It is always helpful to know a few local phrases when travelling and even more importantly, you need to ‘say it right’ or the meaning may be totally lost or misunderstood due to your pronunciation!

We have noted a selection of the most common phrases you may need so you can start practicing before you leave ’

• Chinese 

• Vietnamese 

• Cambodian 

• Laos

• Burmese

   

‘Say it right’ ..... in Chinese (Mandarin)   

 English / Chinese / Pronunciation

• Hello  -   Ni hao (Nee how)

• Good morning  -   Tzao (Jow)

• Good evening  -   Wanshang hao (Wahn-shang how)

• Goodbye  -   Tsaijien (Zye jee-an)

• Please  -   Qing (Ching use only at  start of sentence)

• Thank you  -   Hsehhsieh (Shair shair)

• Sorry/excuse  -   me Dui bu qi (Dway boo chee) 

• How are you?  -   Ni hao ma? (Nee how ma) 

• I am well, thank you  -   Hen hao, hsehhsieh ni (Hen how, shair shair nee)

• What’s your name?  -   Kui hsing? (Gway sing)

• My name is  -   … Wo hsing …(Wore sing)

• Where are you from?  -   Ni cong nali lai? ( Nee choong nah lee lye)

• I am Australian  -   Wo shi Aodaliya ren (Wore sher Ow-dar-leeya ren)

• How much?  -   Duo shao qian? (Dwore sh-ow chee-arn)

• That’s too expensive!  -   Tai gui le! (Tye gway ler)

• Cheaper?  -   Pian yidian?  (Pee-arn ee-dee-arn) 

• No, I don’t want it!  -   Bu yao! (Boo yow)

• Very good  -   Hen hao (Hen how)

• I don’t understand  -   Wo ting budong (Wore ting bu dung)

   

‘Say it right’ ... in Vietnamese 

 English / Vietnamese / Pronunciation

• Hello! - Xin chao! (seen chow)

• Goodbye - Chao (chow) 

• How are you? - Ban co khoe khong? (ban co kwe khome?) 

• I'm fine, thank you! - Cam on ban toi khoe (gahm un ban thoy kwe)
  

• Good morning  -   chao buoi sang (chaw bui sang)
  

• Good afternoon  -   xin chao (seen chaw) 

• Good night  -   chao buoi toi (chaw bui toy)  

• What's your name? - Ban ten gi (ban thane zee)? 

• My name is... - Toi ten la (thoy thane la...)
  

• Thank you - Cam on (gahm un)
  

• You're welcome - Khong co' gi (khom go zee)

• Yes - Vang (vung) 

• No - Khong (khome) 

• Excuse me... - Xin loi (seen loy)

    

‘Say it right’ ... in Cambodian 

 English / Cambodian

• Hello - Suosday 

• Goodbye - Lea heuy 

• How are you? - Sok sabai cheat ay? 

• Thank you - Akun 

• Thank you very much - Akun jann 

• Yes - Baat (for males) Cha (for females) 

• No - Otay  

• Sorry - Sohm toh 

• Can you speak English? - Teu nak niyeay phea sar anglei tay? 

• What is your name? - Chhmua ei? 

• My name is …… - Khum chhmua …….. 

• See you tomorrow - Saek chuob knea

   

‘Say it right’ ... in Laos 

 English / Laos 

• Greeting or farewell - sa-baai-dii (often accompanied by “nop”)  

• How are you? - Sa-baai-dii baw 

• Thank you - Khawp jai 

• Thank you very much - Khawp jai lai lai 

• Excuse me - Khaw thoht 

• My name is - Khawy seu 

• I can’t speak Lao - Khawy paak phaa-saa lao baw dai 

• Can you speak English? - Jao paak phaa-saa ang-kit dai baw 

• Good - dii 

• Delicious - saep
  

‘Say it right’ ... in Burmese

English / Burmese

• Hello - Min ga la ba

• Hello (informal) - Nei kaung la

• How are you? - Nei kaon la?

• Fine, thank you - Ne kaon ba de

• What is your name? - Kamya ye na mee ba le?

• My name is – Kya nau na mee

• Nice to meet you - Twe ya da wanta ba de

• Please - Kyeizu pyu yue

• Thank you - Kyeizu tin ba de

• Yes - Ho de

• No - Ma ho bu

• Excuse me (getting attention) - Ka mya?

• I’m sorry - saw-re-be

• Goodbye - Thwa dau me