Simple Words, Phrases and Sentences To Impress Your Chinese Friends Or When You Visit China/Taiwan.

Greetings: ni hao nee how
Thank you: Xie xie ni sheh sheh nee
your welcome: bu xie boo sheh
Hello, my name is Joe: Ni hao, wo shi joe or Ni hao, wo jaio joe nee how, wah shih joe OR nee how, wah jow joe ("jow" uses same "o" sound as "owl")
Where is the Water Closet (toliet): Ce suo zai nar chuh saw zie nar
Do you understand: Ni dong ma? or Ni dong bu dong? nee dong ma ("dong" uses a long "o" as in the word "owner") or nee dong boo dong
Questions are formulated with questions words like what, how or ends with the Ma or ba character Or choice type as in understand no understand like the sentence above dong by dong, the answer would be either understand or no understand.


I: Wo wah ("a" sound as in "wall")
You: Ni nee
He/She: ta tah
Us: Wo men wah mun
They: Ta men tah mun ("tah" as in the word "taught")
You guys: Ni men nee mun
Who: Shei shay
What: Shen me shun muh
when: shen me shi hao shun muh shih how
where: Nar or Na Li nar, or nah lee
why: wei shen me way shun muh
how: zen me yang zen muh yang (the "a" in "yang" sounds like the "a" in "water")
this: zhe juh
that: na nah
here: zhe li juh lee
there: na li nah lee
If: ru gou rue gah ("gah" uses same "a" sound as "father")
but: dan shi don shih
because: yin wei yin way
yes / is(to be: shi shih
no: bu boo
Please: Qing ching
What did you say: Ni shuo shen me nee shaw shun muh
Assist me for a sec: Bang wo yi xia bong wah ee shah
How much: Duo shao (how many) dah show ("show" rhymes with the word "ow")
I'll Buy it: wo yao mai wah yow mie ("yow" rhymes with "ow")
I wont buy it: Wo bu yao mai or bu xiang mai wah boo yow mie, or, boo shahng mie
Too expensive: tai gui le tie gway luh

II) Chatting
Whats your surname: Ni gui xing nee gway shing
Whats your name: Ni jiao shen me ming zi nee jow (rhymes with "ow") shun muh ming jih
How are you? also greetings: Ni hao ma? nee how mah
I'm fine: Wo hao wah how
I'm not good: Wo bu hao wah boo how
my chinese is bad: Wo de han yu bu hao or wo de zhong wen bu hao wah duh han ("a" as in "father") you boo how, or, wah duh joong ("oo" as in "foot") won boo how

Please speak english: Qing jiang ying wen ching jahng ying wun
Please speak slower: Qing jiang man yi diar ching jahng mahn ee dee are
What do you do (job: Ni zuo shen me gong zuo nee zau (as in "author") shun muh goong (as in "foot") zau
Whats your age: Ni ji sui? nee gee (as in "gee whiz") sway
Whats your hobby: Ni you shen me ai hao? nee yow shun muh I how

NOTE: Phonetics are in red