Greetings

1. 儂好

   non6 hau5

   Hello

   Usage

   Basic Shanghainese greeting for anyone at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   Literally "you good". 儂 (non6) is the Shanghainese "you"; Mandarin 你/您 are not used, and there is no honorific form.

2. 早浪好

   tsau5 laon6 hau5

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting, used in place of 儂好 until late morning

   Grammar Note

   早浪 (tsau5 laon6) is "morning" and 好 is "good"; the counterpart of Mandarin 早上好.

3. 謝謝儂

   zhia6 zhia6 non6

   Thank you

   Usage

   Basic thanks, used the same way for gifts and for help

   Grammar Note

   謝謝儂 covers every case, from gifts to small favours. In speech the second 謝 weakens.

4. 覅客氣

   viau6 khaq7 chi5

   You're welcome

   Usage

   Reply to thanks, or to tell someone not to stand on ceremony

   Grammar Note

   覅 is the contraction of 勿+要 ("don't"), the counterpart of Mandarin 不要.

5. 再會

   tse1 we6

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Parting phrase usable with anyone

   Grammar Note

   Literally "meet again". Shanghainese uses 會 (we6), not Mandarin 見.

6. 儂好伐？

   non6 hau5 va6

   How are you?

   Usage

   Asks an acquaintance how they are

   Grammar Note

   The sentence-final particle 伐 (va6) makes it a question, like Mandarin 嗎. Answer with 還好 or 老好.

7. 歡迎

   huoe1 gnin6

   Welcome

   Usage

   Said to welcome a guest

   Grammar Note

   歡迎 (huoe1 gnin6) means to welcome. In shops in Shanghai the welcome call is often said in Mandarin.

8. 我勿會講上海閒話

   ngu6 veq8 ue5 kaon5 zaon6 he5 ghe6 gho6

   I can't speak Shanghainese

   Usage

   Says you do not speak Shanghainese; people usually switch to Mandarin

   Grammar Note

   會 is read ue5 here. 上海閒話 (zaon6 he5 ghe6 gho6) is the self-name of the language. The negator is 勿, not 不.

9. 我會得再來個

   ngu6 we6 teq7 tse1 le6 geq8

   I'll come again

   Usage

   Said at the end of a visit to say you will come back

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words. 會得 marks the future ("will"); final 個 is a particle that makes the statement firm.

10. 我白相得老開心

    ngu6 beq8 shian5 teq7 lau6 khe1 shin1

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Says that you enjoyed your time

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 白相 is "to play", 老 "very", 開心 "happy". Shanghainese uses 白相 where Mandarin has 玩.

11. 謝謝儂，再會

    zhia6 zhia6 non6 tse1 we6

    Thanks, goodbye

    Usage

    Thanks and farewell when leaving a shop or lodging

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. Simply two greetings joined together.

12. 再會！有空多來白相相

    tse1 we6 yeu6 khon5 ta1 le6 beq8 shian5 shian5

    Goodbye, come and visit again

    Usage

    Friendly parting line inviting someone to come again

    Grammar Note

    白相相 doubles 白相 for a light "come and hang out".

13. 我先走勒

    ngu6 shi1 tseu5 leq8

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving before the others

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. Final 勒 (leq8) marks a change of state.

14. 我回來勒

    ngu6 we6 le6 leq8

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said when returning to a place

    Grammar Note

    回來 means "come back"; final 勒 marks the change of state.

15. 麻煩儂勒

    mo6 ve6 non6 leq8

    Sorry to have troubled you

    Usage

    A word of thanks after someone has gone to trouble for you

    Grammar Note

    麻煩 means "to trouble"; final 勒 marks completion.

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