Hainanese (海南话 hai-nam-oe) is the local language of the island of Hainan, the most southerly part of China. It is also fairly common among overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia.

Linguistically, Hainanese is closely related to Minnan Hua and Teochew, but it is not mutually intelligible with either of those or with any other Chinese dialect. Hainanese also has dialectal variation throughout the island, and it is not uncommon for people from different parts of Hainan to converse with each other in Mandarin instead. The dialect spoken in Wenchang is the prestige dialect and used in provincial news broadcasts, though the Qionghai dialect is typically used in Hainanese opera performances.

Hainanese speakers in China are usually also able to speak Mandarin, so learning Hainanese is not necessary to communicate, and foreigners living in the region usually choose to learn Mandarin instead. That said, locals are proud of their language, so attempts to speak Hainanese are certainly appreciated, and might even earn you preferential treatment in shops and restaurants.

Pronunciation guide

Written Hainanese uses simplified Chinese characters, but is romanised using the Guangdong Romanization System.

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs Written text is the same as mainland China - simplified Chinese, though traditional Chinese is used in some overseas Hainanese communities. See the relevant pages for more information. OPEN 开 hui CLOSED 关 kwe ENTRANCE 入口 ‘’Jiep how’’ EXIT 出口 “sut how” PUSH 排 “oui” PULL 拉 “mung” TOILET 厕所 / 洗手间 / 卫生间 kong bang MEN 男人 “kong tear” WOMEN 女人 “tar bow” FORBIDDEN 无 / 勿 / 别 “bow tou lic “

To be or not to be? Hainanese, as in Mandarin, does not have words for "yes" and "no" as such; instead, questions are typically answered by repeating the verb. Common ones include: To be or not to be 是 ti, 無是/无是 bo-ti To have or not have / there is or is not 有 u, 無/无 bo To be right or wrong 着/著 dio, 無著/无着 bo-dio

Hello.

. ( du o ) 汝好

Hello. (informal)

. (du o bo ? ) 汝好无 ?

How are you?

 ? ( du dai dou)

Fine, thank you.

o, dia dia. ( 好谢谢 )

What is your name?

(lu kio mi mia ? 你 叫么名 ?)

My name is ______ .

(nong kai mia kio to name) - 侬个名叫做 (name)

• Formal vs Informal
  • 侬/儂 nong - Formal
    • Used with elders (parents, grandparents, etc), teachers, strangers, etc
  • 我 gua - Informal
    • Used with siblings, friends, etc

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

sia. ( 请 )

Thank you.

無該/无该 bo kai

You're welcome.

. ( bo jong khek khui ) 无用客气

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( sia mui ) 请问

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( dui bo khi ) 对不起

I'm sorry.

wa ho sor

Goodbye

tai gii. (再见)

I can't speak Hainanese.

[ ]. (wa bo bat gong hai-nam-oe) 我不会讲海南话

Do you speak English?

 ? ( lu oi gong eng boon bo?) 你会讲英文无 ?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( zhe lè oo nang oi gong eng boon bo?) 这里有人会讲英文无 ?

Help!

 ! ( kiu mia / kiu nang !) 救命/救人

Look out!

! ( !) mor hor

Good morning.

. ( ) hor yet

Good evening.

. ( ) hor mair

Good night.

. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( ) ku koi hor

I don't understand.

. (wa bo oi )wa bor dai

Where is the toilet?

公房佇帶？/公房伫带？ gong bang du dair

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .) wa bor dor du hoi war

Don't touch me!

bo jiong mo wa - 无用摸我 !

I'll call the police.

wo kio keng sat - 我叫警察

Police!

keng sat - 警察

Stop! Thief!

! ! ( ! !) kiup nung

I need your help.

. ( .) hoi wa

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .) wa bor but wa di du dair

I lost my bag.

. ( .) wa bor dwair wa gai tung diet

I lost my wallet.

. ( .) wa bor dwair wa gai kior gee

I'm sick.

. ( .) wa onai

I've been injured.

. ( .) wa hiar

I need a doctor.

. ( .) wa sum dwair eedair

Can I use your phone?

? ( ?) wa yong du kai dian hué/siu ki dio bo ? - 我用汝的电话着无

Numbers

0

空 hong

1

一 yet / jiak

2

二 ji / 两 noh

3

三 ta

4

四 ti

5

五 ngo

6

六 lak

7

七 siet

8

八 bui

9

九 kao

10

十 tap

11

十一 tap yet

12

十二 tap ji

13

十三 tap ta

14

十四 tap ti

15

十五 tap ngo

16

十六 tap lak

17

十七 tap siet

18

十八 tap bui

19

十九 tap kao

20

二十 ji tap

21

二十一 ji tap yet

22

二十二 ji tap ji

23

二十三 ji tap ta

30

三十 ta tap

40

四十 ti tap

50

五十 ngo tap

60

六十 lak tap

70

七十 siet tap

80

八十 bui tap

90

九十 kao tap

100

一百 jiak beh

200

两百 noh beh

300

三百 ta beh

1,000

一千 jiak sai

2,000

两千 noh sai

10,000

一万 jiak ban

1,000,000

一百万 jiak beh ban

1,000,000,000

十亿 tap yi

1,000,000,000,000

( ) jiak ban beh

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

一半 jiak bwa

less

少 jio

more

多 tui

Time

now

现旦/現旦 en nar

later

( )eh gan

before

( )

morning

上旰 tzio kua

afternoon

下旰 e kua

evening

今暝 gen mair

night

暝头/暝頭 mair hao

Clock time

one o'clock AM

(一点) yet diam

two o'clock AM

(两点) no diam

noon

(中午) tong ngo

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

_____分钟/分鐘 on ziang

_____ hour(s)

( ) diam ziang

_____ day(s)

_____日 ziet

_____ week(s)

( )bai

_____ month(s)

_____月 wair/gue

_____ year(s)

_____年 he

Days

today

今旦 gen nwa/ 今日 gen jiet

yesterday

昨晡 ta bou

tomorrow

後旦 au nwar

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )lei bai

Monday

( )bai iet

Tuesday

( )bai yi

Wednesday

( )bai dar

Thursday

( )bai di

Friday

( )bai ngou

Saturday

( )bai luk

Months

January

( )yet gueh

February

( )noh gueh

March

( )ta gueh

April

( )ti gueh

May

( )ngo gueh

June

( )lak gueh

July

( )siet gueh

August

( )boi gueh

September

( )kao gueh

October

( )taap gueh

November

( )taap yet gueh

December

( )taap zi gueh

Colors

black

烏 oh

white

( )beh

gray

( )wu

red

红/紅 ang

blue

( )lam

yellow

( )oui

green

( )liak

orange

( )ka

purple

( )kio

brown

( )xia

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( ) Yiak kai pio ku ..... kai di phang ou uatoi chee ? - 一个票去....的地方有多少钱

One ticket to _____, please.

( )wa dior boi ya gai dwa koo

Where does this train/bus go?

( )yum mor wair siar/ siar koo wo doi dium

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )yum mor wair siar/ siar koo doo dair?

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )yum mor wair siar /siar yar?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )ge mee dium yar mor wair siar/siar sot ?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )ge mee dium yar mor wair siar siar lai ?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )war dior koo yar lai?

...the train station?

( )wair siar tam - 火车站

...the bus station?

( ) gong gong khui sia tam - 公共汽车站

...the airport?

( )boi gee dio - 飞机场

...downtown?

(chio tiasi) 上城市

...the youth hostel?

( )soo giar kiar diet

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )ungmor nung soo

Where are there a lot of...

( )oo ya di pung oo war doi

...hotels?

( )soo

...restaurants?

( )dompow

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )koo ngung

Turn right.

( )koo jek

left

( )ngung

right

( )jek

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )koo olair

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )sum mor or gai

intersection

( )

north

(北 )bak

south

( 南)nam

east

(东 )dang

west

(西 )dai

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )war dior koo ya lai, dai dia

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )dee wo doi gee koo ya lair?

Take me there, please.

( )war dior koo ya lair, dai dia

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )do oo bung bor?

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )dee wor doi gee ior ya gai bung ya nung/nor nung?

Does the room come with...

( )ze mo bang oo?

...bedsheets?

( )depoo kol?

...a bathroom?

( )gong bang?

...a telephone?

( )tolorsup/dien ui

...a TV?

( )nien di?

May I see the room first?

( )war dior gee bung

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )dwa

...cleaner?

( )he goi

...cheaper?

( )boh gwui/ bun yee

OK, I'll take it.

( )ho, wa ior diet

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )wa dior khuwi ya lair ..... me

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )oo soo doo dair gair bo

Do you have a safe?

( )do oo nien hung?

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )gair mee dium giar?

Please clean my room.

( )dor wai gai bung hair goi

Can you wake me at _____?

( )doo sair wa diet?

I want to check out.

( )war dior sot

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )do ior gee ungmor?

Do you accept Euros?

( )do ior gee Euro?

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )do to diat hoi wa wa gee

Where can I get money changed?

( )wa ior wa gai gee do dengnung do dair?

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )oo gee gairhe doo dair?

Eating

Strange as it may sound to speakers of other languages, the verb 食 (chiah) is used to refer to both eating and drinking.

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )wa dior ya saw ya nung/nor nung, dai diar

Can I look at the menu, please?

( sia mo cai dua )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )wa gee dompow diet?

Is there a house specialty?

( )oo soo gai horgium bor?

Is there a local specialty?

( )oo yar mor di pung hor oowar bor?

I'm a vegetarian.

( )war nah zia sai

I don't eat pork.

( )wa bor zia ndoo (It's a combination of n and d. It's one syllable.)

I don't eat beef.

( )wa bor zia goo yuok

I only eat kosher food.

( )wa bar char ungmor gium

Can you not add too much oil/butter, please?

( ) Du ho ze bo jiong bang hai doi ew (oil)/ goo ew (butter - really translates to cow oil i guess) dia dia.

fixed-price meal

( )gium bor bai gee

a la carte

( )gium doo

breakfast

( )sair gium

lunch

( )bwa yet gium

tea (meal)

( )dair

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )wa dior

I want a dish containing _____.

( )wa dior ze gai oowa oo

chicken

鸡/雞 goi

beef

牛肉 goo yuok

fish

鱼/魚 woo

ham

( )dooba

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

卵 nooi

salad

( )sai

(fresh) vegetables

( )sai hot

(fresh) fruit

( )seeiuw gee

bread

( ) bao

toast

( )loo dee ywar

noodles

()won

rice

飯 bui

beans

( )sai giar

May I have a glass of _____?

( )war ior giow

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )war ior gwat

coffee

( )go bee

tea (drink)

茶 dair

juice

( )siew gee dooi

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

水 dui

beer

( )gee iuw

red/white wine

( )ung gee iuw

May I have some _____?

( )wa ho zee ior dee dee

salt

盐/鹽 iam

sugar

糖 ho

black pepper

( ) ho gio won (w is a bit silent. O is emphasized.)

butter

牛油 goo ew

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )wa ho la

It was delicious.

( )gien ho cha

Please clear the plates.

( )kee ior ywa diet

The check, please.

( )bai gee la

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )doo oo geeiuw bor?

Is there table service?

( )oo nung mor sor bor?

A beer/two beers, please.

( )ya gai geeiuw/ nor gai gee iuw, dai diar

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )ya gai giow ung geeiuw

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )ya gwat, dair diar

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )hör geeiuw ga dooi

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )dui

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( ) sing ziap

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )do oo neeiow mee cha bor?

One more, please.

( )ya gai sul, dai diar.

Another round, please.

( )ya gai dooi sul, dai diar

When is closing time?

( )doo kwai gair mee dium?

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )doo yar mor war siung diet bor?

How much is this?

( )yar mor waa doi gee?

That's too expensive.

( )goo ooi

Would you take _____?

( )do ior ya mor bor?

expensive

( )goo ooi

cheap

( )bor goo ooi

I can't afford it.

( )waa bor oo gee

I don't want it.

( )waa bor dung

You're cheating me.

( )doo dee kiup nung!

I'm not interested.

(..)boo dee iuw

OK, I'll take it.

( )ho. war ior

Can I have a bag?

( )war dior tung

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )waa dior.... more like I want, but wa hâm ioh.... I need to have ..... sounds more demanding and you may come off as spoiled. - in my opinion at least

...toothpaste.

( )swar paa lee mee

...a toothbrush.

( )swar paa lee

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( ) sa bon

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )ee ior bo hor mee sair dai

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )dwa

...a pen.

( )biet

...English-language books.

( )ung mor doo

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )ung mor dwa

...an English-English dictionary.

( )ung nor sair

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )waa dior ee ior ya gai see iar

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )yee ar

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )bor jort ya lair diet

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )ee yeeow har

petrol

( )ee yeeow

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )war bor dor mee sor。 - 我沒有做错什么。

It was a misunderstanding.

( ) zha jiang di ngow hui。这是误会的。

Where are you taking me?

( )doo ee be sua wa hoo dair ?你要带我去哪里？

Am I under arrest?

( );wa bi lia la? 我被抓吗？

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )wa dee mui gok nang| ao da li a nung| eng gok nang | gia na dai nang|

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )wa dior gan mui gok| ao da li a | eng gok | gea na dai| dua se guan gong mu zuan gong weia .

I want to talk to a lawyer.

(wo bei gang lut sè gong awei ) 我要跟律师讲话。

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )war deeior gieaw wad gee do let bo? 我可以付罚款费吗？

Going to the Doctors

Doctor 医生 (醫生) yīshēng (yi tear/luk kun) Nurse 护士 (護士) (mi zee) Hospital 医院 (醫院) yīyuàn (Yi juan/ lok kun su) Chinese medicine 中药 (中藥) zhōngyào (tong yok) Western medicine 西药 (西藥) xīyào (sai yok) I am sick. 我生病了。 (我生病了。) wǒ shēngbìng (wa huah pear liao) (wa o nine) My _____ hurts. 我的 ____ 疼/痛。 ( 我的 ____ 疼/痛。) wŏde ____ téng/tòng (wa kai ____ heeah) Painful 疼/痛 (疼/痛) téng/tòng (heeah) Sick/Uncomfortable 不舒服 (不舒服) bù shūfu Itchy/ticklish 痒 (痒) yǎng Sore (In muscle strains) 酸 (酸) suān Fever 发热 (發熱) fārè / 发烧 (發燒) fāshāo Cough 咳嗽 (咳嗽) késòu Sneeze 打喷嚏 (打噴嚏) dǎ pēntì Diarrhoea 拉肚子 (拉肚子) lā dùzi / 泻肚子 (瀉肚子) xiè dùzi Vomiting 呕吐 (嘔吐) ŏu tù Running nose 流鼻涕 (流鼻涕) liú bítì Phlegm 痰 (痰) tán Cut/wound 割伤 (割傷) gēshāng / 伤口 (傷口) shāngkǒu Burn 烧伤 (燒傷) shāoshāng Hands 手 (手) shǒu Arms 手臂 (手臂) shǒubì / 胳膊 (胳膊) gēbo Fingers 手指 (手指) shǒuzhǐ Wrist 手腕 (手腕) shǒuwàn Shoulder 肩膀 (肩膀) jiānbǎng Feet 脚 (腳) jiǎo Toes 脚趾 (腳趾) jiáozhǐ Legs 腿 (腿) tuǐ Nails 指甲 (指甲) zhǐjia Body 身体 (身體) shēntǐ Eyes 眼睛 (眼睛) yǎnjīng Ears 耳朵 (耳朵) ěrduo Nose 鼻子 (鼻子) bízi Face 脸 (臉) liǎn Hair 头发 (頭髮) tóufa Head 头 (頭) tóu Neck 脖子 (脖子) bózi / 颈项 (頸項) jǐngxiàng Throat 喉咙 (喉嚨) hóulóng Chest 胸 (胸) xiōng Abdomen 肚子 (肚子) dùzi / 腹 (腹) fù Hip/Waist 腰 (腰) yāo Buttocks 屁股 (屁股) pìgu Back 背 (背) bèi Medical Insurance 医疗保险 (醫療保險) yīliáo bǎoxiǎn Doctor's fees 医生费 (醫生費) yīshēng fèi Prescription 处方 (處方) chǔfāng / 药方 (藥方) yàofāng Medicine 药 (藥) yào Pharmacy 药店 (藥店) yàodiàn