Good morning.
?? Tsau-’a, ?? Noong tsau.

How are you? (are you well?)
???
Hau la va?

Sir, may I ask your name? [to a gentleman, equal, or superior].
?? or ??
Kwe-sing? (or) Tsung-sing?

What is your name? (surname) [to workmen, coolies, etc.]
???
Noong sing sa?

My humble name [polite form] is Gold.
???
Bi sing Kyung.

My name is Gold, [ordinary].
???
Ngoo sing Kyung.

What is your “given” name? [polite form].
????
Da-‘au z sa?

What is your “given” name? [ordinary].
??????
Noong-kuh ming-deu kyau sa?

My “given” name is John [polite form].
????
Dzien ‘au Iak-‘oen.

My “given” name is John. [ordinary].
???????
Ngoo-kuh ming-deu kyau Iak-‘oen.

Sir, may I ask your age? [polite].
????
Sien-sang kwe-kang?

How old are you? [ordinary].
???
Noong kyi soe?

I am thirty years old [polite form].
?????
Hyui doo san-seh soe.

I am thirty years old. [ordinary].
????
Ngoo san-seh soe.

To-day is cold.
????
Kyung-tsau z lang.

To-day is very warm.
?????
Kyung-tsau ’man noen-nyih.

To-day is hot.
????
Kyung-tsau ting nyih.

There is much wind to-day.
????
Kyung-tsau foong doo.

It is raining to-day.
????
Kyung-tsau lauh-yui.

It is beautiful weather to-day.
??????
Kyung-tsau thien-chi ’man-hau.

Recently we have had too much rain.
??????
Jung-le yui-s thuh-too.

It has been too dry.
??????
Jung-le thien-chi thuh ’oen.

What have you come for?
????? (or) ?????
Noong le sa tsung-koen, (or) noong le sa z-thi.

Come again in two days.
?????
Tung liang nyih tse-le.

Take a cup of tea.
?????
Tshing yoong ih-pe dzo.

Thank you.
??
Zia-zia.

Do you smoke?
????
Noong chuh-ien va?

No, thank you, I do not smoke.
??, ???
Zia-zia, ngoo ’veh chuh.

Is business good?
??????
Noong-kuh sang-i hau va?

It is bad.
??
’Veh hau.

It is fairly good.
??
Wan hau.

It is very good.
??
’Man-hau.

Is your friend well?
???????
Noong-kuh bang-yeu hau la va?

He is sick.
?????
Yi leh-la sang-bing.

Good-bye (said by person leaving).
???
Sau be noong.

Good-bye (said to person leaving).
??
Man chi or man man chi (lit., go slowly).

Good-bye (expecting to meet later on).
???
An hyih we.

Good-bye (we meet to-morrow).
???
Ming-tsau we.

Good-bye (we meet again).
??
Tse we.

Good-bye (we meet after some days).
? (or ?) ??
Kan (or kak) nyih we.

The following anticipate ordinary queries from a Chinese visitor:—

What is your honorable country?
???????
Kwe kok z ‘a-li ih kok?

My humble country is England.
?????
Bi kok z Iung-kok.

The following are more colloquial in style:—

I am an Englishman.
?????
Ngoo z Iung-kok nyung.

I am an American.
????? (or ???)
Ngoo z ’Me-kok nyung (or Hwo-ji nyung).

I am a German.
?????
Ngoo z Tuh-kok nyung.

I am a Frenchman.
?????
Ngoo z Fah-kok nyung.

When did you come to China?
??????
Kyi-z tau Tsoong-kok kuh?

I came fifteen years ago.
? (??) ??????
Ngoo (i-kyung) le-ts so-ng nyien tse.

Upon what business did you come to China?
???????
Noong tau Tsoong-kok le tsoo sa?

I am a merchant.
?????
Ngoo z sang-i-nyung.

I am a doctor.
????
Ngoo z i-sang.

I am a missionary.
?????
Ngoo z dzen-dau kuh.

I am merely visiting.
??????
Ngoo le z yeu-lih kuh.

I am a commercial traveller.
???????
Ngoo le z teu sang-i kuh.

I am a ship’s officer.
????????
Ngoo la lung-zen laung ban z kuh.

Have you a wife?
?????? (or) ?????
Noong i-kyung dzung-tshing va? (or) noong yeu nyang-ts va?

Yes, she is in England.
???,??????
Ngoo yeu kuh; yi yien-dze la Iung-kok.

Yes, she is coming soon.
??????
Yi zieu iau le khwa tse.

Have you any children?
??????
Noong yeu sa siau noen va?

Three sons and two daughters.
??????????
Ngoo yeu san-kuh nyi-ts lau liang-kuh noen.

What age are they?
?????
Yi-la kyi soe tse?

The oldest is 20 years old.
??????
Ting doo kuh z nyan soe.

The youngest is 12 years old.
???????
Ting-siau-kuh z zeh-nyi soe.

Give my greetings to your family,
???????
Maung-maung noong-kuh ih ka-mung.