Basic Words

1. 是

   zy6

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative reply when someone checks an identity or a fact

   Grammar Note

   Shanghainese has no all-purpose "yes"; most questions are answered by repeating the verb of the question. 是 answers only questions about identity or fact.

2. 勿是

   veq8 zy6

   No

   Usage

   Negative reply to a question of identity or fact

   Grammar Note

   Negator 勿 (veq8) plus 是, the counterpart of Mandarin 不是. For other questions, answer 勿 plus the verb that was asked.

3. 請

   chin5

   Please

   Usage

   Added when asking for something or offering something

   Grammar Note

   請 reads chin5. Alone it means "please go ahead"; before a verb it makes a polite request.

4. 麻煩儂

   mo6 ve6 non6

   Sorry to trouble you

   Usage

   Used when asking a favour or thanking someone for the trouble they took

   Grammar Note

   麻煩 (mo6 ve6) means "to trouble"; 儂 is "you". There is no honorific like Mandarin 您; 儂 is used with everyone.

5. 勿好意思

   veq8 hau5 i5 sy1

   Excuse me

   Usage

   Light phrase for getting attention or when feeling a little embarrassed

   Grammar Note

   Literally "not good meaning", the counterpart of Mandarin 不好意思. The negator is 勿 (veq8), not 不.

6. 對勿起

   te5 veq8 chi5

   Sorry

   Usage

   Works both as a real apology and as a light "excuse me" when bumping into someone

   Grammar Note

   勿 (veq8) is the negator, in the slot where Mandarin 對不起 has 不.

7. 勿要緊

   veq8 iau5 cin5

   It's OK

   Usage

   Reply to an apology or to worry: "never mind"

   Grammar Note

   勿要緊 means "it doesn't matter"; it can also reply to thanks like "you're welcome".

8. 我勿懂

   ngu6 veq8 ton5

   I don't understand

   Usage

   Basic way to say you did not understand what was said

   Grammar Note

   Word order: I + NEG + understand. The negator is 勿 (veq8), not 不.

9. 我懂勒

   ngu6 ton5 leq8

   I understand

   Usage

   Tells the other person you have understood

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words. Sentence-final 勒 (leq8) marks a completed change, like Mandarin final 了.

10. 好勒

    hau5 leq8

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    Says that a task or preparation is finished

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 好 here means "done properly", and final 勒 marks completion.

11. 請等一歇

    chin5 ten5 iq7 shiq7

    Please wait

    Usage

    Polite way to ask someone to wait

    Grammar Note

    等一歇 means "wait a while"; 一歇 (iq7 shiq7) is "a short while", the counterpart of Mandarin 一會兒.

12. 稍微等一歇

    sau1 vi6 ten5 iq7 shiq7

    Just a moment

    Usage

    Asks someone to wait briefly because you will be right back or right done

    Grammar Note

    稍微 means "slightly", so 稍微等一歇 asks for only a short wait.

13. 一張大人票

    iq7 tsan1 du6 gnin6 phiau5

    One adult, please

    Usage

    Said at a ticket window to buy one adult ticket

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. The classifier for flat items such as tickets is 張 (tsan1); 大人 is du6 gnin6.

14. 我嘸沒訂位子

    ngu6 m6 meq8 tin5 we6 tsy5

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    Tells a restaurant that you have no booking

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 嘸沒 (m6 meq8) means "not have", like Mandarin 沒有.

15. 我位子訂好勒

    ngu6 we6 tsy5 tin5 hau5 leq8

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Tells a restaurant that you have already booked

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. The object 位子 is moved to the front; 訂好 means "booked successfully".

16. 請儂幫幫我

    chin5 non6 paon1 paon1 ngu6

    Please help me

    Usage

    Asks a person for help when in trouble

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 幫 is "to help"; doubling the verb softens the request.

17. 請再講一遍

    chin5 tse1 kaon5 iq7 pi5

    Once more, please

    Usage

    Asks someone to repeat what they said

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 講 (kaon5) is "speak", used where Mandarin has 說.

18. 請講慢一眼

    chin5 kaon5 me6 iq7 nge6

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    When the other person speaks too fast to follow

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 一眼 (iq7 nge6) is "a bit", so 慢一眼 is "a bit slower".

19. 我會得講一眼眼

    ngu6 we6 teq7 kaon5 iq7 nge6 nge6

    I speak a little

    Usage

    Says that your language ability is limited; 一眼眼 means "just a little"

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 會得 (we6 teq7) means "can"; 一眼眼 is "a tiny bit".

20. 儂會得講英文伐？

    non6 we6 teq7 kaon5 in1 ven6 va6

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Asks whether the other person speaks English; a standard traveller question

    Grammar Note

    The question is formed with sentence-final 伐 (like Mandarin 嗎). The particle reads va6, unlike the character 伐 (vaq8, "to fell").

21. 搿個

    geq8 geq8

    This one

    Usage

    Points at something near: "this one"

    Grammar Note

    搿 (geq8) is the demonstrative "this", used where Mandarin has 這; 個 is the general classifier.

22. 伊個

    i1 geq8

    That one

    Usage

    Points at something farther away: "that one"

    Grammar Note

    伊 (i1) is also the demonstrative "that", the same character as the pronoun "he/she"; it works like Mandarin 那.

23. 搿搭

    geq8 taq7

    Here

    Usage

    Refers to where you are, or to a nearby place

    Grammar Note

    搭 (taq7) is a place suffix; 搿搭 means "here".

24. 伊搭

    i1 taq7

    There

    Usage

    Refers to a place farther away

    Grammar Note

    伊搭 means "there", paired with 搿搭 "here".

25. 我

    ngu6

    I / me

    Usage

    First person pronoun

    Grammar Note

    我 reads ngu6. 阿拉 is "we", and in Shanghai it is also used for "I".

26. 儂

    non6

    You

    Usage

    Second person pronoun, usable with anyone

    Grammar Note

    儂 reads non6. It is not Mandarin 你/您, and there is no honorific split.

27. 一道

    iq7 dau6

    Together

    Usage

    Used when inviting someone to do something together

    Grammar Note

    一道 (iq7 dau6) means "together", used where Mandarin has 一起.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages