Adjectives

1. 大

   du6

   Big

   Usage

   Describes size

   Grammar Note

   大 reads du6.

2. 小

   shiau5

   Small

   Usage

   Describes small size

   Grammar Note

   小 reads shiau5.

3. 重

   zon6

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describes the weight of luggage and the like

   Grammar Note

   重 reads zon6.

4. 輕

   chin1

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Describes light weight

   Grammar Note

   輕 reads chin1.

5. 貴

   ciu5

   Expensive

   Usage

   When something seems expensive

   Grammar Note

   貴 reads ciu5.

6. 便宜

   bi6 gni6

   Cheap

   Usage

   For low prices and when bargaining

   Grammar Note

   便宜 is read bi6 gni6.

7. 燙

   thaon5

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For tea, soup and things that are hot to the touch

   Grammar Note

   燙 reads thaon5 and means hot enough to scald.

8. 冷

   lan6

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   When a drink or food is cold

   Grammar Note

   冷 reads lan6.

9. 新

   shin1

   New

   Usage

   Describes new things

   Grammar Note

   新 reads shin1.

10. 舊

    jieu6

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Describes old things

    Grammar Note

    舊 reads jieu6.

11. 年輕

    gni6 chin1

    Young

    Usage

    Describes a young person

    Grammar Note

    年輕 is read gni6 chin1.

12. 老

    lau6

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Describes an elderly person; can sound rude in some situations

    Grammar Note

    老 reads lau6. As an adverb it also means "very", as in 老熱.

13. 乾淨

    koe1 zhin6

    Clean

    Usage

    Describes how clean a room or dishes are

    Grammar Note

    乾淨 (koe1 zhin6) means "clean".

14. 勿乾淨

    veq8 koe1 zhin6

    Dirty

    Usage

    Describes something unclean

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 勿 (veq8) negates 乾淨.

15. 好

    hau5

    Good

    Usage

    Says that something is good

    Grammar Note

    好 reads hau5.

16. 勿好

    veq8 hau5

    Bad

    Usage

    Says that something is not good

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 勿 plus 好 gives "not good".

17. 近

    jin6

    Near

    Usage

    Describes a short distance

    Grammar Note

    近 reads jin6.

18. 遠

    yoe6

    Far

    Usage

    Describes a long distance

    Grammar Note

    遠 reads yoe6.

19. 早

    tsau5

    Early

    Usage

    Describes early time

    Grammar Note

    早 reads tsau5.

20. 晏

    e5

    Late

    Usage

    Describes late time; Shanghainese uses 晏

    Grammar Note

    晏 reads e5 and corresponds to Mandarin 晚.

21. 多

    ta1

    Many

    Usage

    Describes large quantity

    Grammar Note

    多 reads ta1.

22. 少

    sau5

    Few

    Usage

    Describes small quantity

    Grammar Note

    少 reads sau5.

23. 老熱

    lau6 gniq8

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Used on a hot day

    Grammar Note

    老 means "very", used where Mandarin has 很.

24. 老冷

    lau6 lan6

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Used on a cold day

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 老 means "very".

25. 嗲

    tia5

    Cute

    Usage

    Typical Shanghainese word for coy, charming cuteness

    Grammar Note

    嗲 (tia5) means cute in a coy, charming way.

26. 好吃

    hau5 chiq7

    Delicious

    Usage

    Basic word to praise food

    Grammar Note

    好吃 reads hau5 chiq7.

27. 結棍

    ciq7 kuen5

    Amazing

    Usage

    Used to express admiration

    Grammar Note

    結棍 (ciq7 kuen5) means strong or awesome and is a safe way to praise.

28. 好白相

    hau5 beq8 shian5

    Fun

    Usage

    When play or sightseeing is fun

    Grammar Note

    白相 (beq8 shian5) means "to play", like Mandarin 玩.

29. 多一眼

    ta1 iq7 nge6

    More

    Usage

    When you want a bit more

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 一眼 (iq7 nge6) is "a bit".

30. 一眼眼

    iq7 nge6 nge6

    Just a little

    Usage

    When you want only a small amount

    Grammar Note

    一眼眼 means "just a little".

31. 一半

    iq7 poe5

    Half

    Usage

    When you want half

    Grammar Note

    一半 reads iq7 poe5.

32. 全部

    zhi6 bu6

    All

    Usage

    Says "all of it"

    Grammar Note

    全部 (zhi6 bu6) means "all".

33. 夠勒

    keu5 leq8

    That's enough

    Usage

    Says it is enough and no more is needed

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. Final 勒 marks the change of state.

34. 即刻

    ciq7 kheq7

    Right now

    Usage

    Used when you want something done at once

    Grammar Note

    即刻 (ciq7 kheq7) means "at once".

35. 一個人

    iq7 geq8 gnin6

    One person

    Usage

    Says the number of people, for bookings and entry

    Grammar Note

    個 is the general classifier, also used for people.

36. 兩個人

    lian6 geq8 gnin6

    Two people

    Usage

    Says the number of people

    Grammar Note

    Before a classifier, "two" is 兩 (lian6).

37. 三個人

    se1 geq8 gnin6

    Three people

    Usage

    Says the number of people

    Grammar Note

    三 reads se1.

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