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Serpent
03-12-2002, 07:47 PM
Can anyone tell me the Cantonese for the following basic terms?

Counting, 1 to 10?

Yes/No?

Please/Thank you

Hello/Goodbye

Thanks in advance if anyone can do this for me. (Also, just spell it phonetically. I know that Cantonese doesn't really have a standard roman form).

Thanks.

:D

Serpent
03-12-2002, 08:35 PM
C'mon, I'm sure someone here must know! It's quite simple ain't it?

joedoe
03-12-2002, 08:52 PM
I am not a Cantonese speaker, but I think:

Thank you = do xie [pronounced 'door shieh']

Hello = ni hao (ma) [pronounced nee how ma]

As for anything else I am not exactly sure. Sorry

taijiquan_student
03-12-2002, 09:02 PM
I don't know about do xie (mandarin for thank you is xiexie or xiexie ni), but ni hao is mandarin for hello. Maybe this is the same for both dialects???

joedoe
03-12-2002, 09:11 PM
I am pretty sure about ni hao being hello in Cantonese.

I am also pretty sure about do xie as well (its meaning is more like thank you very much), but I cannot be certain. The way the 'xie' is pronounced is slightly different to the Mandarin - it has more of a 'ch' sound in it than the Mandarin pronounciation. It may also be a more formal way of saying thank you - there may be a more colloquial term instead.

jon
03-12-2002, 09:25 PM
This really has nothing to do with serpents question but ill put in my crappy under researched Chinese into this as well.
Do Chea is Canto for 'Thank you'
Shea Shea is Mandarin for Thank you

Ni Hao litteraly means 'you good'
Its akin to saying 'how you going'
Ni Hao Ma means you good today
Ni (you) Hao (good) Ma(today)
This is from my limited rememberence of the little ive picked up and been taught over the years

Gung Hei Fat Choy
Basicaly basicaly means 'Come lucky money' or words to that affect.
and we think we are all so special walking around saying it on Chinese new years.
They proberly all think were greedy now :rolleyes:
Im spelling things as they sound rather than following any accepted way.

jon
03-12-2002, 09:30 PM
Special note...
One guy walked into our class and tried to impress my teacher by saying.
Ohio Gazamous Sensai
If he was learning a Japanese art he would have been hella cool, my sifu needless to say just gave him a blank look and said hi...

Another tried to speak to him in poor chinese and my sifu ended up simply telling him he couldnt understand and speak slow english.

I find peoples attempts to speak to my sifu very amusing...
Another funny thing is watching how often all the students refer to him as sifu.
If we go out to lunch i hear the word 'sifu' or 'shifu' said so many times i start to want to go balistic and want to kill someone.
They start EVERY sentence with it.
Sifu would like more tea
Sifu what do you think of this
Sifu your sitting right next to me do i really need to keep addressing you formaly.
Sifu how many times can i say sifu before you go nuts and stop letting me call you sifu leaving me without a sifu and looking for a new sifu and and and... breath breath:rolleyes:
I just talk to him normaly and address him as sifu when i need to get his attension. If he is sitting next to me and i offer him some tea i just turn and say 'tea?' and he says yes or no.

Sorry for the stupid rant but this never fails to annoy me...
As a special side note to that, people on the street who are chinese call him sifu and so does nearly everyone he has contact with. He seems to quite like the fact i dont feel the need to follow there leads.

Serpent
03-12-2002, 09:38 PM
Gung hei faat choy is more like "Good fortune to you" and the Chinese are a little preoccupied with cash after all. Especially at new year.

Xie Xie is Mandarin. As is Ni Hao. I don't know if the Canto's use Ni Hao also.

Dor Chai (phonetically) is Mandarin, but I think also Cantonese.

Are you getting the reason that I asked now! :)

Anyone actually speak Cantonese!? Help Me!

joedoe
03-12-2002, 09:47 PM
jon - maybe the poeple that keep using 'sifu' have watched too many kung fu movies :) Or maybe they genuinely respect him and that is their way of showing it.

serpent - Sorry I cannot help any further personally. I have 2 Cantonese speakers here with me but just to be cruel I am not going to ask for their help :D

prana
03-12-2002, 09:47 PM
1-10 = YUT, Yee, SUM, Sei, Ehm (sort of like mmm), loog, chut, Phut, Gao (Kah-o), SUP

Yes = Hai (low H, else becomes a swear word)
No = Ehm (mmm)-Hai (this mmm is slightly lower than number 5 above)

Please = no direct translate, but "MMM-Goi"
Thank you = Dhor - Jeh (cheh) Lei

Hello (You good) = Lei Ho
Good bye (See you again) = "Joi Gin" or in the chinese movies "Hau Wui Yao Kei"

joedoe
03-12-2002, 09:54 PM
D@mmit prana, you ruined my extortion attempt. :D

Serpent
03-12-2002, 10:01 PM
Ha! In your face, Joedoe!

Thanks Prana, your on my "decent blokes" list once again!

Serpent
03-12-2002, 10:05 PM
Actually, I have a question about your answer Prana!



1-10 = YUT, Yee, SUM, Sei, Ehm (sort of like mmm), loog, chut, Phut, Gao (Kah-o), SUP


loog - do you pronounce that long: loooog

or short: lug?

Also

Phut - futt or putt?

Tae Li
03-12-2002, 10:08 PM
Hey in that case i desperately need help with my mandorin...

i know all the basics, but what i really need to know is how do you say:

- Your place or mine?

- wake up! wake up!

- excuse me

- do you miss me?

- whats your name?

- my name is Tae Li.

ok, who's gonna help me out??? there has to be OMEONE hwo speaks mando!

Tae Li;)

Je Lei Sifu
03-12-2002, 10:17 PM
counting

1)Yut, 2)Yee, 3)Sam, 4)Se, 5)Ng, 6)Luk, 7)Chut, 8)Baht, 9)Gao, 10)Sup.

Hai= Yes No= m hai

when you use m in front of an adjective, it becomes negative or the opposite of yes.

ex. if someone ask you how are you? You would respond not good. The word for good is Ho.

q) Nai Ho Ma? a) M Ho.

Please= Cheng

Thank You: Doh Je

Hello: Nai Ho Ma= How are You?
good morning= Jo San
good afternoon= ng ngon
good evening= Man Ngon

bye= baai baai
see you= joi wooi or joi gin
see you soon= chi di joi gin
see you tomorrow= ting yat joi gin

I hope I was some help to you.

Peace

Je Lei Sifu

lo fu la
03-12-2002, 10:19 PM
Counting, 1 to 10?
yat
yi
sam
say
m
luck
chat
baat
gau
sup

Yes/No?
hai (is) ho(can)
mm ai (not be) mm o(can not)
MAEEEE YO!

Please/Thank you
ching/ doh jeh, mm goi
Hello/Goodbye
nay ho/jow la(done!) chinese not say goodbye, usually just leave ;)

egg roll
cheung geen
hahahahaha

ZhouJiaQuan
03-12-2002, 10:20 PM
Hi, i can help ya with manderin I just need to get my book again so i make sure i dont tell you wrong ;) I am rather rusty...



Whats your name - Ni Gui Xing

but i think that translates as "what is your honerable surname", ill have to check...(haha the one time i didnt bring my book with me :) and i cant remeber all the accent marks, if you say it with a different accent then you say something completley different. a couple days and ill be able to tell ya no problem :)

Serpent, i responded to yours in southern forum already...

peace,
Wally

Serpent
03-12-2002, 10:21 PM
This is great, thank you all for your help.

Say, let's keep this thread going. Any other Cantonese words and phrases that people think are worth knowing?

What about all the common traveller stuff like How much? Where's the hotel? Help I need a doctor! How much for your women?

You know, the usual stuff! ;)

prana
03-12-2002, 10:31 PM
Originally posted by Tae Li
Hey in that case i desperately need help with my mandorin...

i know all the basics, but what i really need to know is how do you say:

- Your place or mine?

Ni De Di Fang Hai She Wo De ?

- wake up! wake up!

*universal language* SLAP in the face, or .....

- excuse me

- do you miss me?

Ni Wang Tze Wo mah ?

- whats your name?

Ni jiao sher moh Ming ?

- my name is Tae Li.

Woh De Ming Sher Tae Li.

ok, who's gonna help me out??? there has to be OMEONE hwo speaks mando!

Tae Li;)
hehehe my Mandarine is questionable.

Je Lei Sifu
03-12-2002, 10:31 PM
How much= gei doh chin a

where is the hotel= hai bin do a jau dim

help= gau meng a

call a doctor=giu yi sang

girlfriend= nui pang yau

peace

Je Lei Sifu

lo fu la
03-12-2002, 10:32 PM
How much?
gay do chin ah

Where's the hotel?
hai bin do jow dim ah

Help I need a doctor!
ngoh yiu yee sung

How much for your women?
cheng, gay do chin ho liang po ah

Tae Li
03-12-2002, 10:35 PM
thanx for the help!:)

anyone body else fluent in mando?

i want to know everything!!!!!

- excuse me

- what are you doing?

- your place or mine...(really want that one)

- whats the time?

- where are you from in china

- (heres a good one) i do not speak chinese

- i love...

- wanna eat with me?

this is a great thread but it will be a fantastic thread once i get all my answers;)

tae Li

prana
03-12-2002, 10:37 PM
Originally posted by Serpent
This is great, thank you all for your help.

Say, let's keep this thread going. Any other Cantonese words and phrases that people think are worth knowing?

What about all the common traveller stuff like How much?

Tzer Duo Chien ? (Man)
Kei Doh Chin ? (Cant)


Where's the hotel?

*HOTEL* (I dunno how to call it) Jai Na Li ? (Man)
*HOTAL* hai pin Toh ? (Cant)

Help I need a doctor!

Wo yao I-sheng (Mand)
Ngo yew Yi-Sang (Cant)

How much for your women?

removed (Man)
removed? (Cant)

hmm this is kinda rude....

You know, the usual stuff! ;)

prana
03-12-2002, 10:40 PM
Originally posted by Tae Li
thanx for the help!:)

anyone body else fluent in mando?

i want to know everything!!!!!

- excuse me

- what are you doing?


- your place or mine...(really want that one)


- whats the time?


- where are you from in china

- (heres a good one) i do not speak chinese

- i love...

WO AI LI LIAN JIE <--- says Tae Li :)


- wanna eat with me?

Yao bu yao gen wor tzher fan


this is a great thread but it will be a fantastic thread once i get all my answers;)

tae Li

Tae Li
03-12-2002, 10:40 PM
ok prana you are brilliant! and all the others,

but how do you say excuse me....

and how would you say in mando..

- give me a call

- can you wake me up at 6am?

prana
03-12-2002, 10:43 PM
Originally posted by Tae Li
ok prana you are brilliant! and all the others,

but how do you say excuse me....

and how would you say in mando..

- give me a call

- can you wake me up at 6am?
I dont know if there is a useful translation for Excuse me, but it goes like this, "Pie Deh woh" or don't mind me.

Give me a call - Kei wo I ge dien hua
Wake me up at 6 am - Ching ni, lio dien Jiao wo Chi lai

Tae Li
03-12-2002, 10:44 PM
prana ... i didnt know you spoke mando!! your my new hero!!

you realise now that im leting you out of my sight right??

ok, does anyone have any really funny mando jokes?

like actaully right them in mando and xplain them in english.....that would be FANTASTIC!!!!! That would be beyond fantastic.....
Tae Li

;)

joedoe
03-12-2002, 10:46 PM
I think think most of these things you are asking can probably be more easily expressed in action. E.g.

"Your place or mine?" could be expressed by fondling his (or her)crotch

"I love ..." can be more easily expressed by flashing your breasts (or fondling their crotch).

"Wanna eat me?" can be more easily expressed by grabbing them by the ears and burying their face in your crotch.

See, actions do speak louder than words :D

Serpent
03-12-2002, 10:50 PM
Tae Li, you're a very enthusiastic person. That's kinda cool! ;)

But, Jet Li still won't go out with you, you know! How old are you anyway? Jet's around 40 isn't he?

How do you say

I'm a sad, sad, sad Jet Li super fan

in Cantonese!?

prana
03-12-2002, 10:55 PM
Originally posted by Serpent
I'm a sad, sad, sad Jet Li super fan

in Cantonese!?
Ngo hai yat ko ho cham ho cham ge ... err I dunno how to say super fan

Tae Li
03-12-2002, 11:55 PM
Joedoe, im laughing my arse off!!!! i didnt know you had a sense of humour!:D

and im sure i am quite cabable of taking out all those actions but its more ROMANTIC when the guy see's you making an effort in HIS very difficult language.....then see how you get rewarded...lol

Tae Li;)

aahhh....serpent......i might be considerably younger than J et Li but id stil you know what with him ANYDAY!! he just takes my breath away, and for your information im learning mando so i can communicate with someone....not you.:p

btw...your quite enthusiastic yourself!;)

jon
03-13-2002, 01:59 AM
Joedoe

"jon - maybe the poeple that keep using 'sifu' have watched too many kung fu movies Or maybe they genuinely respect him and that is their way of showing it."
* Nah there just all trying to annoy me i know it, its a big plan just to get to me:( They all plot and conspire!

Seriously though i respect him more than most there, im one of the few who darn well makes an effort to show up reguarly!
For all of there posturing and 'sifu' this 'sifu' that most of them train about once a month and then talk or sit down the whole time there 'apperently' training.

Im just having a vent dont mind me...
I have no problem with people being respectful towards there sifu but having a good instructor does not make you a good student and all the posturing in the world wont make him gain respect from your talent.
If i want to impress my sifu ill get good to a level where people know who i am and where my play comes from.
Calling him master every five seconds will not get that done any faster.

So yeah there is my big stink for the night, ive even managed to hide it within a perfectly innocent thread.

crumpet
03-13-2002, 06:14 AM
it depends on context, for eg. ng hay is closer to 'that's not it', than it is to a basic no. if you're offered tea and don't want any, you don't say ng hay, you say 'duk loh' which means 'it's ok'. of if it's something a bit more formal, you can say 'ng gun ngiu' which means it's not a prob. these aren't the literal translations btw, literal translations mean diddly squat when it comes to context. 'mo' is the simplest 'no' you can get in cantonese as well. someone asks for a cigarette, you say 'mo' and wave your hands around a little. for yes, you can say hay, yau (have) or yiu (want)

for goodbye, there are 2 i only ever use: bye and jao lah, which means "i'm going now" (jao means to run) joi gin is very formal, kinda like konnichiwa in japanese, even though everyone thinks it's a standard goodbye. those 2 means 'farewell' rather than seeya. :p

thank you- doh jeh (formal) ng goi (colloquial) same thing with context... if someone gives you a present, you say doh jeh, if they give you tea, you say ng goi.

if you're non-chinese, you can always get away with saying the wrong word just as long as you use body language with it. if someone pours you tea (sorry, i have a yum cha restaurant stuck in my head!) and you say doh jeh, which i think is too formal, you can get away with it by bowing your head a little at the same time. though you should really be tapping your fingers, but that's ok

and jon, you should ALWAYS address an elder by their title, it's very rude to just start off a sentence like we do in english. he probably doesn't mind it from what you say, but just keep it in mind for other elders you might come across. also, don't ask if he wants tea, just pour. :D

dezhen2001
03-13-2002, 10:23 AM
in my experience: being one of the newest students of my Sifu, i'm often the tea boy... When the cup's empty, just pour! Especially if it's your Sifu or Sigong! They'll tell u if they don't want any more :)

trains good awareness and gong lik for my wing chun :D

david