Common phrases

Question 1

Hello

Answer 1

Ni hao

Knee how

Question 2

How are you?

Reply: I’m very well, and you?

I’m also very well

Answer 2

Ni hao ma?
(Knee how ma)

Wo hen hao, ni ne?
(Wor heun how, knee na?)

Wo ye hen hao
(Wor yea heun how)

Question 3

What’s your name?

Answer 3

Ni jiao shen me ming zi?

(Knee geow shen mer ming zr?

Question 4

My name is

Answer 4

Wo jiao Tom

Wor geow Tom

Question 5

Very glad to know you (Nice to meet you)

Answer 5

Hen gao xing ren shi ni (nin -elder person)

Heun gowsing ren shr knee - knin

Question 6

I’m also very glad to know you

Answer 6

Wo ye hen gao xing ren shi ni

Wor yea heun gowsing ren shr knee

Question 7

You are which country person?

what’s your nationality?

Answer 7

Ni shi na guo ren?

Knee shr na gore ren

Question 8

I am American

I am Chinese

Answer 8

Wo shi mei guo ren
(Wor shr may gor ren)

Wo shi zhong guo ren
(Wor shr chong gor ren)

Question 9

Are you American?

I am not American.

Answer 9

Ni shi mei guo ren ma?
(Knee shr may gor ren ma)

Wo bu shi mei guo ren.
(Wor boo shr may gor ren)

Question 10

Do you speak english?

Answer 10

Ni hui shuo ying yu ma?

Knee hoi shure ing youu ma

Question 11

I can speak english

I can’t speak english

Answer 11

Wo hui shuo ying yu.
(Wor hoi shure ing youu)

Wo bu hui shuo ying yu.
(Woe boo hoi shure ing youu)

Question 12

I can speak a little

Answer 12

Wo hui shuo yi dian dian (or yi dian dian)

Wor hoi shure ee dian dian

Question 13

Goodbye

Answer 13

Zaijian

Sai gian

Question 14

Sorry, I’m late

It’s fine / no problem / it doesn’t matter

Answer 14

Dui bu qi, wo chi dao le
(Dway boo chi, wor chr dow la)

Mei guan xi
(May guan sc)

Question 15

I don’t know

Answer 15

Wo bu zhidao

Wor boo jidow

Question 16

Do you understand?

Answer 16

Ni ming bai ma?

Knee mingby ma?

Question 17

I understand

I don’t understand

Answer 17

Wo ming bai
(Wor mingby)

Wo bu ming bai
(Wor boo mingby)

Question 18

Excuse me (not making a mistake)

Answer 18

Bu hao yi si

Boo how eesr

Question 19

I agree

I don’t agree

Answer 19

Wo tongyi
(Wor tong ee)

Wo bu tongyi
(Wor boo tong ee)

Question 20

I want this one

I want that one

Answer 20

Wo yao zhe ge
(Wor yow jur ga)

Wo yao na ge
(Wor yow naa ga)

Question 21

Thank you for your help

Answer 21

Xie xie ni de bang zhu

Shea Shea knee da baang ghew

Question 22

Water
Cold water
Tea

I want…

Answer 22

Shui (Shway)
Bing (cold) shui
Cha (Chaa)

Wo yao…

Question 23

Your are welcome

No need to thank

Answer 23

Bu ke qi
(Boo kerr chi)

Bu yong xie (bu xie)
(Boo yong shea)

Question 24

Excuse me (walking through)

Answer 24

Bu haoyisi, jieguo

Boo how ee sr, gher gore

Question 25

What is this

What is that

Answer 25

Zhe shi shenme?
(Jur shr shenmer?)

Na shi shenme?
(Na shr shenmer?)

Question 26

Who is that?

This is James

Answer 26

Na shi shei
(Na shr shay)

Zhe shi James

Question 27

Where is the supermarket

The supermarket is over there / is here

Answer 27

Qingwen (excuse me), chao shi zai nali?
(Ting wen, chow shr zzai nalee)

Chaoshi zai na li / zhe li
(Chow shr zzai na lee / ghr lee)

Question 28

Where

Here

There

Answer 28

Zai na li (naa lee)

Zai zhe li

Zai na li (na lee)

Question 29

What are you doing?

I am cooking

Answer 29

Ni zai gan shen me?
(Knee sai gun shenmer?)

Wo zai zuo fan
(Wor sai cuo fun)

Question 30

Is this seat available?

Answer 30

Zhe li you ren zuo ma?

Ghr Lee yo ren cuo ma?

Question 31

What are you laughing at?

Answer 31

Ni zai xiao shen me?

(Knee sai shao shim mer?

Question 32

I think

I think it’s a nice day today

Answer 32

Wo jue de
(Wor ghew da)

Wo jue de, jin tian, tian qi zhen hao
(Wor ghew da, gin tian, tian tee ghen how)

Question 33

What would you like to eat?

Up to you

Answer 33

Ni xiang chi shen me?
(Knee sciang chr shenma?)

Sui bian
(Suway bian)

Question 34

Waiter , check please

Answer 34

Fu wu yuan, mai dan
(Foo woo ywen, mai daan)

OR

Laoban, mai dan