Martial Arts

1. 我可以看看練功伐？

   ngu6 khu5 i5 khoe5 khoe5 li6 kon1 va6

   Excuse me, may I watch your training for a bit?

   Usage

   Asks to watch the training

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 練功 is a Mandarin-origin word read with Shanghainese character readings.

2. 我從來嘸沒學過武術

   ngu6 zon6 le6 m6 meq8 ghoq8 ku5 vu6 zeq8

   I have never studied any martial art

   Usage

   Says you have never studied martial arts

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 武術 is a Shanghainese word.

3. 體驗課幾鈿？

   thi5 gni6 khu5 ci5 di6

   How much is a trial lesson?

   Usage

   Asks the price of a trial lesson

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 體驗課 is a Mandarin-origin word read with Shanghainese character readings.

4. 一個月學費幾鈿？包括器材伐？

   iq7 geq8 yoq8 ghoq8 fi5 ci5 di6 pau1 kuaq7 chi5 ze6 va6

   How much are the monthly fees, and is equipment included?

   Usage

   Asks the monthly fee and whether equipment is included

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 包括, 器材 are Mandarin-origin words read with Shanghainese character readings.

5. 要自家買練功服伐？

   iau5 zy6 ka1 ma6 li6 kon1 voq8 va6

   Do I need to buy my own kung fu uniform?

   Usage

   Asks whether you must buy your own training uniform

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 自家 is a Shanghainese word. 練功服 is a Mandarin-origin word read with Shanghainese character readings.

6. 禮拜幾有課？幾點鐘開始？

   li6 pa5 ci5 yeu6 khu5 ci5 ti5 tson1 khe1 sy5

   Which days do you have classes, and what time do they start?

   Usage

   Asks which days and what time classes are

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 禮拜 is a Shanghainese word.

7. 我膝蓋有舊傷，可以勿蹲低馬步伐？

   ngu6 shiq7 ke5 yeu6 jieu6 saon1 khu5 i5 veq8 ten1 ti1 mo6 bu6 va6

   I have an old knee injury — could I avoid the low stance work?

   Usage

   Asks to skip low stance work because of an old knee injury

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 舊傷, 蹲低, 馬步 are Mandarin-origin words read with Shanghainese character readings.

8. 入門要拜師伐？

   zeq8 men6 iau5 pa5 sy1 va6

   Do I need to go through a discipleship ceremony to join?

   Usage

   Asks if joining requires a formal master-disciple ceremony

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 入門, 拜師 are Mandarin-origin words read with Shanghainese character readings.

9. 有師傅會得講英文伐？

   yeu6 sy1 wu6 we6 teq7 kaon5 in1 ven6 va6

   Is there an instructor who speaks English?

   Usage

   Asks whether an instructor speaks English

   Grammar Note

   Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 師傅, 會得 are Shanghainese words.

10. 放鬆一眼，覅用蠻力

    faon5 son1 iq7 nge6 viau6 yon6 me1 liq8

    Relax more — don't try to muscle it

    Usage

    Tells a student to relax and not to use brute force

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 放鬆, 蠻力 are Mandarin-origin words read with Shanghainese character readings.

11. 站穩馬步，重心壓低

    ze6 uen5 mo6 bu6 zon6 shin1 aq7 ti1

    Settle into your stance and sink your weight

    Usage

    Tells a student to steady the stance and lower the centre of gravity

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar. 站穩, 重心, 壓低 are Mandarin-origin words read with Shanghainese character readings.

12. 今朝練到搿搭，儂做得蠻好

    cin1 tsau1 li6 tau5 geq8 taq7 non6 tsu5 teq7 me1 hau5

    That's where we'll stop today — you did pretty well

    Usage

    Ends the lesson and praises the student

    Grammar Note

    Composed with regular Shanghainese grammar.

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