SALUTATIONS.
Reading edition
Good morning. 早呀 Tsau-’a, 儂早 Noong tsau.
How are you? (are you well?) 好拉否 Hau la va?
Sir, may I ask your name? [to a gentleman, equal, or superior]. 貴姓 or 尊姓 Kwe-sing? (or) Tsung-sing?
What is your name? (surname) [to workmen, coolies, etc.] 儂姓啥 Noong sing sa?
My humble name [polite form] is Gold. 敝姓金 Bi sing Kyung.
My name is Gold, [ordinary]. 我姓金 Ngoo sing Kyung.
What is your “given” name? [polite form]. 大號是啥 Da-‘au z sa?
What is your “given” name? [ordinary]. 儂个名頭呌啥 Noong-kuh ming-deu kyau sa?
My “given” name is John [polite form]. 賤號的翰 Dzien ‘au Iak-‘oen.
My “given” name is John. [ordinary]. 我个名頭呌約翰 Ngoo-kuh ming-deu kyau Iak-‘oen.
Sir, may I ask your age? [polite]. 先生貴庚 Sien-sang kwe-kang?
How old are you? [ordinary]. 儂幾歲 Noong kyi soe?
I am thirty years old [polite form]. 虛度三十歲 Hyui doo san-seh soe.
I am thirty years old. [ordinary]. 我三十歲 Ngoo san-seh soe.
To-day is cold. 今朝是冷 Kyung-tsau z lang.
To-day is very warm. 今朝蠻暖熱 Kyung-tsau ’man noen-nyih.
To-day is hot. 今朝頂熱 Kyung-tsau ting nyih.
There is much wind to-day. 今朝風大 Kyung-tsau foong doo.
It is raining to-day. 今朝落雨 Kyung-tsau lauh-yui.
It is beautiful weather to-day. 今朝天氣蠻好 Kyung-tsau thien-chi ’man-hau.
Recently we have had too much rain. 近來雨水忒多 Jung-le yui-s thuh-too.
It has been too dry. 近來天氣忒旱 Jung-le thien-chi thuh ’oen.
What have you come for? 儂來啥尊幹 (or) 儂來啥事體 Noong le sa tsung-koen, (or) noong le sa z-thi.
Come again in two days. 等兩日再來 Tung liang nyih tse-le.
Take a cup of tea. 請用一杯茶 Tshing yoong ih-pe dzo.
Thank you. 謝謝 Zia-zia.
Do you smoke? 濃吃烟否 Noong chuh-ien va?
No, thank you, I do not smoke. 謝謝, 我勿吃 Zia-zia, ngoo ’veh chuh.
Is business good? 儂个生意好否 Noong-kuh sang-i hau va?
It is bad. 勿好 ’Veh hau.
It is fairly good. 還好 Wan hau.
It is very good. 蠻好 ’Man-hau.
Is your friend well? 儂个朋友好拉否 Noong-kuh bang-yeu hau la va?
He is sick. 伊垃拉生病 Yi leh-la sang-bing.
Good-bye (said by person leaving). 少陪儂 Sau be noong.
Good-bye (said to person leaving). 慢去 Man chi or man man chi (lit., go slowly).
Good-bye (expecting to meet later on). 晏歇會 An hyih we.
Good-bye (we meet to-morrow). 明朝會 Ming-tsau we.
Good-bye (we meet again). 再會 Tse we.
Good-bye (we meet after some days). 間 (or 隔) 日會 Kan (or kak) nyih we.
The following anticipate ordinary queries from a Chinese visitor:—
What is your honorable country? 貴國是那裡一國 Kwe kok z ‘a-li ih kok?
My humble country is England. 敝國是英國 Bi kok z Iung-kok.
The following are more colloquial in style:—
I am an Englishman. 我是英國人 Ngoo z Iung-kok nyung.
I am an American. 我是美國人 (or 花旗人) Ngoo z ’Me-kok nyung (or Hwo-ji nyung).
I am a German. 我是德國人 Ngoo z Tuh-kok nyung.
I am a Frenchman. 我是法國人 Ngoo z Fah-kok nyung.
When did you come to China? 幾時到中國个 Kyi-z tau Tsoong-kok kuh?
I came fifteen years ago. 我 (已經) 來之十五年哉 Ngoo (i-kyung) le-ts so-ng nyien tse.
Upon what business did you come to China? 儂到中國來做啥 Noong tau Tsoong-kok le tsoo sa?
I am a merchant. 我是生意人 Ngoo z sang-i-nyung.
I am a doctor. 我是醫生 Ngoo z i-sang.
I am a missionary. 我是傳道个 Ngoo z dzen-dau kuh.
I am merely visiting. 我來是遊歴个 Ngoo le z yeu-lih kuh.
I am a commercial traveller. 我來是兜生意个 Ngoo le z teu sang-i kuh.
I am a ship’s officer. 我拉輪船上辦事个 Ngoo la lung-zen laung ban z kuh.
Have you a wife? 儂已經成親否 (or) 儂有娘子否 Noong i-kyung dzung-tshing va? (or) noong yeu nyang-ts va?
Yes, she is in England. 我有个,伊現在拉英國 Ngoo yeu kuh; yi yien-dze la Iung-kok.
Yes, she is coming soon. 伊就要來快哉 Yi zieu iau le khwa tse.
Have you any children? 儂有啥小囝否 Noong yeu sa siau noen va?
Three sons and two daughters. 我有三个兒子咾兩个囝 Ngoo yeu san-kuh nyi-ts lau liang-kuh noen.
What age are they? 伊拉幾歲哉 Yi-la kyi soe tse?
The oldest is 20 years old. 頂大个是念歲 Ting doo kuh z nyan soe.
The youngest is 12 years old. 頂小个是十二歲 Ting-siau-kuh z zeh-nyi soe.
Give my greetings to your family, 望望儂个一家門 Maung-maung noong-kuh ih ka-mung.