h'g?i.
; A pint, please. : __ pint, _I_Y. Y?t ''pint'', m?h'g?i. (''"_i? ban'tyut" is the corresponding word for "pint" in Cantonese, but no one will use it in bars.'')
; A bottle, please. : ___M, _I_Y. Y?t j?un, m?h'g?i.
; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : ____________, _I_Y. _____ tuhng _____, m?h'g?i.
; whiskey : ___m__ w?isigei
; vodka : ______ fuhkdahkg?
; rum : ?__ l?mjau
; water : __ seui
; club soda : ______ s?da seui
; tonic water : ______ t?nglihk seui
; orange juice : ___` chaangj?p
; Coke (''soda'') : ____ holohk
; Do you have any bar snacks? : ??_L?___H?? Neihdeih yauh-mouh siusihk gah?
; One more (cup/bottle), please. : _v____ _t/_M, _I_Y. Yiu d? y?t b?i/j?un, m?h'g?i.
; When is closing time? : ___y____?? Geidim s?anmuhn gaa?
; Cheers! : ___t! Yamb?i!
Shopping
; Do you have this in my size? : ?___L?________? N? gihn yauh-mouh ngoh go ma a?
; How much? : _____A__? Geid? chin a?
; That's too expensive. : ___M?. Taai gwai la.
; Would you take _____? : ___I_______?? S?u-m?h-s?u _____ gah?
; expensive : _Mgwai
; cheap : __ pehng
; I can't afford it. : _____I_N. Ngoh bei m?h hei.
; I don't want it. : ___I_z_v. Ngoh m?h seung yiu.
; You're cheating me. : ??____?. Neih ?k gan ngoh ge.
; I'm not interested. : __?____. Ngoh mouh hing cheui.
; OK, I'll take it. : _D, ___v?__. Hou, ngoh yiu n? gihn.
; Can I have a bag? : ___I______________? Ho-m?h-ho'yi bei go doi ngoh a?
; Do you ship (overseas)? : ??___I____(___O__)?? Neihdeih sung-m?h-sung fo (heui ngoihgwok) gah?
; I need... : ___v... Ngoh yiu_c
; ...toothpaste. : ...___p. ngah g?u.
; ...a toothbrush. : ...____. ngah chaat.
; ...tampons. : ..._q____. waihs?ng'g?n.
; ...soap. : ...__?. f?an'gaan.
; ...shampoo. : ...______. sai'tauhseui.
; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : ..._~___Z. ji'tung yeuhk.
; ...cold medicine. : ...___`_Z. gam'mouh yeuhk.
; ...stomach medicine. : ...___Z. waih yeuhk.
; ...a razor. : ...______. tais?ud?u.
; ...an umbrella. : ...__. j?.
; ...sunblock lotion. : ...___z__. taaiyeuhngyauh.
; ...a postcard. : ...___M__. mihngseunpin.
; ...postage stamps. : ..._X_[. yauhpiu.
; ...batteries. : ..._d_r. dihnchih.
; ...writing paper. : ..._M__. seunji.
; ...a pen. : ..._M. b?t.
; ...English-language books. : ..._p____. Y?ngmahn sy?.
; ...English-language magazines. : ..._p______. Y?ngmahn jaahpji.
; ...an English-language newspaper. : ..._p______. Y?ngmahn bouji.
; ...an English-English dictionary. : ..._p_p___T. Y?ngy?ng jihdin.
Driving
; I want to rent a car. : ___z_d__. Ngoh seung j?u ch?.
; Can I get insurance? : ___x__________?? B?ndouh ho'yi maaih bou him gah?
; stop (''on a street sign'') : __ tihng
; one way : _d___H d?anchihnglouh
; yield : __ yeuhng
; no parking : _s_y____ b?tjeun paakch?
; speed limit : ___x____ ch?kdouh haahnjai
; gas (''petrol'') station : ____ yauhjaahm
; petrol : _D__ heiyauh
; diesel : ____ chaaihyauh
Authority
; I haven't done anything wrong. : __?______. Ngoh mouh jouh cho yeh.
; It was a misunderstanding. : _____W____. Ginh sih haih ngh-wuih.
; Where are you taking me? : ?________? Neih daai ngoh heui b?n.
; Am I under arrest? : ___W_I_W___l_f____? Ngoh haih-m?h-haih bei yahn l?ai jo a?
; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ___W ____/_S_B/_p__/___\__ ____. Ngoh haih Meihgwok/Ouj?u/Y?ng'gwok/G?nahdaaih g?ngmahn.
; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ___v? ____/_S_B/_p__/___\__ ___g__/______. Ngoh yiu wan Meihgwok/Ouj?u/Y?ng'gwok/G?nahdaaih daaihsigun/lihngsihgun.
; I want to talk to a lawyer. : ___v?___t. Ngoh yiu wan leuhts?.
; Can I just pay a fine now? : ___I_____A?___A__? Ho-m?h-ho'yi jauh gam faht chin?ja:_L_______b_W