The Mindong (闽东 Mǐn dōng; Eastern Min) dialect, often called Fuzhou Hua (福州话 Fúzhōu huà; Fuzhou speech), is spoken in the region around Fuzhou and also has a large number of speakers in the northern coastal areas of Fujian province. It is also spoken on the Taiwan-controlled island of Matsu. There are dialectal variations; the Mindong dialects in Fuzhou and Fu'an, which are only about 4 hours apart by car, are not mutually intelligible, though the Fuzhou dialect is considered to be the prestige dialect of Mindong.

In Malaysia and Singapore, it is a fairly common language and is known as Hokchiu (the Mindong word for Fuzhou).

There are also some speakers of Fuzhou Hua around the world. Fujian province has always been outward-looking, involved in trade and a source of emigrants. For the last twenty years or so, the Fuzhou region has been the main source of illegal Chinese immigrants worldwide, and Fuzhou hua can now be heard anywhere from a Tapei brothel to a New York restaurant.

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

你好. (nü hou)

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

你吃过了没有? (Nü boan sega moi?) which means literally "Have you already eaten something?"

Fine, thank you.

. ( )

What is your name?

? ( ?)

My name is ______ .

______ . ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

. ( )

You're welcome.

. ( )

Yes.

. ( )

No.

. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

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Excuse me. (begging pardon)

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I'm sorry.

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Goodbye

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Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

? ( ?)

Help!

! ( !)

Look out!

! ( !)

Good morning.

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Good evening.

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Good night.

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Good night (to sleep)

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I don't understand.

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Where is the toilet?

? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

! ( !)

I'll call the police.

. ( .)

Police!

! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

! ! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

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I'm lost.

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I lost my bag.

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I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

? ( ?)

Numbers

1

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2

(nei)

3

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4

(sei)

5

( )

6

(leu)

7

( )

8

( )

9

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10

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11

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12

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13

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14

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15

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16

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17

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18

( )

19

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20

( )

21

( )

22

( )

23

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30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

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90

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100

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200

( )

300

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1,000

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2,000

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1,000,000

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1,000,000,000

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1,000,000,000,000

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number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

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half

( )

less

( )

more

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Time

now

( )

later

( )

before

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morning

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afternoon

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evening

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night

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Clock time

one o'clock AM

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two o'clock AM

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noon

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one o'clock PM

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two o'clock PM

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midnight

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Duration

_____ minute(s)

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_____ hour(s)

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_____ day(s)

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_____ week(s)

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_____ month(s)

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_____ year(s)

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Days

today

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yesterday

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tomorrow

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this week

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last week

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next week

( )

Sunday

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Monday

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

( )

Months

January

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February

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March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

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August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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Colors

black

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white

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gray

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red

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blue

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yellow

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green

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orange

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purple

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brown

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Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

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When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

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Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

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...the bus station?

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...the airport?

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...downtown?

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...the youth hostel?

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...the _____ hotel?

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

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Where are there a lot of...

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...hotels?

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...restaurants?

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...bars?

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...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

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street

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Turn left.

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Turn right.

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left

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right

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straight ahead

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towards the _____

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past the _____

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before the _____

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Watch for the _____.

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intersection

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north

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south

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east

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west

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uphill

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downhill

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Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

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

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

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...a bathroom?

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...a telephone?

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...a TV?

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May I see the room first?

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Do you have anything quieter?

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...bigger?

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...cleaner?

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...cheaper?

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OK, I'll take it.

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I will stay for _____ night(s).

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Can you suggest another hotel?

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Do you have a safe?

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...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

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What time is breakfast/supper?

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Please clean my room.

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Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept Euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

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Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

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I want a dish containing _____.

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chicken

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beef

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fish

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ham

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sausage

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cheese

( )

eggs

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salad

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(fresh) vegetables

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(fresh) fruit

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bread

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toast

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noodles

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rice

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beans

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May I have a glass of _____?

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May I have a cup of _____?

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May I have a bottle of _____?

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coffee

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tea (drink)

( )

juice

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(bubbly) water

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(still) water

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beer

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red/white wine

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May I have some _____?

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salt

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black pepper

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butter

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Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

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I'm finished.

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It was delicious.

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Please clear the plates.

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The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

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Is there table service?

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A beer/two beers, please.

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A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

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

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

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rum

( )

water

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club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

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Coke (soda)

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Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

我不要 (mori)

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

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...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

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...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

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...shampoo.

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

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...cold medicine.

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...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

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...an umbrella.

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...sunblock lotion.

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...a postcard.

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...postage stamps.

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...batteries.

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...writing paper.

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...a pen.

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...English-language books.

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...English-language magazines.

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...an English-language newspaper.

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...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

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stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

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yield

( )

no parking

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speed limit

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gas (petrol) station

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petrol

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diesel

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Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

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Where are you taking me?

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Am I under arrest?

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

( )

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

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )