Wu phrasebook

Wú (吴语) or "Shanghai dialect" or "Shanghainese" (上海しゃんはい话) is the main local language for much of East China — the municipality of Shanghai, most of Zhejiang province, and the southern parts of Jiangsu province. There are also some speakers in neighbouring Chinese provinces. There are local variants of the language; the standard is that of Suzhou (an older city, capital of the Kingdom of Wu centuries back, and home to many scholars), not that of Shanghai. Mutual intelligibility between different Wu dialects varies; while someone from Shanghai will be able to understand the Suzhou dialect fairly easily, comprehension becomes harder in cities further afield like Wuxi and Hangzhou, while the Wenzhou dialect is completely incomprehensible. It is therefore common for Wu speakers from different cities to communicate in Mandarin instead.

This is a populous region and the number of Wu speakers is large; on Wikipedia's list of world languages by number of native speakers it ranks 13th with 70-odd million, slightly below German but ahead of French and Italian. On their list by total number of speakers, Wu is 18th. On both lists, it is ahead of Vietnamese, Korean, and any other Chinese language except Mandarin.

Few travellers are likely to need or want to learn Wu. Throughout China, Mandarin has been the main language of government, education, media, and entertainment, for over half a century. Nearly all Wu speakers have at least some Mandarin as well, and the educated ones are generally completely fluent. Also, the major cities where Wu is the main local language — Shanghai, Suzhou, Ningbo and Hangzhou — are all quite prosperous and full of immigrants or temporary migrant workers who come from areas where Wu is not spoken. As anywhere else in China, Mandarin is the lingua franca for communication between people from different areas. Most foreigners living in the region choose to learn Mandarin rather than Wu.

That said, if you are spending a significant length of time in the region, then learning some Wu may be useful. It will almost certainly please and amuse the locals.

Pronunciation guide

Unlike Mandarin, there is no widely-used Romanization system for Wu, and there is even no standardized Romanization system like Jyutping developed by Linguistic Society of Hong Kong for Cantonese, though some scholars did create several systems to Romanize Wu. Since native speakers almost have no idea about those, Chinese characters are what you should stick to for written communication.

This is partly due to the fact that, because standard written Chinese is based on Mandarin, many words in Wu are written with characters of the same meaning in standard written Chinese.

Here one of the Romanization system created by scholars is used. Some adjustments are made to allow non-native speakers to understand more easily.

Consonants

Unlike Mandarin and Cantonese, Wu does not only distinguish between aspirated and unaspirated consonants, but also between voiceless and voiced, thus maintaining the three-way contrast of Middle Chinese stop consonants and affricates, /p pʰ b/, /tɕ tɕʰ dʑ/, etc. Aspirated sounds are pronounced with a distinctive puff of air as they are pronounced in English when at the beginning of a word, while unaspirated sounds are pronounced without the puff, as in English when found in clusters.

Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
p	p	span	same as pinyin 'b' in Mandarin
ph	pʰ	pan	same as pinyin 'p' in Mandarin
b	b	ban
m	m	man
f	f	fan
v	v	van
t	t	stan	same as pinyin 'd' in Mandarin
th	tʰ	tan	same as pinyin 't' in Mandarin
d	d	dog
ts	ts	cats (unaspirated)	same as pinyin 'z' in Mandarin
tsh	tsʰ	cats (aspirated)	same as pinyin 'c' in Mandarin
s	s	sit
z	z	zip
n	n	not
l	l	let
c	tɕʷ	cheese (unaspirated)	same as pinyin 'j' in Mandarin
ch	tɕʷʰ	cheese (aspirated)	same as pinyin 'q' in Mandarin
j	dz	jeep
sh	ɕ	sheep	same as pinyin 'x' in Mandarin
zh	ʑ	pleasure
gn	ȵ	canyon
k	k	skin	same as pinyin 'g' in Mandarin
kh	kʰ	kite	same as pinyin 'k' in Mandarin
g	g	get
ng	ŋ	singer
h	h	hat
gh	ɦ	behind (Australian / Received Pronunciation) haat (Dutch)

Consonants m, n or ng alone can form a syllable without any extra vowels.

Note: when gh is followed by i, u and iu (/y/, listed in vowels below), it sounds like "y" in yard or "w" in way to English speakers. The spelling is changed to "y" or "w" accordingly:

gh + i = yi
gh + ieu = yeu
gh + iu = yu
gh + uan = wan
gh + u = wu

It should be noticed that "y" and "yu" represents two other sounds if not at the beginning of a syllable (as listed in vowels below), different from this case where "y" or "yu" is at the beginning.

Vowels

Wu is rich in vowels. Do not worry if some of them are difficult for you. Speak a little slowly and native speakers will probably understand you even when you make a mistake.

A "q" after a vowel represents a glottal stop (ʔ), and in this case, the vowel should be short in time, and ends suddenly. Otherwise the vowel should be relatively long. When "n" follows "a" or "ao", it means the vowel is nasalized.

Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
a	a	hat (California / Canadian / Modern speakers of Received Pronunciation) las (Spanish)	same as pinyin 'a' in Mandarin
ao	ɑ	star	usually merged with "a" in Shanghai on all occasions, and in Suzhou when followed by "q"; younger generation of Shanghai may further merge "aq" with "eq"
ae	æ	hat
au	ɔ	not (Australian/New Zealand) thought (General American)
e (not before n or q)	e̞	let
e (before n or q)	ə	Tina
o	ʊ	hook (Australian/Northern English/Welsh/Conservative Received Pronunciation/New Zealand)
oe	ɵ	foot (Received Pronunciation)
i (not before q)	i	feet	Usually the tongue is high enough to touch the palate and make an additional sound of friction. The friction is rather important to distinguish "i" sound from "ie" (/ɪ/) sound. However in Shanghai this is not so important as people merge the two sounds.
i (before q)	ɪ	sit
ie	ɪ	sit	pronounced longer than "i" in sit in English
u	u	boot (General American)
eu (Shanghai)	ɤ	long ago (Received pronunciation)	for the same sound in Suzhou, it is pronounced as a diphthong /øʏ/, as listed below
ieu (Suzhou)	ʏ	schützen (German)	for the same sound in Shanghai, it is pronounced as a diphthong /iɤ/, just combining i with eu (/ɤ/)
iu	y	lune (French) grün (German)	same as pinyin 'ü' in Mandarin
y (not at beginning)	ɿ/z̩		not really a vowel, only appears after the consonants ts, tsh, s and z, pronounced as the consonant is stretched out, same as pinyin 'i' in 'zi', 'ci' and 'si' in Mandarin
yu (not at beginning)	ʮ/z̩ʷ		not really a vowel, only appears after the consonants ts, tsh, s and z, labialized "y" /ɿ/ (pronouncing /ɿ/ while labialized), not used in Shanghai where it is merged with "y" (/ɿ/)

Attention that y/yu at the beginning of a syllable means gh + i/iu, as mentioned above in consonants.

Common diphthongs

Most diphthongs in Wu starts with i, u or iu (/y/) and ends with another vowel in the list above. The exceptions are as below.

Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
eu (Suzhou)	øʏ		for the same sound in Shanghai, it is pronounced as /ɤ/, as listed above
ou	ou

Tones

Like other varieties of Chinese, Wu is tonal. Tone sandhi is very common in Wu, which makes it a little harder to learn than Mandarin. However, unlike Mandarin and Cantonese, voiceless and voiced consonants are still distinguished in Wu, as in Middle Chinese. The tones of a syllable beginning with a voiceless consonant ("yin" tones) usually sounds higher than those with a voiced consonant ("yang" tones). When these rules are observed, it is easy for native speakers to understand you even when you make a mistake.

Since there is no standardized symbol to represent tones in Wu, here numbers are used according to Middle Chinese, as done by most scholars.

Tones in Suzhou

Number	Name	Pitch	Notes
1	Yinping	˦˦ (44)	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and NOT ending with "q"
2	Yangping	˨˧ (23)	For syllables beginning with a voiced consonant and NOT ending with "q"
3	Yinshang	˥˩ (51)	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and NOT ending with "q"
4	Yangshang	˧˩ (31)	For syllables beginning with a voiced consonant and NOT ending with "q"
5	Yinqu	˦˩˨ (412)	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and NOT ending with "q"
7	Yinru	˥ʔ (5)	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and ending with "q"
8	Yangru	˧ʔ (3)	For syllables beginning with a voiced consonant and ending with "q"

Tone sandhi in Suzhou

_{First syllable}＼^{Second syllable}	T1 ˥˥ 55	T4 ˧˩ 31	T5 ˥˩˧ 513	T7 ˥ʔ 5
T1 ˥˥ 55	˥˥ ˨˩ (55 21)			˥˥ ˨ (55 2)
T2 ˩˧ 13	˩˧ ˧˧ (13 33)			˩˧ ˨ (13 2)
T3 ˥˩ 51	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)	˥˩ ˨˩ (51 21)	˥˩ ˨˩ (51 21)	˥˩ ˨ (51 2)
T3 ˥˩ 51	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)	˥˩ ˨˩ (51 21)	˥˩ ˨ (51 2)
T4 ˧˩ 31	˩˧ ˧˧ (13 33)			˩˧ ˨ (13 2)
T4 ˧˩ 31	˧˩ ˨˩ (31 21)			˧˩ ˨ (31 2)
T5 ˥˩˧ 513	˥˥ ˨˩ (55 21)			˥˥ ˨ (55 2)
	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)		˥˩ ˨ (51 2)
	˥˩ ˧˧ (51 33)	˥˩ ˨˩ (51 21)		˥˩ ˨ (51 2)
T7 ˥ʔ 5	No change	No change	No change
T7 ˥ʔ 5	No change	˥ʔ ˧˩˧ (5 313)	No change
T8 ˧ʔ 3	˧ʔ ˨˩ (3 21)			No change

Tones in Shanghai

Number	Name	Pitch	Notes
1	Yinping	52	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and NOT ending with "q"
5	Yinqu	34	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and NOT ending with "q"
6	Yangqu	23	For syllables beginning with a voiced consonant and NOT ending with "q"
7	Yinru	44	For syllables beginning with a voiceless consonant and ending with "q"
8	Yangru	24	For syllables beginning with a voiced consonant and ending with "q"

Tone sandhi in Shanghai

Tone	One syllable	Two syllables	Three syllables	Four syllables	Five syllables
T1	52	55 22	55 44 22	55 44 33 22	55 44 33 33 22
T5	34	33 44	33 44 22	33 44 33 22	33 44 33 33 22
T6	14	11 44	11 44 11	11 44 33 11	11 44 33 22 11
T7	44	33 44	33 44 22	33 44 33 22	33 44 33 22 22
T8	24	11 24	11 11 24	11 22 22 24 22 44 33 11	11 11 11 11 24 22 44 33 22 11

Usually among young generations in Shanghai who speak Mandarin more often, tones have become pitch accent, only appear in falling and rising, similar to Japanese.

General correspondence between Suzhou and Shanghai

	Suzhou	Shanghai	Note
consonants and vowels	ao (not before n or q)	a (not before n or q)
	aoq	aq	may be further merged with eq by younger generations of Shanghai
	aq	aq
	i	i
	ie	i
	ae	au
	ou	u	"ou" never appears after labial consonants (p, ph, b, m, f, v) in Suzhou
	u	u	"u" (not followed by another vowel) only appears after labial consonants (p, ph, b, m, f, v) in Suzhou
	eu /øʏ/	eu /ɤ/	attention the spelling is the same, as mentioned above
	ieu /ʏ/	ieu /iɤ/	attention the spelling is the same, as mentioned above
	y (not at beginning)	y (not at beginning)
	yu (not at beginning)	y (not at beginning)
	tsi	ci
	ci	ci
	tshi	chi
	chi	chi
	si	shi
	shi	shi
	zi	zhi
	ts/tsh/s/z + eu	ts/tsh/s/z + eu
	ts/tsh/s/z + eu	c/ch/sh/zh + ieu
Tones	T1	T1
	T3	T5
	T5	T5
	T2	T6
	T4	T6
	T7	T7
	T8	T8
Vocabulary and grammar	倷 ne4	儂わし nong6	meaning "you" (singular)
	俉篤 ng4 toq7	㑚 na6	meaning "you" (plural)
	俚 li1	伊い yi6	meaning "he/she/it"
	俚篤 li1 toq7	伊い拉ひしげ yi6 laq8	meaning "they"
	哉 tse1	勒 leq8	meaning some action was did or has been done
	弗どる feq7	弗どる veq8	meaning "not"
	覅 fiae5	覅 viau6	meaning "do not want" or "(please) do not"
	嘸さぞ不ふ m2 peq7	嘸さぞ沒ぼつ m6 meq8	meaning "do not have/own" or "there is no"
	朆 fen1	嘸さぞ沒ぼつ m6 meq8	meaning "did not do / have not done"
	啊___？ aq7 __?	___𠲎？ __ vaq8?	yes-no questions

Phrase list

The following is listed in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters, and both Suzhou and Shanghai pronunciation. Traditional characters are put in brackets after the same word or sentence written in simplified characters.

Basics

Hello.: 倷好 ne4 hae3. (Suzhou) 侬好（儂わし好このみ）nong6 hau5. (Shanghai)
What is your name?: 倷叫啥名字みょうじ？ ne3 ciae5 sao5 min2 zy4? (Suzhou) 侬叫啥名字みょうじ？（儂わし叫さけべ啥名字みょうじ）nong6 ciau5 sa5 min6 zy6? (Shanghai)
My name is ______ .: 我わが叫さけべ ______ . ngou4 ciae5 ______ . (Suzhou) ngu6 ciau5 ______ . (Shanghai)
Please.: 请。（請。）tshin3. (Suzhou) chin5. (Shanghai)
Thank you.: 谢谢。（謝しゃ謝しゃ。）ziao4 ziao4. (Suzhou) zhia6 zhia6. (Shanghai, usually pronounced as zhia6 ia6)
You're welcome.: 覅客气。（覅客氣き。）fiae5 kaoq7 chi5. (Suzhou) viau6 kaq7 chi5. (Shanghai)
Yes.: 是ぜ。zy4. (Suzhou) zy6. (Shanghai) (Note: Only some questions are answered with this. As with other varieties of Chinese, affirmation is generally done by repeating the verb in the question.)
No.: 弗どる是ぜ。feq7 zy4. (Suzhou) veq8 zy6. (Shanghai)
Excuse me.: 弗どる好こう意思いし。feq7 hae3 i5 sy1. (Suzhou) veq8 hau5 i5 sy1. (Shanghai)
I'm sorry.: 对弗起おこり/对弗住じゅう。（對たい弗どる起おこり/對たい弗どる住じゅう。） te5 feq7 chi3 / te5 feq7 zyu4. (Suzhou) te5 veq8 chi5 / te5 veq8 zy6. (Shanghai)
Goodbye: 再会さいかい。（再會さいかい。）tse5 we4. (Suzhou) tse5 we6. (shanghai)
I can't speak Suzhounese/Shanghainese [well].: 我わが弗どる会かい讲苏州しゅう闲话。（我わが弗どる會かい講こう蘇州そしゅう閒あいだ話ばなし。）ngou4 feq7 ue5 kaon3 sou1 tseu1 ghe2 gho4. (Suzhou) 我わが弗どる会かい讲上海しゃんはい闲话。（我わが弗どる會かい講こう上海しゃんはい閒あいだ話ばなし。）ngu6 veq8 ue5 kaon5 zaon6 he5 ghe6 gho6. (Shanghai)
Do you speak English?: 倷啊会かい讲英文えいぶん？（倷啊會かい講こう英文えいぶん？）ne3 aq7 ue5 kaon3 in1 ven2? (Suzhou) 侬英文えいぶん讲得来らい𠲎？（儂わし英文えいぶん講こう得とく來らい𠲎？）nong6 in1 ven6 kaon5 teq7 le6 vah8? (Shanghai)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: 啊有人じん会かい讲英文えいぶん？（啊有人じん會かい講こう英文えいぶん？）aq7 yeu4 gnin2 ue5 kaon3 in1 ven2? (Suzhou) 有人ゆうじん英文えいぶん讲得来らい𠲎？（有人ゆうじん英文えいぶん講こう得とく來らい𠲎？）yeu6 gnin6 in1 ven6 kaon5 teq7 le6 vah8? (Shanghai)
Help!: 救命きゅうめい！cieu5 min4! (Suzhou) cieu5 min6! (Shanghai)
Look out!: 当とう心しん！（當とう心しん！）taon1 sin1. (Suzhou) taon1 shin1. (Shanghai)
I don't understand.: 我わが弗どる懂。ngou4 feq7 tong5. (Suzhou) ngu6 veq8 tong5. (Shanghai)
Where is the toilet?: 厕所勒嗱垯？（廁所勒嗱墶？）tshy5 sou3 leq8 no2 taq7? (Suzhou) 厕所勒嚡里さと垯？（廁所勒嚡裏うら墶？）tshy5 su5 leq8 gha6 li6 taq7? (Shanghai)

Problems

Go away: 走はし开！（走はし開ひらく！）tseu3 khe1! (Suzhou) tseu5 khe1! (Shanghai)
Don't touch me!: 覅碰我が！ fiae5 ban4 ngou4! (Suzhou) viau6 ban6 ngu6! (Shanghai)
I'll call the police.: 我わが要よう叫さけべ警察けいさつ ngou4 iae5 ciae5 cin3 tshaoq7. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 ciau5 cin5 tshaq7. (Shanghai)
Police!: 警察けいさつ cin3 tshaq7 (Suzhou) cin5 tshaq7 (Shanghai)
Stop!: 停とま din2 (Suzhou) din6 (Shanghai)
I need your help.: 我わが要よう倷帮忙せわし。（我わが要よう倷幫忙せわし。）ngou4 iae5 ne4 paon1 maon2. (Suzhou) 我わが要よう侬帮忙せわし。（我わが要よう儂わし幫忙。）ngu6 iau5 nong2 paon1 maon6. (Shanghai)
I'm lost.: 我わが弗どる认得路ろ哉。（我わが弗どる認みとめ得とく路ろ哉。）ngou4 feq7 gnin4 teq7 lou4 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが弗どる认得路ろ勒。（我わが弗どる認みとめ得とく路ろ勒。）ngu6 veq8 gnin6 teq7 lu6 leq8. (Shanghai)
I lost my purse/wallet.: 我わが皮かわ夹子弗どる见脱哉。（我わが皮かわ夾子弗どる見み脫だつ哉。）ngou4 bi2 kaq7 tsy3 feq7 cie5 theq7 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが皮かわ夹子弗どる见脱勒。（我わが皮かわ夾子弗どる見み脫だつ勒。）ngu6 bi6 kaq7 tsy5 veq8 ci5 theq7 leq8. (Shanghai)
I'm sick.: 我わが生なま病びょう哉。ngou4 san1 bin4 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが生なま病びょう勒。ngu6 san1 bin6 leq8. (Shanghai)
I've been injured.: 我わが受伤哉。（我わが受傷じゅしょう哉。）ngou4 zeu4 saon1 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが受伤勒。（我わが受傷じゅしょう勒。）ngu6 zeu6 saon1 leq8. (Shanghai)
I need a doctor.: 我わが要よう看み医い生せい。（我わが要よう看み醫い生せい。）ngou4 iae5 khoe5 i1 saon1. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 khoe5 i1 saon1. (Shanghai)
Can I use your phone?: 我わが啊好用よう倷个电话？（我わが啊好用よう倷個電話でんわ？）ngou4 aq7 hae3 yong4 ne4 keq7 die4 gho4? (Suzhou) 我が用よう一用侬个电话好𠲎？（我が用よう一用儂個電話好𠲎？）ngu6 yong6 iq7 yong6 nong6 eq8 di6 gho6 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)

Numbers

0: 零れい lin2 (Suzhou) lin6 (Shanghai)
1: 一いち iq7
2: 二に gni4 (Suzhou) gni6 (Shanghai) / 两（兩りょう） lian4 (Suzhou) lian6 (Shanghai)

Note: A single number 2 is usually read as 兩りょう, but when 2 is the last digit of a multi-digit number (such as 2 in 12, and the last 2 in 2132) it is read as 二に. (But in Mandarin, for single number 2, 兩りょう is only used when specifying quantities.)

3: 三さん se1
4: 四よん sy5
5: 五ご ng4 (Suzhou) ng6 (Shanghai)
6: 六ろく loq8
7: 七なな tshiq7 (Suzhou) chiq7 (Shanghai)
8: 八はち poq7 (Suzhou) paq7 (Shanghai)
9: 九きゅう cieu5 (Suzhou) cieu5 (Shanghai)
10: 十じゅう zeq8
11-19 except 15: 十じゅう zeq8 + last digit (For 12, 二に is used, not 兩りょう)
15: 舍しゃ五ご soq7 ng4 (Suzhou) zeq8 ng6 (Shanghai)
20: 廿にじゅう gnie4 (Suzhou) gniae6 (Shanghai)
21-29 except 25: 廿にじゅう gnie4 (Suzhou) gniae6 (Shanghai) + last digit (For 22, 二に is used, not 兩りょう)
25: 廿にじゅう五ご gniao4 ng4 / gnie4 ng4 (Suzhou) gniae6 ng6 (Shanghai)
30-99: When the last digit is not 0, it is read by combining the first digit, "10" and the last digit, as e.g. 42 is read as 四よん十じゅう二に ("four ten two"). When the last digit is 2, 二に is used, not 兩りょう. However when the last digit is 5, the pronunciation of "10" changes to 舍しゃ soq7 in Suzhou as in 15. When the last digit is 0, it is read by combining the first digit and "10", but the pronunciation of "10" always changes to seq7, as e.g. 50 is read as 五ご十じゅう ng4 seq7 (Suzhou) ng6 seq7 (Shanghai) ("five ten").

For numbers above 100, any "gaps" must be filled in with 零れい (0), as e.g. 1003 is read as 一いち千せん零れい三さん ("one thousand zero three"), and 1030 as 一いち千せん零れい三さん十じゅう ("one thousand zero three ten"). 一いち千せん三さん ("one thousand three") would be taken as shorthand for 1300, which is usually read as 一いち千せん三さん百ひゃく ("one thousand three hundred").

100: 一いち百ひゃく iq7 paoq7 (Suzhou) iq7 paq7 (Shanghai)
200: 兩りょう百ひゃく lian4 paoq7 (Suzhou) lian6 paq7 (Shanghai)
300: 三さん百ひゃく se1 paoq7 (Suzhou) se1 paq7 (Shanghai)
1000: 一いち千せん iq7 tshie1 (Suzhou) iq7 chi1 (Shanghai)
2000: 兩りょう千せん lian4 tshie1 (Suzhou) lian6 chi1 (Shanghai)

Numbers starting from 10,000 are grouped by in units of four digits starting with 万まん（萬まん） [ve4 (Suzhou) ve6 (Shanghai)] (ten thousand). "One million" in read as 一いち百ひゃく萬まん ("one hundred ten-thousands").

10,000: 一いち万まん（一いち萬まん） iq7 ve4 (Suzhou) iq7 ve6 (Shanghai)
20,000: 两万（兩りょう萬まん） lian4 ve4 (Suzhou) lian6 ve6 (Shanghai)
100,000: 十じゅう万まん（十じゅう萬まん） zeq8 ve4 (Suzhou) zeq8 ve6 (Shanghai)
1,000,000: 一いち百ひゃく万まん（一いち百ひゃく萬まん） iq7 paoq7 ve4 (Suzhou) iq7 paq7 ve6 (Shanghai)
10,000,000: 一いち千せん万まん（一いち千せん萬まん） iq7 tshie1 ve4 (Suzhou) iq7 chi1 ve6 (Shanghai)
100,000,000: 一いち亿（一いち億おく） iq7 i5
1,000,000,000: 十じゅう亿（十じゅう億おく） zeq8 i5
10,000,000,000: 一いち百ひゃく亿（一いち百ひゃく億おく） iq7 paoq7 i5 (Suzhou) iq7 paq7 i5 (Shanghai)
100,000,000,000: 一いち千せん亿（一いち千せん億おく） iq7 tshie1 i5 (Suzhou) iq7 chi1 i5 (Shanghai)
1,000,000,000,000: 一いち万まん亿（一いち萬まん億おく） iq7 ve4 i5 (Suzhou) iq7 ve6 i5 (Shanghai) / 一いち兆ちょう iq7 zae4 (Suzhou) iq7 zau6 (Shanghai)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.): _____号ごう（號ごう） ghae4 (Suzhou) ghau6 (Shanghai)
half: 半はん poe5
less: 少しょう sae3 (Suzhou) sau5 (Shanghai)
more: 多た tou1 (Suzhou) tu1 (Shanghai)

Time

now: 现在（現在げんざい）yie4 ze4 (Suzhou) yi6 ze6 (Shanghai)
late: 晏 e5
early: 早さ tsae3 (Suzhou) tsau5 (Shanghai)
morning (early): 早さ浪なみ tsae3 laon4 (Suzhou) tsau5 laon6 (Shanghai)
morning (late): 上うえ半日はんにち/上うえ晚ばん昼ひる（上うえ晚ばん晝ひる） zaon4 poe5 gniq8 / zaon4 me4 tseu5 (Suzhou) zaon6 poe5 gniq8 / zaon6 me6 tseu5 (Shanghai)
noon: 中ちゅう浪なみ tsong1 laon4 (Suzhou) tsong1 laon6 (Shanghai)
afternoon: 下した半日はんにち/下した晚ばん昼ひる（下した晚ばん晝ひる） gho4 poe5 gniq8 / gho4 me4 tseu5 (Suzhou) gho6 poe5 gniq8 / gho6 me6 tseu5 (Shanghai)
evening: 夜よる快かい yao4 khuao5 (Suzhou) ya6 khua5 (Shanghai)
midnight: 半夜はんや poe5 yao4 (Suzhou) poe5 ya6 (Shanghai)

Clock time

The "o'clock" times are read as "hour number" + 点てん（點てん） [tie3 (Suzhou) ti5 (Shanghai)], while others are read as "hour number" + 点てん（點てん） + "minute number" + 分ぶん (fen1). 一刻いっこく (iq7 kheq7) is an alternative for 15分ふん in __:15, and 三さん刻こく (se1 kheq7) is an alternative for 45分ふん in __:45. 半はん (poe5), which means "half", is an alternative for 30分ふん in __:30.

For __:0_, the "0" should also be read out, as ____点てん零れい__分ぶん.

What time is it?: 现在几点？（現在げんざい幾いく點てん？）yie4 ze4 ci3 tie3? (Suzhou) yi6 ze6 ci5 ti5? (Shanghai)
One o'clock: 一いち点てん（一いち點てん）iq7 tie3 (Suzhou) iq7 ti5 (Shanghai)
Two o'clock: 两点（兩りょう點てん）lian4 tie3 (Suzhou) lian6 ti5 (Shanghai)
Twelve o'clock: 十じゅう二に点てん（十じゅう二に點てん）zeq8 gni4 tie3 (Suzhou) zeq8 gni6 ti5 (Shanghai) (Attention the 2's used here are different, as mentioned in numbers.)
Half past 3: 三さん点てん半はん（三さん點てん半はん）se1 tie3 poe5 (Suzhou) se1 ti5 poe5 (Shanghai)
3:15: 三さん点てん一いち刻こく（三さん點てん一いち刻こく）se1 tie3 iq7 kheq7 (Suzhou) se1 ti5 iq7 kheq7 (Shanghai)
3:45: 三さん点てん三さん刻こく（三さん點てん三さん刻こく）se1 tie3 se1 kheq7 (Suzhou) se1 ti5 se1 kheq7 (Shanghai)
3:52: 三さん点てん五ご十じゅう二に分ふん（三さん點てん五ご十じゅう二に分ふん）se1 tie3 ng4 zeq8 gni4 fen1 (Suzhou) se1 ti5 ng6 zeq8 gni6 fen1 (Shanghai)
3:02: 三さん点てん零れい两分（三さん點てん零れい兩分りょうぶん）se1 tie3 lin2 lian4 fen1 (Suzhou) se1 ti5 lin6 lian6 fen1 (Shanghai)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ 分ぶん钟（分ぶん鐘かね）fen1 tsong1 [一刻いっこく钟（一刻いっこく鐘がね） (iq7 keq7 tsong1) is an alternative for 15 minutes, and 三さん刻こく钟（三さん刻こく鐘がね） (se1 keq7 tsong1) is an alternative for 45 minutes.]
_____ hour(s): _____ 个钟头（個こ鐘がね頭あたま）keq7 tsong1 deu2 (Suzhou) keq7 tsong1 deu6 (Shanghai)
_____ day(s): _____ 日にち天てん gniq7 thie1 (Suzhou) gniq7 thi1(Shanghai)
_____ week(s): _____ 个礼拜れいはい（個こ禮拜れいはい）keq7 li4 pao5 (Suzhou) keq7 li6 pa5 (Shanghai)
_____ month(s): _____ 个号头（個こ號ごう頭あたま）keq7 ghae4 deu2 (Suzhou) _____ 个月（個こ月がつ）keq7 yuiq8 (Shanghai)
_____ year(s): _____ 年とし gnie2 (Suzhou) gni6 (Shanghai)

Days

today: 今朝けさ cin1 tsae1 (Suzhou) cin1 tsau1 (shanghai)
yesterday: 昨日きのう zoq8 gniq8
tomorrow: 明朝みょうちょう men2 tsae1 (Suzhou) min6 tsau1 (Shanghai)
the day before last: 前日ぜんじつ zie2 gniq8 (Suzhou) zhi6 gniq8 (shanghai)
the day after tomorrow: 后きさき日び（後日ごじつ） gheu4 gniq8 (Suzhou) gheu6 gniq8 (Shanghai)
this week: 哎个礼拜れいはい（哎個禮拜れいはい）e1 keq7 li4 pao5 (Suzhou) 搿个礼拜れいはい（搿個禮拜れいはい）geq8 keq7 li6 pa5 (Shanghai)
last week: 上うえ个礼拜れいはい（上うえ個こ禮拜れいはい）zaon4 keq7 li4 pao5 (Suzhou) zaon6 keq7 li6 pa5 (Shanghai)
next week: 下しも个礼拜れいはい（下しも個こ禮拜れいはい）gho4 keq7 li4 pao5 (Suzhou) gho6 keq7 li6 pa5 (Shanghai)

Days in a week are called 礼拜れいはい（禮拜れいはい） [li4 pao5 (Suzhou) li6 pa5 (Shanghai)] + number, 1 for Monday, 6 for Saturday. Both 二に and 兩りょう can be used for Tuesday, while 兩りょう is used more often. Sunday is named 礼拜れいはい日び（禮拜れいはい日び） [li4 pao5 gniq7 (Suzhou) li6 pa5 gniq7 (Shanghai)].

Months

Using number + 月つき [ngeq8 (Suzhou) yuiq8 (Shanghai)]. As mentioned in numbers, February is 兩月わち not 二に月がつ, but December is 十じゅう二に月がつ not 十じゅう兩りょう月がつ.

Writing time and date

22 March 2009: 2009年ねん3月がつ22号ごう (兩りょう零れい零れい九きゅう年ねん三さん月がつ廿にじゅう二に號ごう) [lian4 lin2 lin2 cieu5 gnie2 se1 ngeq8 zeq8 gni4 ghae4 (Suzhou) / lian6 lin6 lin6 cieu5 gni6 se1 yuiq8 zeq8 gni4 ghau6 (Shanghai)]

Using number (of month) + 月つき [ngeq8 (Suzhou) yuiq8 (Shanghai)] + number (of date) + 号ごう（號ごう） [ghae4 (Suzhou) ghau6 (Shanghai)]. As mentioned in numbers, the date 2nd is 两号（兩りょう號ごう）not 二に号ごう（二に號ごう）, but 12th and 22nd are 十じゅう二に号ごう（十じゅう二に號ごう）and 廿にじゅう二に号ごう（廿にじゅう二に號ごう）, not 十じゅう两号（十兩じゅうりょう號ごう）and 廿にじゅう两号（廿にじゅう兩りょう號ごう）.

Furthermore, when the year is also mentioned, it is read digit-by-digit and then putting a "年ねん" (the word "year"), and 2 is always 两（兩りょう）not 二に because it is regarded as a single number. For example, the year 2009 is 兩りょう零れい零れい九きゅう年ねん (2-0-0-9 年ねん). The first two digits can be omitted when it is clear to which century the year belongs, like 零れい九きゅう年ねん for the year 2009. In Mandarin the year 2000 is sometimes read as 兩りょう千せん年ねん (the number 2000 read as a whole) for short, and this is sometimes used by young Wu speakers who use Mandarin more often, but not popular.

Colors

When colors are used to describe an object in Wu, there is usually only one or two syllables (as listed below), but when referred to as the color itself, it is usually represented by the name of color + 颜色（顏色かおいろ）[nge2 seq7 (Suzhou) nge6 seq7 (Shanghai)].

black: 黑くろ heq7
white: 白しろ baoq8 (Suzhou) baq8 (Shanghai)
gray: 灰はい hue1
red: 红（紅べに） ghong2 (Suzhou) ghong6 (Shanghai)
blue: 蓝（藍あい） le2 (Suzhou) le6 (Shanghai)
yellow: 黄き（黃き） waon2 (Suzhou) waon6 (Shanghai)
green: 绿（綠みどり） loq8
orange: 橘たちばな黄き（橘たちばな黃き） cioq7 waon2 (Suzhou) cioq7 waon6 (Shanghai)
purple: 紫むらさき tsy3 (Suzhou) tsy5 (Shanghai)
brown: 咖啡颜色（咖啡顏色かおいろ） khao1 fi1 nge2 seq7 (Suzhou) kha1 fi1 nge6 seq7 (Shanghai) (This is an exception that "顏色かおいろ" is always used even when describing an object, because 咖啡 itself means Coffee.)

Transportation

Bus and train

Ticket: 票ひょう phiae5 (Suzhou) phiau5 (Shanghai)
One ticket: 一いち张票（一いち張はり票ひょう） iq7 tsan1 phiae5 (Suzhou) iq7 tsan1 phiau5 (Shanghai)
How much is one ticket?: 一いち张票几钿？（一いち張はり票ひょう幾いく鈿？） iq7 tsan1 phiae5 ci3 die2 (Suzhou) iq7 tsan1 phiau5 ci5 di6 (Shanghai)
bus: 公おおやけ交车（公おおやけ交車） kong1 ciae1 tsho1 (Suzhou) kong1 ciau1 tsho1 (Shanghai)
train: 火ひ车（火ひ車しゃ） hou3 tsho1 (Suzhou) hu5 tsho1 (Shanghai)
Where does this bus go?: 哎部公こう交车到嗱垯？（哎部公こう交車到いた嗱墶？） e1 bu4 kong1 ciae1 tsho1 tae5 no2 taq7? (Suzhou) 搿部公こう交车到嚡里垯？（搿部公こう交車到いた嚡裏墶？） geq8 bu6 kong1 ciau1 tsho1 tau5 gha6 li6 taq7? (Shanghai)
Does this train go to ____?: 哎部火ひ车啊到____？（哎部火ひ車しゃ啊到____？） e1 bu4 hou3 tsho1 aq7 tae5 __? (Suzhou) 搿部火ひ车到____𠲎？（搿部火ひ車しゃ到いた____𠲎？） geq8 bu6 hu5 tsho1 tau5 __ vaq8? (Shanghai)
What time does this train leave?: 哎部火ひ车啥辰たつ光こう开？（哎部火ひ車しゃ啥辰光こう開ひらく？） e1 bu4 hou3 tsho1 sao5 zen2 kuaon1 khe1? (Suzhou) 搿部火ひ车啥辰たつ光こう开？（搿部火ひ車しゃ啥辰光こう開ひらく？） geq8 bu6 hu5 tsho1 sa5 zen6 kuaon1 khe1? (Shanghai)
What time will this bus arrive?: 哎部公こう交车啥辰光こう到いた？（哎部公こう交車啥辰光こう到いた？） e1 bu4 kong1 ciae1 tsho1 sao5 zen2 kuaon1 tae5? (Suzhou) 搿部公こう交车啥辰光こう到いた？（搿部公こう交車啥辰光こう到いた？） geq8 bu6 kong1 ciau1 tsho1 sa5 zen6 kuaon1 tau5? (Shanghai)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: 我わが哪哼去_____？ ngou4 na2 han1 chi5 __? (Suzhou) 我わが哪能去さ_____？ ngu6 na6 nen6 chi5 __? (Shanghai)
the train station: 火ひ车站（火ひ車しゃ站） hou3 tsho1 ze4 (Suzhou) hu5 tsho1 ze6 (Shanghai)
the bus station?: 公おおやけ交站 kong1 ciae1 ze4 (Suzhou) kong1 chiau1 ze6 (Shanghai)
the airport?: 机つくえ场/飞机场（機き場じょう/飛ひ機き場じょう） ci1 zan4 / fi1 ci1 zan4 (Suzhou) ci1 zan6 / fi1 ci1 zan6 (Shanghai)
downtown?: 市区しく（市區しく） zy4 chiu1 (Suzhou) zy6 chiu1 (Shanghai)
the youth hostel?: 青あお旅たび tshin1 li4 (Suzhou) chin1 li6 (Shanghai)
the _____ hotel?: _____酒さけ店てん tseu3 tie5 (Suzhou) cieu5 ti5 (Shanghai)
the [American/Canadian/Australian/British] consulate: [美国びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英国えいこく] 领事馆（[美國びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英國えいこく] 領事館りょうじかん） [me3 kueq7 / kao1 nao2 dao2 / ae5 tseu1 / in1 kueq7] lin4 zy4 kuoe3 (Suzhou) [me5 koq7 / ka1 na6 da6 / au5 tseu1 / in1 koq7] lin6 zy6 kuoe5 (Shanghai)
Where are there _____ ?: 嗱垯好こう寻着_____？（嗱墶好こう尋ひろ著ちょ_____？） no2 taq7 hae3 zin2 zaoq8 __? (Suzhou) 嚡里垯好寻着_____？（嚡裏墶好尋ひろ着ぎ_____？） gha6 li6 taq7 hau5 zhin6 zaq8 __? (Shanghai)
restaurants: 饭店（飯店はんてん） ve4 tie5 (Suzhou) ve6 ti5 (Shanghai)
bars: 酒さけ吧 tseu3 po1 (Suzhou) cieu5 po1 (Shanghai)
sites to see: 景けい点てん（景けい點てん） cin3 tie3 (Suzhou) cin5 ti5 (Shanghai)
Can you show me on the map?: 啊好勒地图浪指ゆび畀我看み？（啊好勒地圖ず浪なみ指ゆび畀我看み？） aq7 hae3 leq8 di4 dou2 laon4 tsy3 peh7 ngou4 khoe5? (Suzhou) 勒地图浪指ゆび畀我看み好こう𠲎？（勒地圖ず浪なみ指ゆび畀我看み好こう𠲎？） leq8 di6 du6 laon6 tsy5 peh7 ngu6 khoe5 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
street: 街まち kao1 (Suzhou) ka1 (Shanghai)
Turn left.: 左ひだり转弯（左ひだり轉てん彎） tsou3 tsoe3 ue1 (Suzhou) tsu5 tsoe5 ue1 (Shanghai)
Turn right.: 右みぎ转弯（右みぎ轉てん彎） yeu4 tsoe3 ue1 (Suzhou) yeu6 tsoe5 ue1 (Shanghai)
left: 左ひだり tsou3 (Suzhou) tsu5 (Shanghai)
right: 右みぎ yeu4 (Suzhou) yeu6 (Shanghai)
straight ahead: 一いち直ちょく走はし iq7 zeq8 tseu3 (Suzhou) iq7 zeq8 tseu5 (Shanghai)
towards the _____: 去さ_____ chi5
past the _____: 过脱____（過か脫だっ____） kou5 theq7 (Suzhou) ku5 theq7 (Shanghai)
before the _____: ____前ぜん头（____前頭まえがしら） zie2 deu2 (Suzhou) zhi6 deu6 (Shanghai)
Watch for the _____.: 看み好こう_____。 khoe5 hae3 __. (Suzhou) khoe5 hau5 __. (Shanghai)
intersection: 四よん岔路口こう/十字路じゅうじろ口こう sy5 tsho5 lou4 kheu3 / zeq8 zy4 lou4 kheu3 (Suzhou) sy5 tsho5 lu6 kheu5 / zeq8 zy6 lou6 kheu5 (Shanghai)
north: 北きた poq7
south: 南みなみ noe2 (Suzhou) noe6 (Shanghai)
east: 东（東ひがし） tong1
west: 西にし si1 (Suzhou) shi1 (Shanghai)

Taxi

Take me to _____, please.: 去さ_____，谢谢。（去さ_____，謝しゃ謝しゃ。） chi5 __, zia4 zia4. (Suzhou) chi5 __, zhia6 zhia6. (Shanghai, the latter zhia6 is often pronounced ia6)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: 去さ_____要よう几钿？（去さ_____要よう幾いく鈿？） chi5 __ iae5 ci3 die2? (Suzhou) chi5 __ iau5 ci5 di6? (Shanghai)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: 啊有房ぼう间？（啊有房間ふさま？） aq7 yeu4 vaon2 ke1? (Suzhou) 有ゆう房ぼう间𠲎？（有ゆう房間ふさま𠲎？） yeu6 vaon6 ke1 vaq8? (Shanghai)
How much for one room?: 一いち间房几钿？（一間いっけん房ぼう幾いく鈿？） iq7 ke1 vaon2 ci3 die2? (Suzhou) iq7 ke1 vaon6 ci5 di6? (Shanghai)
One person: 一いち个人（一個人いっこじん） iq7 keq1 gnin2 (Suzhou) iq7 keq1 gnin6 (Shanghai)
Two persons: 两个人じん（兩りょう個人こじん） lian4 keq1 gnin2 (Suzhou) lian6 keq1 gnin6 (Shanghai)
Does it have ____?: 啊有____？ aq7 yeu4 __? (Suzhou) 有ゆう____𠲎？ yeu6 __ vaq8? (Shanghai)
a bathroom: 浴室よくしつ yoq8 seq7
a telephone: 电话（電話でんわ） die4 gho4 (Suzhou) di6 gho6 (Shanghai)
a TV: 电视（電でん視し） die4 zy4 (Suzhou) di6 zy6 (Shanghai)
May I see it first?: 啊好先さき看み看み？ aq7 hae3 sie1 khoe5 khoe5? (Suzhou) 先さき看み看み好こう𠲎？ shie1 khoe5 khoe5 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
Do you have something more ____?: 啊有____点てん个？（啊有____點てん個こ？） aq7 yeu4 __ tie3 keq7? (Suzhou) 有ゆう____点てん个𠲎？（有ゆう____點てん個こ𠲎？） yeu6 __ ti5 eq8 vaq8? (Shanghai)
big: 大だい dou4 (Suzhou) du6 (Shanghai)
cheap: 便宜べんぎ bie2 gniq8 (Suzhou) bi6 gniq8 (Shanghai)
I'll sleep here for ____ nights.: 我わが要よう住じゅう__夜よる。 ngou4 iae5 zyu4 __ yao4. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 zy6 __ ya6. (Shanghai)
Do you have a _____?: 俉笃啊有_____？（俉篤啊有_____？） ng4 toq7 aq7 yeu4 __? (Suzhou) 㑚有____𠲎？ na6 yeu6 __ vaq8? (Shanghai)
safe: 保ほ险箱（保險ほけん箱ばこ） pae3 shie3 sian1 (Suzhou) pau5 shi5 shian1 (Shanghai)
lockers: 储物箱ばこ（儲もうか物もの箱ばこ） zyu4 veq8 sian1 (Suzhou) zy6 veq8 shian1 (Shanghai)
Is [breakfast/supper] included?: 啊包 [朝あさ饭/夜よる饭]？（啊包 [朝飯あさめし/夜よる飯めし]？） aq7 pae1 [zae1 ve4 / yao4 ve4]? (Suzhou) 包つつみ [朝あさ饭/夜よる饭] 𠲎？（包つつみ [朝飯あさめし/夜よる飯めし] 𠲎？） pau1 [zau1 ve6 / ya6 ve6] vaq8? (Shanghai)
What time is [breakfast/supper]?: [朝あさ饭/夜よる饭] 几点钟？（[朝飯あさめし/夜よる飯めし] 幾いく點てん鐘がね？） [zae1 ve4 / yao4 ve4] ci3 tie3 tsong1? (Suzhou) [zau1 ve6 / ya6 ve6] ci5 ti5 tsong1? (Shanghai)
Please clean my room.: 麻あさ烦倷清きよし理り房ぼう间。（麻あさ煩はん倷清理り房ぼう間あいだ。） mo2 ve2 ne4 tshin1 li4 vaon2 ke1? (Suzhou) 麻あさ饭侬清きよし理り房ぼう间。（麻あさ煩はん儂わし清きよし理り房ぼう間あいだ。） mo6 ve6 nong6 chin1 li6 vaon6 ke1? (Shanghai)
Can you wake me at _____?: 啊好___喊我起おこり來らい？ aq7 hae3 __ he3 ngou4 chi3 le2? (Suzhou) ___喊我起おこり來き好こう𠲎？ __ he5 ngu6 chi5 le6 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
I want to check out.: 我わが要よう退すさ房ぼう. ngou4 iae5 the5 vaon2. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 the5 vaon6. (Shanghai)

Money

pay: 付づけ fu3 (Suzhou) fu5 (Shanghai)
cash: 现金（現金げんきん） ghie4 cin1 (Suzhou) ghi6 cin1 (Shanghai)
credit card: 信用しんよう卡 sin5 yong4 kha3 (Suzhou) shin5 yong6 kha5 (Shanghai)
debit card: 借か记卡（借か記き卡） tsia5 ci5 kha3 (Suzhou) cia5 ci5 kha5 (Shanghai)
check: 支ささえ票ひょう tsy1 phiae5 (Suzhou) tsy1 phiau5 (Shanghai)
foreign exchange: 外そと汇（外そと匯） ngao4 we4 (Suzhou) nga6 we6 (Shanghai)
to change money: 换铜钿（換かわ銅どう鈿） woe4 don2 die2 (Suzhou) woe6 don6 di6 (Shanghai)
exchange rate: 汇率（匯率） we4 liq8
Chinese Renminbi: 人民じんみん币（人民じんみん幣ぬさ） zen2 min2 bi6 (Suzhou) zen6 min6 bi6 (Shanghai)
___ yuan: ___块（塊かたまり） __khue5 (referred to as a certain amount of money)
US dollars: 美よし元もと/美び金きん me3 yoe2 / me3 cin1 (Suzhou) me5 yoe6 / me5 cin1 (Shanghai)
Euros: 欧おう元もと（歐おう元もと） eu1 yoe2 (Suzhou) eu1 yoe6 (Shanghai)
British pounds: 英えい镑（英えい鎊） in1 paon5

Eating

One person: 一いち个人（一個人いっこじん） iq7 keq1 gnin2 (Suzhou) iq7 keq1 gnin6 (Shanghai)
Two people: 两个人じん（兩りょう個人こじん） lian4 keq1 gnin2 (Suzhou) lian6 keq1 gnin6 (Shanghai)
Can I look at the menu, please?: 麻あさ烦倷畀我看み看み菜さい单。（麻あさ煩はん倷畀我わが看み看み菜さい單たん。） mo2 ve2 ne4 peq7 ngou4 khoe5 khoe5 tshe5 te1. (Suzhou) 麻あさ烦侬畀我看み看み菜さい单。（麻あさ煩はん儂わし畀我看み看み菜さい單たん。） mo6 ve6 nong6 peq7 ngu6 khoe5 khoe5 tshe5 te1? (Shanghai)
Can I look in the kitchen?: 啊好看み看み厨房ちゅうぼう？（啊好看み看み廚房？） aq7 hae3 khoe5 khoe5 zyu2 vaon2? (Suzhou) 看み看み厨くりや房好ふさよし𠲎？（看み看み廚房好ふさよし𠲎？） khoe5 khoe5 zy6 vaon6 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
Is there a house specialty?: 啊有招牌菜さい？ aq7 yeu4 tsae1 bao2 tshe5? (Suzhou) 招牌菜さい有ゆう𠲎？ tsau1 ba6 tshe5 yeu6 vaq8? (Shanghai)
Is there a local specialty?: 啊有本地ほんじ特とく产？（啊有本地ほんじ特產とくさん？） aq7 yeu4 pen3 di4 deq8 tshe3? (Suzhou) 本地ほんじ特とく产有𠲎？（本地ほんじ特產とくさん有ゆう𠲎？） pen5 di6 deq8 tshe5 yeu6 vaq8? (Shanghai)
I'm a vegetarian.: 我わが吃ども素もと。 ngou4 chiq7 sou5. (Suzhou) ngu6 chiq7 su5. (Shanghai)
I don't eat ___.: 我わが弗どる吃ども___。 ngou4 feq7 chiq7 __. (Suzhou) ngu6 veq8 chiq7 __. (Shanghai)
Can you make it "lite", please?: 麻あさ饭倷烧清淡あわ点てん。（麻あさ煩はん倷燒清きよ淡あわ點てん。） mo2 ve2 ne4 sae1 tshin1 de4 tie3. (Suzhou) 麻あさ烦侬烧清淡あわ点てん。（麻あさ煩はん儂わし燒しょう清きよし淡あわ點てん。） mo6 ve6 nong6 sau1 chin1 de6 ti5? (Shanghai)
fixed-price meal: 套餐 thae5 tshoe1 (Suzhou) thau5 tshoe1 (Shanghai)
a la carte: 照あきら菜さい单来（照あきら菜さい單たん來らい） tsae5 tshe5 te1 le2 (Suzhou) tsau5 tshe5 te1 le6 (Shanghai)
breakfast: 朝あさ饭（朝飯あさめし） zae1 ve4 (Suzhou) zau1 ve6 (Shanghai)
lunch: 中ちゅう饭（中ちゅう飯めし） tshong1 ve4 (Suzhou) tshong1 ve6 (Shanghai), or 昼ひる饭（晝飯ひるめし） tseu5 ve4 (suzhou) tseu5 ve6 (Shanghai), mainly used by the elderly and rarely used among young generation
supper: 夜よる饭（夜よる飯めし） yao4 ve4? (Suzhou) ya6 ve6 (Shanghai)
I want _____.: 我わが要よう_____。 ngou4 iae5 __. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 __. (Shanghai)
I want a dish containing _____.: 我わが要よう有ゆう_____个菜。（我わが要よう有ゆう_____個こ菜さい。） ngou4 iae5 yeu4 __ keq7 tshe5. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 yeu6 __ eq8 tshe5. (Shanghai)
chicken: 鸡（雞） ci1
beef: 牛うし gnieu2 (Suzhou) gnieu6 (Shanghai)
fish: 鱼（魚さかな） ng2 (Suzhou) ng6 (Shanghai)
ham: 火ひ腿もも hou3 the4 (Suzhou) hu5 the5 (Shanghai)
sausage: 香こう肠（香こう腸ちょう） shian1 zan2 (Suzhou) shian1 zan6 (Shanghai)
cheese: 忌き司し ci5 sy1
eggs: 蛋 de4 (Suzhou) de6 (Shanghai)
salad: 沙すな拉ひしげ sao1 lao1 (Suzhou) sa1 la1 (Shanghai)
[fresh] vegetables: [新しん鲜]蔬菜そさい（[新鮮しんせん]蔬菜そさい） [sin1 sie1[ sou1 tshe5 (Suzhou) [shin1 shi1] su1 tshe5 (Shanghai)
[fresh] fruit: [新しん鲜]水みず果はて（[新鮮しんせん]水みず果はて） [sin1 sie1] syu3 kou5 (Suzhou) [shin1 shi1] sy5 ku5 (Shanghai)
bread: 面めん包つつみ（麵包） mie4 pae1 (Suzhou) mi6 pau1 (Shanghai)
toast: 吐司 thou3 sy1 (Suzhou) thu5 sy1 (Shanghai)
noodles: 面めん（麵） mie4 (Suzhou) mi6 (Shanghai)
rice: 饭（飯めし） ve4 (Suzhou) ve6 (Shanghai)
beans: 豆まめ deu4 (Suzhou) deu6 (Shanghai)
wonton: 馄饨（餛飩） wen2 den4 (Suzhou) wen6 den6 (Shanghai)
xiaolongbao: 小しょう笼馒头（小籠こごめ饅頭まんじゅう） siae3 long2 moe2 deu2 (Suzhou) shiau5 long6 moe6 deu6 (Shanghai)
Chinese mitten crab: 大だい闸蟹（大だい閘蟹） dou4 zaq8 hao5 (Suzhou) du5 zaq8 ha5 (Shanghai)
Yangcheng Lake large crab: 阳澄湖みずうみ大だい闸蟹（陽ひ澄きよし湖みずうみ大だい閘蟹） yan2 zan2 ghou2 dou4 zaoq8 hao5 (Suzhou) yan6 zan6 wu6 du5 zaq8 ha5 (Shanghai)
May I have a glass/cup of _____?: 啊好畀我杯はい____？ aq7 hae3 peq7 ngou4 pe1 __? (Suzhou) 畀我杯はい____好こう𠲎？ peq7 ngu6 pe1 __ hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
May I have a bottle of _____?: 啊好畀我瓶びん____？ aq7 hae3 peq7 ngou4 bin2 __? (Suzhou) 畀我瓶びん____好こう𠲎？ peq7 ngu6 bin6 __ hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
coffee: 咖啡 khao1 fi1 (Suzhou) kha1 fi1 (Shanghai)
tea (drink): 茶ちゃ zo2 (Suzhou) zo6 (Shanghai)
juice: 果汁かじゅう kou3 tseq7 (Suzhou) ku5 tseq7 (Shanghai)
bubbly water: 汽水 chi5 syu3 (Suzhou) chi5 sy5 (Shanghai)
water: 水みず syu3 (Suzhou) sy5 (Shanghai)
beer: 啤酒 bi2 tseu3 (Suzhou) bi6 cieu5 (Shanghai)
red/white wine: 红（紅べに）/白しろ酒しゅ ghong2/baoq8 tseu3 (Suzhou) ghong6/baq8 cieu5 (Shanghai)
May I have some _____？: 啊好畀我点てん____？（啊好畀我點てん____？） aq7 hae3 peq7 ngou4 tie3 __? (Suzhou) 畀我点てん____好こう𠲎？（畀我點てん____好こう𠲎？） peq7 ngu6 ti5 __ hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
salt: 盐（鹽しお） yie2 (Suzhou) yi6 (Shanghai)
pepper: 胡椒こしょう ghou2 tsiae1 (Suzhou) wu6 ciau1 (Shanghai)
butter: 黄き油ゆ（黃き油ゆ） waon2 yeu2 (Suzhou) waon6 weu6 (Shanghai)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): 服ふく务员（服務ふくむ員いん） voq8 vu4 yoe4 (Suzhou) voq8 vu6 yoe6 (Shanghai)
I'm finished.: 我わが吃ども好こう哉。 ngou4 chiq7 hae3 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが吃ども好こう勒。 ngu6 chiq7 hau5 leq8. (Shanghai)
It was delicious / good to drink.: 好こう吃ども hae3 chiq7 (Suzhou) hau5 chiq (Shanghai)
Please clear the plates.: 麻あさ烦倷收おさむ捉台子こ。（麻あさ煩はん倷收捉檯子こ。） mo2 ve2 ne4 seu1 tsoq7 de2 tsy3. (Suzhou) 麻あさ烦侬收おさむ捉台子こ。（麻あさ煩はん儂わし收おさむ捉檯子こ。） mo6 ve6 nong6 seu1 tsoq7 de6 tsy5. (Shanghai)
The check, please.: 结帐，谢谢。（結ゆい帳ちょう，謝しゃ謝しゃ。） ciq7 tsan4, zia4 zia4 (Suzhou) ciq7 tsan6, zhia6 zhia6. (Shanghai, the latter zhia6 is usually pronounced as ia6)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: 俉笃啊有酒しゅ？（俉篤啊有酒しゅ？） ng4 toq7 aq7 yeu4 tseu3? (Suzhou) 㑚有酒しゅ𠲎？ na6 yeu6 cieu5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
Is there table service?: 啊有餐桌服ふく务？（啊有餐桌服務ふくむ？） aq7 yeu4 tshoe1 tsoq7 voq8 vu4? (Suzhou) 餐桌服ふく务有𠲎？（餐桌服務ふくむ有ゆう𠲎？） tshoe1 tsoq7 voq8 vu6 yeu6 vaq8? (Shanghai)
A beer/two beers: 一いち/两（兩りょう）杯はい啤酒 iq7/lian4 pe1 bi2 tseu3 (Suzhou) iq7/lian6 pe1 bi6 cieu5 (Shanghai)
A glass of red/white wine: 一杯いっぱい红（紅べに）/白しろ酒しゅ iq7 pe1 ghong2/baoq8 tseu3 (Suzhou) iq7 pe1 ghong6/baq8 cieu5 (Shanghai)
A bottle: 一いち瓶びん iq7 bin2 (Suzhou) iq7 bin6 (Shanghai)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer): ___搭___ __ taq7 __
whiskey: 威い士し忌き ue1 zy4 ci5 (Suzhou) ue1 zy6 ci5 (Shanghai)
vodka: 伏ふく特とく加か voq8 deq8 kao1 (Suzhou) voa8 deq8 kha1 (Shanghai)
rum: 朗ろう姆酒 laon4 m4 tseu3 (Suzhou) laon6 m6 cieu5 (Shanghai)
water: 水みず syu3 (Suzhou) sy5 (Shanghai)
club soda: 苏打水うちみず（蘇そ打水うちみず） sou1 tan3 syu3 (Suzhou) su1 tan5 sy5 (Shanghai)
tonic water: 汤力水すい（湯ゆ力水ちからみず） thaon1 liq8 syu3 (Suzhou) thaon1 liq8 sy5 (Shanghai)
orange juice: 橙だいだい汁じる zen2 tseq7 (Suzhou) zen6 tseq7 (Shanghai)
Coke (soda): 可か乐（可か樂らく） khoe3 loq8 (Suzhou) khu5 loq8 (Shanghai)
Do you have any bar snacks?: 俉笃啊有小しょう吃ども？（俉篤啊有小しょう吃ども？） ng4 toq7 aq7 yeu4 siae3 chiq7? (Suzhou) 㑚有小しょう吃ども𠲎？ na6 yeu6 shiau5 chiq7 vaq8? (Shanghai)
One more [cup/bottle]: 再さい要一よういち [杯はい/瓶びん] tse5 iae5 iq7 [pe1/bin2] (Suzhou) tse5 iau5 iq7 [pe1/bin6] (Shanghai)
When is closing time?: 几点关门？（幾いく點てん關門かんもん？） ci3 tie3 kue1 men2 (Suzhou) ci5 ti5 kue1 men6 (Shanghai)
Cheers!: 干ひ杯はい（乾杯かんぱい） koe1 pe1

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: 啊有我わが个尺寸しゃくすん？（啊有我わが個こ尺寸しゃくすん？） aq7 yeu4 ngou4 keq7 tshaq7 tshen4? (Suzhou) 我わが个尺寸しゃくすん有ゆう𠲎？（我わが個こ尺寸しゃくすん有ゆう𠲎？） ngu6 eq8 tshaq7 tshen6 yeu6 vaq8? (Shanghai)
How much?: 几钿（幾いく鈿） ci3 die2 (Suzhou) ci5 di6 (Shanghai)
That's too expensive.: 忒贵哉（忒貴哉） theq7 ciu5 tse1 (Suzhou) 忒贵勒（忒貴勒） theq7 ciu5 leq8 (Shanghai)
Would you take _____?: 啊收_____？ aq7 seu1 __? (Suzhou) _____收おさむ𠲎？ __ seu1 vaq8? (Shanghai)
expensive: 贵（貴たか） ciu5
cheap: 便宜べんぎ bie2 gniq8 (Suzhou) bi6 gniq8 (Shanghai)
I can't afford it.: 我わが买弗起おこり。（我わが買かい弗どる起おこり。） ngou4 mao4 feq7 chi3. (Suzhou) ngu6 ma6 veq8 chi5. (Shanghai)
I don't want it.: 我わが覅哉。 ngou4 fiae5 tse1. (Suzhou) 我わが覅勒。 ngu6 viau6 leq8. (Shanghai)
You're cheating me.: 倷勒弄ろう松まつ我が。 ne4 leq8 long4 song1 ngou4. (Suzhou) 侬勒弄ろう松まつ我が。（儂わし勒弄松まつ我が。） nong6 leq8 long6 song1 ngu6. (Shanghai)
I'm not interested.: 我わが呒不兴趣。（我わが嘸さぞ不ふ興趣きょうしゅ。） ngou4 m2 peq7 shin5 tshi5. (Suzhou) 我わが呒没兴趣。（我わが嘸さぞ沒ぼつ興趣きょうしゅ。） ngu6 m6 meh8 shin5 chi5. (Shanghai)
OK, I'll take it.: 好こう，我わが要よう哎件。 hae3, ngou4 iau5 e1 jie4. (Suzhou) 好こう，我わが要よう搿件。 hau5, ngu6 iau5 geq8 ji6. (Shanghai)
Can I have a bag?: 啊好畀我只ただ袋ぶくろ袋ぶくろ？（啊好畀我隻せき袋ぶくろ袋ぶくろ？） aq7 hae3 peq7 ngou4 tsaq7 de4 de4? (Suzhou) 畀我只ただ袋ぶくろ袋ふくろ好よしみ𠲎？（畀我隻せき袋ぶくろ袋ふくろ好よしみ𠲎？） peq7 ngu6 tsaq7 de6 de6 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)
Do you ship [overseas]?: 俉笃啊送货[到いた外国がいこく]？（俉篤啊送貨[到いた外國がいこく]？） ng4 toq7 aq7 song5 hou5 [tae5 ngao4 kueq7]? (Suzhou) 㑚送货[到いた外国がいこく]𠲎？（㑚送貨[到いた外國がいこく]𠲎？） na6 song5 hu5 [tau5 nga6 koq7] vaq8? (Shanghai)
I need...: 我わが要よう... ngou4 iae5... (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 (Shanghai)
...toothpaste.: ...牙きば膏あぶら ngao2 kae1 (Suzhou) nga6 kau1 (Shanghai)
...a toothbrush.: ...牙きば刷すり ngao2 seq7 (Suzhou) nga6 seq7 (Shanghai)
...tampons.: ...卫生巾はば（衛生えいせい巾はば） we4 sen1 cin1 (Suzhou) we6 sen1 cin1 (Shanghai)
...soap.: ...肥こえ皂 bi2 zae4 (Suzhou) bi6 zau6 (Shanghai)
...shampoo.: ...汏头膏あぶら（汏頭膏あぶら） da4 deu2 kae1 (Suzhou) da6 deu6 kau1 (Shanghai)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...止痛しつう药（止痛しつう藥やく） tsyu3 thong5 yaoq8 (Suzhou) tsy5 thong5 yaq8 (Shanghai)
...cold medicine.: ...感冒かんぼう药（感冒かんぼう藥やく） koe3 mae4 yaoq8 (Suzhou) koe5 mau6 yaq8 (Shanghai)
...stomach medicine.: ...胃い药（胃藥いぐすり） we4 yaoq8 (Suzhou) we6 yaq8 (Shanghai)
...a razor.: ...剃そ须刀（剃そ鬚ひげ刀がたな） thi5 si1 tae1 (Suzhou) thi5 shi1 tau1 (Shanghai)
...an umbrella.: ...伞（傘かさ） se3 (Suzhou) se5 (Shanghai)
...sunblock lotion.: ...防ぼう晒さらし霜しも（防ぼう曬霜） baon2 so5 saon1 (Suzhou) baon6 so5 saon1 (Shanghai) (Young generation tend to pronounce "baon" as "vaon", influenced by Mandarin)
...a postcard.: ...名めい信しんじ片かた min2 sin5 phie5 (Suzhou) min6 shin5 phi5 (Shanghai)
...postage stamps.: ...邮票（郵票） yeu2 phiae5 (Suzhou) yeu6 phiau5 (Shanghai)
...batteries.: ...电池（電池でんち） die4 zyu2 (Suzhou) di6 zy6 (Shanghai)
...writing paper.: ...纸头（紙かみ頭あたま） tsy3 deu2 (Suzhou) tsy5 deu6 (Shanghai)
...a pen.: ...笔（筆ふで） piq7
...English-language books.: ...英文えいぶん书（英えい文書ぶんしょ） in1 ven2 syu1 (Suzhou) in1 ven6 sy1 (Shanghai)
...English-language magazines.: ...英文えいぶん杂志（英文えいぶん雜誌ざっし） in1 ven2 zaq8 tsyu5 (Suzhou) in1 ven6 zaq8 tsy5 (Shanghai)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...英文えいぶん报纸（英文えいぶん報ほう紙し） in1 ven2 pae5 tsy3 (Suzhou) in1 ven6 pau5 tsy5 (Shanghai)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...英えい英えい字典じてん in1 in1 zy4 tie3 (Suzhou) in1 in1 zy6 ti5 (Shanghai)
...a Chinese-English dictionary.: ...汉英词典（漢かん英えい詞し典てん） hoe5 in1 zy4 tie3 (Suzhou) hoe5 in1 zy6 ti5 (Shanghai)
...an English-Chinese dictionary.: ...英えい汉词典てん（英えい漢かん詞し典てん） in1 hoe5 zy4 tie3 (Suzhou) in1 hoe5 zy6 ti5 (Shanghai)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: 我わが要よう租车。（我わが要よう租車。） ngou4 iae5 tsou1 tsho1. (Suzhou) ngu6 isu5 tsu1 tsho1. (Shanghai)
Can I get insurance?: 啊好买保险？（啊好買かい保險ほけん？） aq7 hae3 mao4 pae3 shie3? (Suzhou) 保ほ险好买𠲎？（保險ほけん好こう買かい𠲎？） pau5 shi5 hau5 ma6 vaq8? (Shanghai)
stop (on a street sign): 停とま din2 (Suzhou) din6 (Shanghai)
one way: 单行线（單行たんこう線せん） te1 ghan2 sie5 (Suzhou) te1 ghan6 shi5 (Shanghai)
yield: 让（讓ゆずる） gnian4 (Suzhou) gnian6 (Shanghai)
no parking: 弗どる许停车（弗どる許もと停車ていしゃ） feq7 shiu3 din2 tsho1 (Suzhou) veq8 shiu5 din6 tsho1 (Shanghai)
speed limit: 限きり速そく ghe4 soq7 (Suzhou) ghe6 soq7 (Shanghai)
gas (petrol) station: 加か油ゆ站 khao1 yeu2 ze4 (Suzhou) kha1 yeu6 ze6 (Shanghai)
petrol: 汽油 chi5 yeu2 (Suzhou) chi5 yeu6 (Shanghai)
diesel: 柴しば油ゆ zao2 yeu2 (Suzhou) za6 yeu6 (Shanghai)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: 我わが朆做错事体たい。（我わが朆做錯事體たい。） ngou4 fen1 tsou5 tsho5 zy4 thi3. (Suzhou) 我わが呒没做错事ごと体たい。（我わが嘸さぞ沒ぼつ做錯事ごと體たい。） ngu6 m6 meq8 tsu5 tsho5 zy6 thi5. (Shanghai)
It was a misunderstanding.: 是ぜ误会。（是ぜ誤あやま會かい。） zy4 ngou4 we4. (Suzhou) zy6 ngu6 we6 (Shanghai)
Where are you taking me?: 倷带我わが去さ嗱垯？（倷帶我わが去さ嗱墶？） ne4 tao5 ngou4 chi5 no2 taq7? (Suzhou) 侬带我わが去さ嚡里垯？（儂わし帶たい我わが去さ嚡裏墶？） nong6 ta5 ngu6 chi5 gha6 li6 taq7? (Shanghai)
Am I under arrest?: 我わが啊畀逮捕たいほ？ ngou4 an1 peq7 de4 pu3? (Suzhou) 我わが畀逮捕たいほ勒𠲎？ ngu6 peq7 de6 pu5 leq8 vaq8? (Shanghai)
I am an [American/Canadian/Australian/British] citizen.: 我わが是ぜ [美国びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英国えいこく] 公民こうみん。（我わが是ぜ [美國びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英國えいこく] 公民こうみん。） ngou4 zy4 [me3 kueq7 / kao1 nao2 dao2 / ae5 tseu1 / in1 kueq7] kon1 min2. (Suzhou) ngu6 zy6 [me5 koq7 / ka1 na6 da6 / au5 tseu1 / in1 koq7] kong1 min6. (Shanghai)
I want to talk to the [American/Canadian/Australian/British] [embassy/consulate].: 我わが要よう寻 [美国びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英国えいこく] [大使たいし馆/领事馆]。（我わが要よう尋ひろ [美國びくに/加か拿大/澳州/英國えいこく] [大使館たいしかん/領事館りょうじかん]。） ngou4 iae5 zin2 [me3 kueq7 / kao1 nao2 dao2 / ae5 tseu1 / in1 kueq7] [dao4 sy3 kuoe3 / lin4 zy4 kuoe3]. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 zhin6 [me5 koq7 / ka1 na6 da6 / au5 tseu1 / in1 koq7] [da6 sy5 kuoe5 / lin6 zy6 kuoe5]. (Shanghai)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: 我わが要よう寻律师。（我わが要よう尋ひろ律師りっし。） ngou4 iae5 zin2 liq8 sy1. (Suzhou) ngu6 iau5 zhin6 liq8 sy1. (Shanghai)
Can I just pay a fine now?: 啊好就罚铜钿？（啊好就罰銅どう鈿？） aq7 hae3 zeu4 vaq8 dong2 die2? (Suzhou) 就罚铜钿好こう𠲎？（就罰銅どう鈿好𠲎？） zhieu6 vaq8 dong6 di6 hau5 vaq8? (Shanghai)

Learning more

Wu Chinese Online Association (吴语协会), a BBS set up in 2004, in which topics such as phonology, grammar, orthography and romanization of Wu Chinese are widely talked about, and of which the cultural and linguistic diversity within China is also a significant concerning

This Wu phrasebook has guide status. It covers all the major topics for traveling without resorting to English. Please contribute and help us make it a star!