Greetings
Hello/Hi nee-hao
Good morning/afternoon dsao-sharng hao/nee-hao
Good night wan-an
Good-bye dsai-jian
Sorry dwee-boo-chee
My name is wo-de ming-ds sh
How are you? shen-tee hao ma
Yes (right) Dwee
No (not right) boo dwee
Thank you Shie-shie
Comments
Is my Chinese that bad? wo han-yu shuo de hen dsao-gao ma
You look great! nee jen piao-liarng
See you soon hway-jian
I'm afraid we have to leave now boo dsao le, wo-men day dso le
Can I get you a drink? wo nung gay nee yaho yee-bay yin-liao ma
Just a moment ching dung-yee-dung
Speak omre slowly, please ching man-dian shuo
Could you repeat that please ching nin dsai shuo yee-bian
Speak louder please ching da dians hung shuo
Can you help me? nee-nung barng ge marng ma
Family
family jia-ren
children hai-ds-men
parents foo-moo
father foo-chin
son er-ds
mother moo-chin
daughter nu-r
brother shiong-dee
sister jie-may
uncle shoo-shoo
aunt ye-ma
It is...
It's... jer ge
beauitufl piao-liarng
big da
good hao
hot re
warm nwan
cold lung
new shin
open kai
noisy tsuo or chao
Numbers
One Yee
Two Er
Three San
Four S
Five Woo
Colors
beige mee-sar
black hay-ser
white bai-ser
blue lan-ser
green lu-ser
brown dsong-ser
gray hway-ser
orange ju-hwarng-ser
purple ds-ser
red hong-ser
pink fen-hong-ser
yellow hwarng-ser
Clothes
belt pee-dai
coat wai-yee
hat mao-ds
jacket jia-ker-shan
jeans nio-dsai-koo
pants charng-koo
shirt chen-shan
shorts dwan-koo
socks wa-ds
swimsuit yo-yong-yee
T-Shirt tee-shu-shan
tie ling-dai
boots shue-ds
shoes shie
sandles liarng-shie
Dishes
glasses bay-ds
knives dao
forks cha
spoons tia-gung
plates pan-ds
bowls wan
Toys
ball chio
chess set shiarng-chee
doll yarng wa-wa
electronic game dian-ds yo-shee-jee
pail and shovel shiao-tong her chan-ds
teddy bear wan-ju-shiong
How much?
A little yee dian-dian
Enough go-le
Less than that bee jer shao
more than that bee jer duo
nothing else jio jer-shie
Who?
Who's there? sh shwee ya
It's me! sh wo
It's us sh wo-men Not that one boo-sh na-ge none yee-ge may-yo Whose? Whose is that? na sh shwee-de Mine wo de ours wo-men de yours nee (men) de his ta their ta-men Exclamations Go on jie-je lai I don't mind wo boo-dsai hoo No way! wo tsai boo-gan ne That's enough bie dsai shou le Fine, thank you hen-hao, shie-shie nee Things Shower lin-yu Bath yu-garng Swimming pool yo-yong-ch TV dian-sh telephone dian-hwaa laundry service shee-yee-foo-woo washing machine shee-yee-jee bath towel yee-tiao yu-jin blanket tan-ds sheets chwarng-dan soap yee-kwai fay-dsao toiloet paper way-shung-j stove loo-ds refrigerator bing-shiarng freezer lung-dong-gway Rooms balcony yarng-tai bathroom gwan-shee-sh bedroom wo-sh dining room tsan-ting kitchen choo-farng living room ker-ting toilet way-shung-jian Where? Where's the... dsai-na-r Where is/are dsia-na-r bathroom shee-dsao-jian dining room tsa-ting elevator dian-tee parking lot ting-cher-charng Where is the bathroom? tser-su dsai na-r Food breakfast dsao-tsan bread main-bao butter hwarng-yo sugar tarng salt yan pepper hoo-jiao ice cream bing-chee-lin vanilla shiarng-tsao chocolate chiao-ker-lee strawberry tsao-may Milk nio-nai rolls mian-bao fruit juice guo-j orange chung-ds honey fung-mee jam guo-jiarng chicken jee-ro bacon shian-ro rice mee-fan noodles mian-tiao yogurt swan-nai cheese nai-lao Vegetables lettuce shunt-tsai tomatos shee-hong-sh potatos too-dou carrots hoo-luo-buo cucumber hwarng-gwaa Fruit Cherries ying-tao plums lee-ds strawberries tsao-may apples ping-guo peaches tao-ds oranges chung-ds bananas shiarng-jiao grapes poo-tao pears lee apricots shing-ds watermelon shee-gwaa kiwi mee-o-tao Drinks cola ker-ler lemonade ning-mung-chee-shwee water shwee fresh milk shian-nai Seven-Up chee-shee Sprite shue-bee milkshake nai-shee orange juice ju ds-j Fun Would you like to play nee shee-hwan ... ma cards da-pai chess shia-chee Sports basketball lan-chio soccer dsoo-chio swimming you-yong tennis warng-chio volleyball pai-chioIt is difficult adopting an older child internationally. I took with me on the plane a Chinese phrase book and I tried my Chinese on everyone who would let me. The first time I met Kenneth I cried out "nee jen piao-liarng" (You Look Great), and Kenneth's caretaker burst into laughter. Kenneth didn't say much during the trip to Bill or I, but he did communicate with our Chinese guide and the people at the hotel. Over the phone he babbled away to his brother in Chinese, while his brother babbled around in English, both laughing and neither understanding what the other was saying. When we got home we gradually adjusted. I would take Kenneth around the house pointing out an object and attempting to say the name in Chinese-dian-sh (TV), dian-hwaa (teleophone), tan-ds (blanket), to each he would reply Dwee (right) or boo dwee (not right-he would then repeat the name correctly). After I got the objects names down in Chinese I pointed to them again, saying the name in Chinese and then in English. He would repeat the name and I would respond in Chinese, dwee or boo dwee. Kenneth can now say "TV", "telephone", "blanket", "stove", and "shower". We taught as we dressed him, I would name the item-nio-dsai-koo (jeans), shirt (chen-shan), shoes (shie), and Kenneth would get the item. As I put it on I would repeat the name in English. He can now get dressed in English. When getting dinner I'll tell him in Chinese what we are having-shain ro yee-jee jee-dan (bacon and eggs), san-ming-j (sandwhiches), jee-ro yee-jee mee-fan (chicken and rice). Sometimes he will ask for something in particular, and I'll rush around the kitchen and run through my phrase book trying to figure out what "shwee" (water) or "mian-tiao" (noodles) are. When I try to speak to Kenneth in Chinese and see that he is not understanding I will ask "wo han-yu shuo de hen dsao-gao ma" (Is my Chinese that bad?), and he will burst into laughter and say "dwee, der shu" (yes, it is). The kids have also learned some Chinese, "nee-hao" (Hello), "nee shee-hwan lan-chio ma" (would you like to play basketball?), shie shie (thank you), and "boo loo" (their version of "No Way", it is incorrect but Kenneth seems to understand it). Maverick calls Kenneth his "shiong-dee" (he pronounces it she-on-dee), which means brother. Each night we tuck Kenneth in with a "wan-an er-ds, wo ai nee" (Good night son, I love you). Kenneth is a fast learner and I think he will soon be speaking English fluently.
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