Hainanese phrasebook

Hainanese (海南话 hai-nam-oe) is the local language of the island of Hainan, the most southerly part of China. It is also fairly common among overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia.

Linguistically, Hainanese is related to Minnan Hua and Teochew, but it is not mutually intelligible with either of those or with any other Chinese dialect. Hainanese also has dialectal variation throughout the island, and it is not uncommon for people from different parts of Hainan to converse with each other in Mandarin instead. The dialect spoken in Wenchang is the de-facto standard and used in news broadcasts, though the Qionghai dialect is typically used in Hainanese opera performances.

Pronunciation guide

Written Hainanese uses simplified Chinese characters, but is romanised using the Guangdong Romanization System.

Vowels

Consonants

Unlike many other dialects of Chinese, Hainanese lacks aspirated consonants. As such, Hainanese only distinguishes between voiced and tenuis (unvoiced, unaspirated) consonants.

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs Written text is the same as mainland China - simplified Chinese. See the relevant pages for more information. OPEN  开 hui CLOSED  关 kwe ENTRANCE  入口 EXIT  出口 PUSH  排 PULL  拉 TOILET  厕所 / 洗手间 / 卫生间 kong bang MEN  男 WOMEN  女 FORBIDDEN  无 / 勿 / 别

Hello. 

. ( du o ) 你好

Hello. (informal) 

. (du o bo ? ) 你好无 ?

How are you? 

? ( du dai dou)

Fine, thank you. 

o, dia dia. ( 好谢谢 )

What is your name? 

(lu kio mi mia ? 你 叫么名 ?)

My name is ______ . 

(nong kai mia kio to name) - 侬的名叫做 (name)

• Formal vs Informal
  • Nong - Formal
    • Used with elders (parents, grandparents, etc), teachers, strangers, etc
  • Gua - Informal
    • Used with siblings, friends, etc

Nice to meet you. 

. ( )

Please. 

sia. ( 请 )

Thank you. 

bo kai

You're welcome. 

. ( bo jong khek khui ) 无用客气

Yes. 

. ( ti ) 是

No. 

. ( bo ti ) 无是 / 不是: . (bo) works just fine

. (bo oo (ah)) - to deny something/ like I didn't do that type of thing.

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. ( sia mui ) 请问

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. ( dui bo khi ) 对不起

I'm sorry. 

wa ho sor

Goodbye 

tai gii. (再见)

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. ( [wa bo bat gong [language](if english, eng boon ]) 我不会讲 / 英文

Do you speak English? 

? ( lu oi gong eng boon bo?) 你会讲英文无 ?

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

? ( zhe lè oo nang oi gong eng boon bo?) 这里有人会讲英文无 ?

Help! 

! ( kiu mia / kiu nang !) 救命/救人

Look out! 

! ( !)mor hor

Good morning. 

. ( )hor yet

Good evening. 

. ( )hor mair

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )ku koi hor

I don't understand. 

. (wa bo oi )wa bor dai

Where is the toilet? 

? (xet toh du dair ?)gong bung du dair -  厕所在处 ? 公房在处 ?

Problems

Leave me alone. 

. ( .)wa bor dor du hoi war

Don't touch me! 

bo jiong mo wa - 无用摸我 !

I'll call the police. 

wo kio keng sat - 我叫警察

Police! 

keng sat - 警察

Stop! Thief! 

! ! ( ! !)kiup nung

I need your help. 

. ( .)hoi wa

It's an emergency. 

. ( .)

I'm lost. 

. ( .)wa bor but wa di du dair

I lost my bag. 

. ( .)wa bor dwair wa gai tung diet

I lost my wallet. 

. ( .)wa bor dwair wa gai kior gee

I'm sick. 

. ( .)wa onai

I've been injured. 

. ( .)wa hiar

I need a doctor. 

. ( .)wa sum dwair eedair

Can I use your phone? 

? ( ?)wa yong du kai dian hué/siu ki dio bo ? - 我用汝的电话着无

Numbers

1 

一 yet / jiak

2 

二 ji / 两 noh

3 

三 ta

4 

四 ti

5 

五 ngo

6 

六 lak

7 

七 siet

8 

八 bui

9 

九 kao

10 

十 tap

11 

十一 tap yet

12 

十二 tap ji

13 

十三 tap ta

14 

十四 tap ti

15 

十五 tap ngo

16 

十六 tap lak

17 

十七 tap siet

18 

十八 tap bui

19 

十九 tap kao

20 

二十 ji tap

21 

二十一 ji tap yet

22 

二十二 ji tap ji

23 

二十三 ji tap ta

30 

三十 ta tap

40 

四十 ti tap

50 

五十 ngo tap

60 

六十 lak tap

70 

七十 siet tap

80 

八十 bui tap

90 

九十 kao tap

100 

一百 jiak beh

200 

两百 noh beh

300 

三百 ta beh

1,000 

一千 jiak sai

2,000 

两千 noh sai

10,000

一万 jiak ban

1,000,000 

一百万 jiak beh ban

1,000,000,000 

十亿 tap yi

1,000,000,000,000 

( ) jiak ban beh

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

( )

half 

一半 jiak bwa

less 

( )

more 

多 tui

Time

now 

( )en nar

later 

( )eh gan

before 

( )

morning 

( )gen yet

afternoon 

( )

evening 

( )gen mair

night 

( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

(一点) yet diam

two o'clock AM 

(两点) no diam

noon 

(中午) tong ngo

one o'clock PM 

( )

two o'clock PM 

( )

midnight 

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

( ) on ziang

_____ hour(s) 

( )

_____ day(s) 

( )ziet

_____ week(s) 

( )bai

_____ month(s) 

( )wair

_____ year(s) 

( )he

Days

today 

( )gen nwa

yesterday 

( )ta hui

tomorrow 

( )en nwar

this week 

( )

last week 

( )

next week 

( )

Sunday 

( )

Monday 

( )bai iet

Tuesday 

( )bai yi

Wednesday 

( )bai dar

Thursday 

( )bai di

Friday 

( )bai ngou

Saturday 

( )bai luk

Months

January 

( )yet gueh

February 

( )noh gueh

March 

( )ta gueh

April 

( )ti gueh

May 

( )ngo gueh

June 

( )lak gueh

July 

( )siet gueh

August 

( )boi gueh

September 

( )kao gueh

October 

( )taap gueh

November 

( )taap yet gueh

December 

( )taap zi gueh

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

( )oh

white 

( )beh

gray 

( )

red 

( )ang

blue 

( )

yellow 

( )

green 

( )liak

orange 

( )

purple 

( )

brown 

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

( ) Yiak kai pio ku ..... kai di phang ou uatoi chee ? - 一个票去....的地方有多少钱

One ticket to _____, please. 

( )wa dior boi ya gai dwa koo

Where does this train/bus go? 

( )yum mor wair siar/ siar koo wo doi dium

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

( )yum mor wair siar/ siar koo doo dair?

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

( )yum mor wair siar /siar yar?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

( )ge mee dium yar mor wair siar/siar sot ?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

( )ge mee dium yar mor wair siar siar lai ?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

( )war dior koo yar lai?

...the train station? 

( )wair siar tam - 火车站

...the bus station? 

( ) gong gong khui sia tam - 公共汽车站

...the airport? 

( )boi gee dio - 飞机场

...downtown? 

(chio tiasi) 上城市

...the youth hostel? 

( )soo giar kiar diet

...the _____ hotel? 

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

( )ungmor nung soo

Where are there a lot of... 

( )oo ya di pung oo war doi

...hotels? 

( )soo

...restaurants? 

( )dompow

...bars? 

( )

...sites to see? 

( )

Can you show me on the map? 

( )

street 

( )

Turn left. 

( )koo ngung

Turn right. 

( )koo jek

left 

( )ngung

right 

( )jek

straight ahead 

( )

towards the _____ 

( )koo olair

past the _____ 

( )

before the _____ 

( )

Watch for the _____. 

( )sum mor or gai

intersection 

( )

north 

( )

south 

( )

east 

( )

west 

( )

uphill 

( )

downhill 

( )

Taxi

Taxi! 

( )

Take me to _____, please. 

( )war dior koo ya lai, dai dia

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

( )dee wo doi gee koo ya lair?

Take me there, please. 

( )war dior koo ya lair, dai dia

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

( )do oo bung bor?

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

( )dee wor doi gee ior ya gai bung ya nung/nor nung?

Does the room come with... 

( )ze mo bang oo?

...bedsheets? 

( )depoo kol?

...a bathroom? 

( )gong bang?

...a telephone? 

( )tolorsup/dien ui

...a TV? 

( )nien di?

May I see the room first? 

( )war dior gee bung

Do you have anything quieter? 

( )

...bigger? 

( )dwa

...cleaner? 

( )he goi

...cheaper? 

( )boh gwui/ bun yee

OK, I'll take it. 

( )ho, wa ior diet

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

( )wa dior khuwi ya lair ..... me

Can you suggest another hotel? 

( )oo soo doo dair gair bo

Do you have a safe? 

( )do oo nien hung?

...lockers? 

( )

Is breakfast/supper included? 

( )

What time is breakfast/supper? 

( )gair mee dium giar?

Please clean my room. 

( )dor wai gai bung hair goi

Can you wake me at _____? 

( )doo sair wa diet?

I want to check out. 

( )war dior sot

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

( )

Do you accept British pounds? 

( )do ior gee ungmor?

Do you accept Euros? 

( )do ior gee Euro?

Do you accept credit cards? 

( )

Can you change money for me? 

( )

Where can I get money changed? 

( )wa ior wa gai gee do dengnung do dair?

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

( )

What is the exchange rate? 

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

( )oo gee gairhe doo dair?

Eating

Hainanese, like Teochew, does not distinguish between eating and drinking. Strange as it may sound to speakers of other languages, the verb 食 (chiah) is used to refer to both eating and drinking.

A table for one person/two people, please. 

( )wa dior ya saw ya nung/nor nung, dai diar

Can I look at the menu, please? 

( sia mo cai dua )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

( )wa gee dompow diet?

Is there a house specialty? 

( )oo soo gai horgium bor?

Is there a local specialty? 

( )oo yar mor di pung hor oowar bor?

I'm a vegetarian. 

( )war nah zia sai

I don't eat pork. 

( )wa bor zia ndoo (It's a combination of n and d. It's one syllable.)

I don't eat beef. 

( )wa bor zia goo yuok

I only eat kosher food. 

( )wa bar char ungmor gium

Can you not add too much oil/butter, please? 

( ) Du ho ze bo jiong bang hai doi ew (oil)/ goo ew (butter - really translates to cow oil i guess) dia dia.

fixed-price meal 

( )gium bor bai gee

a la carte 

( )gium doo

breakfast 

( )sair gium

lunch 

( )bwa yet gium

tea (meal) 

( )dair

supper 

( )

I want _____. 

( )wa dior

I want a dish containing _____. 

( )wa dior ze gai oowa oo

chicken 

( )goi

beef 

( ) goo yuok

fish 

( ) woo

ham 

( )dooba

sausage 

( )

cheese 

( )

eggs 

( )nooi

salad 

( )sai

(fresh) vegetables 

( )sai hot

(fresh) fruit 

( )seeiuw gee

bread 

( ) bao

toast 

( )loo dee ywar

noodles

()won

rice 

( )buwi

beans 

( )sai giar

May I have a glass of _____? 

( )war ior giow

May I have a cup of _____? 

( )

May I have a bottle of _____? 

( )war ior gwat

coffee 

( )go bee

tea (drink) 

( )dair

juice 

( )siew gee dooi

(bubbly) water 

( )

(still) water 

( ) dui

beer 

( )gee iuw

red/white wine 

( )ung gee iuw

May I have some _____? 

( )wa ho zee ior dee dee

salt 

( )iam

black pepper 

( ) ho gio won (w is a bit silent. O is emphasized.)

butter 

( ) goo ew

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished. 

( )wa ho la

It was delicious. 

( )gien ho cha

Please clear the plates. 

( )kee ior ywa diet

The check, please. 

( )bai gee la

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

( )doo oo geeiuw bor?

Is there table service? 

( )oo nung mor sor bor?

A beer/two beers, please. 

( )ya gai geeiuw/ nor gai gee iuw, dai diar

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

( )ya gai giow ung geeiuw

A pint, please. 

( )

A bottle, please. 

( )ya gwat, dair diar

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

( )hör geeiuw ga dooi

whiskey 

( )

vodka 

( )

rum 

( )

water 

( )dui

club soda 

( )

tonic water 

( )

orange juice 

( ) sing ziap

Coke (soda) 

( )

Do you have any bar snacks? 

( )do oo neeiow mee cha bor?

One more, please. 

( )ya gai sul, dai diar.

Another round, please. 

( )ya gai dooi sul, dai diar

When is closing time? 

( )doo kwai gair mee dium?

Cheers! 

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

( )doo yar mor war siung diet bor?

How much is this? 

( )yar mor waa doi gee?

That's too expensive. 

( )goo ooi

Would you take _____? 

( )do ior ya mor bor?

expensive 

( )goo ooi

cheap 

( )bor goo ooi

I can't afford it. 

( )waa bor oo gee

I don't want it. 

( )waa bor dung

You're cheating me. 

( )doo dee kiup nung!

I'm not interested. 

(..)boo dee iuw

OK, I'll take it. 

( )ho. war ior

Can I have a bag? 

( )war dior tung

Do you ship (overseas)? 

( )

I need... 

( )waa dior.... more like I want, but wa hâm ioh.... I need to have ..... sounds more demanding and you may come off as spoiled. - in my opinion at least

...toothpaste. 

( )swar paa lee mee

...a toothbrush. 

( )swar paa lee

...tampons. 

. ( )

...soap. 

( ) sa bon

...shampoo. 

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

( )

...cold medicine. 

( )ee ior bo hor mee sair dai

...stomach medicine. 

... ( )

...a razor. 

( )

...an umbrella. 

( )

...sunblock lotion. 

( )

...a postcard. 

( )

...postage stamps. 

( )

...batteries. 

( )

...writing paper. 

( )dwa

...a pen. 

( )biet

...English-language books. 

( )ung mor doo

...English-language magazines. 

( )

...an English-language newspaper. 

( )ung mor dwa

...an English-English dictionary. 

( )ung nor sair

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

( )waa dior ee ior ya gai see iar

Can I get insurance? 

( )

stop (on a street sign) 

( )yee ar

one way 

( )

yield 

( )

no parking 

( )bor jort ya lair diet

speed limit 

( )

gas (petrol) station 

( )ee yeeow har

petrol 

( )ee yeeow

diesel 

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

( )war bor dor mee sor。 - 我沒有做错什么。

It was a misunderstanding. 

( ) zha jiang di ngow hui。这是误会的。

Where are you taking me? 

( )doo ee be sua wa hoo dair ?你要带我去哪里？

Am I under arrest? 

( );wa bi lia la? 我被抓吗？

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

( )wa dee mui gok nang| ao da li a nung| eng gok nang | gia na dai nang|

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

( )wa dior gan mui gok| ao da li a | eng gok | gea na dai| dua se guan gong mu zuan gong weia .

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

(wo bei gang lut sè gong awei ) 我要跟律师讲话。

Can I just pay a fine now? 

( )war deeior gieaw wad gee do let bo? 我可以付罚款费吗？