Question Words

1. 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").

2. 啥？

   sa5

   What?

   Usage

   Basic question word for things and matters

   Grammar Note

   啥 (sa5) is the Shanghainese "what", used where Mandarin has 什麼. Question words stay in place in the sentence.

3. 啥地方？

   sa5 di6 faon1

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks about a place

   Grammar Note

   啥地方 (sa5 di6 faon1) is literally "what place", the counterpart of Mandarin 哪裡.

4. 啥辰光？

   sa5 zen6 kuaon1

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time or when something happens

   Grammar Note

   辰光 (zen6 kuaon1) means "time", so 啥辰光 is "what time = when". It replaces Mandarin 時候.

5. 啥人？

   sa5 gnin6

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person

   Grammar Note

   啥人 (sa5 gnin6) is literally "what person"; Mandarin 誰 is not used.

6. 為啥？

   we6 sa5

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason

   Grammar Note

   為啥 (we6 sa5) is "for what", the counterpart of Mandarin 為什麼.

7. 哪能？

   na6 nen6

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about the way to do something

   Grammar Note

   哪能 (na6 nen6) means "how", the counterpart of Mandarin 怎麼.

8. 幾化？

   ci5 ho5

   How many?

   Usage

   Question word for number or quantity; followed by a noun or classifier

   Grammar Note

   Shanghainese counterpart of Mandarin 多少.

9. 搿個幾鈿？

   geq8 geq8 ci5 di6

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask a price

   Grammar Note

   幾鈿 (ci5 di6) means "how much money", the counterpart of Mandarin 多少錢; a standard shopping phrase.

10. 哪一個？

    na6 iq7 geq8

    Which one?

    Usage

    Used when choosing among several things

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 哪 (na6) means "which".

11. 搿個是啥？

    geq8 geq8 zy6 sa5

    What is this?

    Usage

    Asks what something in front of you is

    Grammar Note

    是 (zy6) is "to be". Word order: this + is + what.

12. 廁所勒啥地方？

    tshy5 su5 leq8 sa5 di6 faon1

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is; an essential traveller phrase

    Grammar Note

    勒 (leq8) before a place marks location ("be at"), used where Mandarin has 在.

13. 現在幾點鐘？

    yi6 ze6 ci5 ti5 tson1

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time

    Grammar Note

    現在 (yi6 ze6) is "now" and 點鐘 means "o'clock", so the question is 現在幾點鐘.

14. 有伐？

    yeu6 va6

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks in a shop whether they have something

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. Sentence-final 伐 (va6) makes the question; put the item first, then 有伐？

15. 好伐？

    hau5 va6

    Is that OK?

    Usage

    Asks for permission or agreement

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 好 plus the question particle 伐 gives "is it OK?".

16. 要付鈔票伐？

    iau5 fu5 tshau5 phiau5 va6

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Asks whether a service or entry costs money

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 要 (iau5) is "must", 付 is "pay", 鈔票 is "money".

17. 免費伐？

    mi6 fi5 va6

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is free of charge

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 免費 is a Mandarin-origin word used as is in Shanghainese.

18. 可以伐？

    khu5 i5 va6

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is allowed

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 可以 means "may / is allowed".

19. 儂還好伐？

    non6 we6 hau5 va6

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Asks someone who looks unwell if they are all right

    Grammar Note

    還好 (we6 hau5) means "not bad, fairly well".

20. 真個伐？

    tsen1 geq8 va6

    Really?

    Usage

    Reacts to what someone said and checks it

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 真個 (tsen1 geq8) means "really".

21. 儂確定伐？

    non6 chioq7 din6 va6

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Checks that what the other person said is certain

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 確定 is a Mandarin-origin word.

22. 儂啥地方人？

    non6 sa5 di6 faon1 gnin6

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A classic conversation starter about hometown

    Grammar Note

    啥地方人 means "person of what place"; no verb 是 is needed: 儂啥地方人？

23. 儂叫啥名字？

    non6 ciau5 sa5 min6 zy6

    What is your name?

    Usage

    Asks someone's name

    Grammar Note

    叫 (ciau5) means "to be called"; 名字 is "name".

24. 儂幾歲？

    non6 ci5 soe5

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks age; best with children or close friends

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 幾 means "how many".

25. 阿拉一道拍張照片好伐？

    aq7 laq8 iq7 dau6 phaq7 tsan1 tsau5 phi5 hau5 va6

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Asks a local person for a photo together

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. 阿拉 is "we", and 張 is the classifier for photos.

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