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 closely 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 prestige dialect and used in provincial news broadcasts, though the Qionghai dialect is typically used in Hainanese opera performances.

Hainanese speakers in China are usually also able to speak Mandarin, so learning Hainanese is not necessary to communicate, and foreigners living in the region usually choose to learn Mandarin instead. That said, locals are proud of their language, so attempts to speak Hainanese are certainly appreciated, and might even earn you preferential treatment in shops and restaurants.

See the Chinese phrasebook for reading most writing in Hainanese-speaking areas.

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

Basics

 * Hello. : . ( du o ) 汝好
 * Hello. (informal) : . (du o bo ? ) 汝好无 ?
 * 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 ) - 侬个名叫做 ( name )
 * Formal vs Informal
 * 侬/儂 nong - Formal
 * Used with elders (parents, grandparents, etc), teachers, strangers, etc
 * 我 gua - Informal
 * Used with siblings, friends, etc


 * Nice to meet you. : . ( )
 * Please. : sia. ( 请 )
 * Thank you. : 無該/无该 bo kai
 * You're welcome. : . ( bo jong khek khui )  无用客气
 * 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 Hainanese. : [ ]. (wa bo bat gong hai-nam-oe) 我不会讲海南话
 * 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 早上好.
 * Good evening. :. ( ) hor mair 晚上好.
 * Good night. : .  mei an  晚安
 * Good night (to sleep) :. ku koi hor  晚安
 * I don't understand. : . (wa bo oi) wa bor dai   我不明白.
 * Where is the toilet? : 公房佇帶？/公房伫带？ gong bang du dair

Problems

 * Leave me alone. :. ( .) wa bor dor du hoi war 别打扰我.
 * 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

 * 0 : 空 hong
 * 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 : 少 jio
 * more : 多 tui

Time

 * now : 现旦/現旦 en nar
 * later : ( ) eh gan
 * before : ( )
 * morning : 上旰 tzio kua
 * afternoon : 下旰 e kua
 * evening : 今暝 gen mair
 * night : 暝头/暝頭 mair  hao

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) : _____分钟/分鐘 on ziang
 * _____ hour(s) : ( ) diam ziang
 * _____ day(s) : _____日 ziet
 * _____ week(s) : ( )bai
 * _____ month(s) : _____月 wair/gue
 * _____ year(s) : _____年 he

Days

 * today : 今旦 gen nwa/ 今日 gen jiet
 * yesterday : 昨晡 ta bou
 * tomorrow : 後旦 au nwar
 * this week : ( bai)
 * last week : ( )
 * next week : ( )


 * Sunday : lei bai  星期日
 * Monday : bai iet  星期一
 * Tuesday : bai yi  星期二
 * Wednesday : bai dar  星期三
 * Thursday : bai di  星期四
 * Friday : bai ngou  星期五
 * Saturday : bai lak  星期六

Months

 * January :yet gueh 一月
 * February :noh gueh 二月
 * March :ta gueh 三月
 * April :ti gueh 四月
 * May :ngo gueh 五月
 * June :lak gueh 六月
 * July :siet gueh 七月
 * August :boi gueh 八月
 * September :kao gueh 九月
 * October :taap gueh 十月
 * November :taap yet gueh 十一月
 * December :taap zi gueh 十二月

Colors

 * black : 烏 oh
 * white : 白 beh
 * gray : 灰 wu
 * red :  红/紅 ang
 * blue : 蓝  lam
 * yellow : 黄  oui
 * green : 绿  liak
 * orange : 橙  ka
 * purple : 紫  kio
 * brown : 棕  chocolate

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? : ( ) li diam - 旅店
 * ...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  左转
 * Turn right. : ( )koo jek  右转
 * left : ( )ngung   左
 * right : ( )jek  右
 * straight ahead : ( )
 * towards the _____ : ( )koo olair
 * past the _____ : ( )
 * before the _____ : ( )
 * Watch for the _____. : ( )sum mor or gai
 * intersection : ( )
 * north : (北 )bak
 * south : ( 南)nam
 * east : (东 )dang
 * west : (西 )dai
 * 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? : ( )do to diat hoi wa wa gee
 * 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
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: : dinner: :
 * tea (meal) : ( )dair
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. : ( )wa dior
 * I want a dish containing _____. : ( )wa dior ze gai oowa oo
 * chicken : 鸡/雞 goi
 * beef : 牛肉 goo yuok
 * fish : 鱼/魚 woo
 * ham : ( )dooba
 * sausage : ( )
 * cheese : ( )
 * eggs : 卵 nooi
 * salad : ( )sai
 * (fresh) vegetables :  ( )sai hot
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )seeiuw gee
 * bread : ( ) bao
 * toast : ( )loo dee ywar
 * noodles
 * won
 * won


 * rice :  飯 bui
 * 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) : 茶 dair
 * juice : ( )siew gee dooi
 * (bubbly) water : ( )
 * (still) water : 水 dui
 * beer : ( )gee iuw
 * red/white wine : ( )ung gee iuw
 * May I have some _____? : ( )wa ho zee ior dee dee
 * salt : 盐/鹽 iam
 * sugar : 糖 ho
 * black pepper : ( ) ho gio won (w is a bit silent. O is emphasized.)
 * butter : 牛油 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 : (贵)goo ooi
 * cheap : (便宜)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？

Going to the Doctors
Doctor 医生 (醫生) yīshēng (yi tear/luk kun)

Nurse 护士 (護士) (mi zee)

Hospital 医院 (醫院) yīyuàn (Yi juan/ lok kun su)

Chinese medicine 中药 (中藥) zhōngyào (tong yok)

Western medicine 西药 (西藥) xīyào (sai yok)

I am sick. 我生病了. (我生病了. ) wǒ shēngbìng (wa huah pear liao) (wa o nine)

My _____ hurts. 我的 ____ 疼/痛. ( 我的 ____ 疼/痛. ) wŏde ____ téng/tòng (wa kai ____ heeah)

Painful 疼/痛 (疼/痛) téng/tòng (heeah)

Sick/Uncomfortable 不舒服 (不舒服) bù shūfu (bo toh lio)

Itchy/ticklish 痒 (痒) yǎng (jio/jee-oh)

Sore (In muscle strains) 酸 (酸) suān (tui)

Fever 发热 (發熱) fārè / 发烧 (發燒) fāshāo (waht-tio)

Cough 咳嗽 (咳嗽) késòu (kaht-tao)

Sneeze 打喷嚏 (打噴嚏) dǎ pēntì

Diarrhoea 拉肚子 (拉肚子) lā dùzi / 泻肚子 (瀉肚子) xiè dùzi (lao taiht/tah-eeht)

Vomiting 呕吐 (嘔吐) ŏu tù (ueek, yea like the sound ueeek when you puke lol)

Running nose 流鼻涕 (流鼻涕) liú bítì (lao pi dui/ lao pi toh)

Phlegm 痰 (痰) tán (haam)

Cut/wound 割伤 (割傷) gēshāng / 伤口 (傷口) shāngkǒu (tiang hao)

Burn 烧伤 (燒傷) shāoshāng (tio tiang, tio means burn, tiang means wounded)

Hands 手 (手) shǒu (siu/see-ut)

Arms 手臂 (手臂) shǒubì / 胳膊 (胳膊) gēbo

Fingers 手指 (手指) shǒuzhǐ (siu/see-ut kia)

Wrist 手腕 (手腕) shǒuwàn

Shoulder 肩膀 (肩膀) jiānbǎng (ka bang)

Feet 脚 (腳) jiǎo (ha)

Toes 脚趾 (腳趾) jiáozhǐ (ha kiat/kee at)

Legs 腿 (腿) tuǐ (ha hui/ hoo eet)

Nails 指甲 (指甲) zhǐjia (siu/see-ut kak)

Body 身体 (身體) shēntǐ (ti mia)

Eyes 眼睛 (眼睛) yǎnjīng (mak)

Ears 耳朵 (耳朵) ěrduo (ee-kiat)

Nose 鼻子 (鼻子) bízi (pi)

Face 脸 (臉) liǎn (ming)

Hair 头发 (頭髮) tóufa (hao mo)

Head 头 (頭) tóu (hao)

Neck 脖子 (脖子) bózi / 颈项 (頸項) jǐngxiàng (lao-deet)

Throat 喉咙 (喉嚨) hóulóng (lao-haang)

Chest 胸 (胸) xiōng

Abdomen 肚子 (肚子) dùzi / 腹 (腹) fù (dao/ dah-aot)

Hip/Waist 腰 (腰) yāo (yao, but different pronunciation)

Buttocks 屁股 (屁股) pìgu (ka sui/ swee-ee(e in bee))

Back 背 (背) bèi (buek/boo-eht)

Medical Insurance 医疗保险 (醫療保險) yīliáo bǎoxiǎn

Doctor's fees 医生费 (醫生費) yīshēng fèi

Prescription 处方 (處方) chǔfāng / 药方 (藥方) yàofāng

Medicine 药 (藥) yào (yeeot)

Pharmacy 药店 (藥店) yàodiàn (yeeot diam)