Guidelines for Use Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese)
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Guidelines for Use © RDNS January 2007 1 of 6 ACHS L1 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Introduction to Chinese Written and Chinese Spoken - Cantonese CANTONESE The written form of the Chinese language is based on characters of square shape (such as ), not an alphabet. Chinese characters do not represent sounds. A Chinese character can be pronounced in many different ways in different Chinese dialects. Pronunciations of different Chinese dialects are so varied that Chinese people speaking different dialects often cannot communicate amongst themselves orally. Cantonese, being spoken by a lot of Australian Chinese and people in Hong Kong, is one of these Chinese dialects. The Chinese language is a tonal language. One pronunciation usually has seven tones to represent different characters, and different meanings, in Cantonese. Tones are slightly different stresses of pronouncing characters. However, there seems to be no simple way to correctly indicate tones of characters in a sentence. Please be informed the following issues in using the workplace words and phrases: In English: we say “Mr. Wang” and “Mrs. Wang”. But we should say in a different word order in Cantonese, such as (Wang Mr. ) and “ ”(Wang Mrs.). “Good Afternoon” is a written expression of greetings in Cantonese. Therefore, we just say “Hello” instead of “Good Afternoon”. © RDNS January 2007 Page 2 of 6 ACHS L1 Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Royal District Nursing Service Topic 1: GREETINGS English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in English Hello Ley ho Good morning Jo sun Good afternoon * Ley ho Good evening Mahn seung ho Good night Mahn on What is your name? Ley giu mutt meng? I am a nurse Or hai woo si My name is Or gay merng hai Mr …… / Mrs …… ...... / ...... …… sin sanng / …… tai tai I am happy to si you again Ho hoy sum yow gin doh lay la No Mm hai Yes hai Good ho Do you understand me? Ley teng duck ming or gong gay wa ma? I understand Or teng duck ming I don’t understand you Or teng mm ming ley gong gay wa Do you need an interpreter? Ley soi yiu chuen yerk yoon ma? I need an interpreter Or soi yiu chuen yerk yoon © RDNS January 2007 Page 3 of 6 ACHS L1 Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Royal District Nursing Service Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTS English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in English At what time? Or hor yee hai seng kei gei lay tahm ley? Mutt yeh si gan ley? Monday Seng kei yutt Tuesday Seng kei yee Wednesday Seng kei sum Thursday Seng kei say Friday Seng kei mm Saturday Seng kei lok Sunday Seng kei yat Morning Seung mm Noon Jong mm Afternoon Ha mm Evening / Night Mahn seung What day can I visit you? I need to…… Or yiu …… …… Make a phone call Speak…… Da din wa …… Da din wa bei …… to your doctor Ley gay yee sanng to your family Ley gay gar yan to your son Ley gay jay to your daughter Ley gay loi to your husband Ley gay sin sanng to your wife Ley gay tai tai to your brother Ley gay heng die to your sister Ley gay zi mui I need to change our visit time Or yiu goi or dei gay tahm fong si gahn © RDNS January 2007 Page 4 of 6 ACHS L1 Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Royal District Nursing Service Topic 3: MEDICAL PROBLEMS English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in English How are you? Ley ho ma? Where does it hurt? Bin doe yau mang tai? The chemist will bring your tablets this afternoon / tomorrow Gum yat ha mm / teng yat yerk jai si wooi dye yolk bei ley / Show me the medications that you are taking Bei or tei ha lei sic gay yolk I want you to take your medicine Ley yiu sic yolk sin duck Can you get yourself some water? Ley nung zi gay lor shui ma? I need to…… Or yiu …… …… Check your blood pressure Gim cha ley gay hute art Take your pulse Gim cha ley gay muck bok Change your dressing Tong ley woon yerk Ambulance Gow woo che Doctor Yee sanng Medicine Yolk Are you constipated? Ley yuw mow or si mm chut Do you have diabetes? Ley yuw mow tong liu beng? © RDNS Jauuary 2007 Page 5 of 6 ACHS L1 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Cantonese (Chinese) Topic 4: FAREWELL English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in English You can ring me on ……. Ley hor yee dar din wa bei or, din wa ho ma hey …… ...... Thank you Dor jay I’m pleased to have met you Kin doh ley ho hoy sum You are welcome Mm sey hark hey Good - bye Joy kin Keep well Bow jong Take care / All the best / Good luck © RDNS / / January 2007 Bow jong / jok ley yeng yeng dowe gom ho / jok ley ho won Page 6 of 6 ACHS L1
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