Asia phrasebook

This phrasebook aims to provide basic expressions for hitchhikers in the major Asian languages.

Chinese

The main problem with Chinese is the pronunciation; if you want to learn some phrases it would probably be best to listen to them first.

• ni chu nar le? -- where are you going?
• wo chu... -- I am going to...
• meio chian -- no money... (the only way I know to tell them that you are hitchhiking)
• gong lu -- highway
• gao se gong lu -- expressway
• zega/nega -- this/that
• nar -- where
• boo yao djege! -- I don't want this!
• fay chang gan sje! -- Thank you very much!

The best option probably is to have a driver who knows some english translate your most important phrases into chinese characters and write them on a card so you can show them to everybody.--Worldhitch 17:45, 7 October 2007 (CEST)

Since it is pretty hard to learn the right pronunciation outside of China it might be helpful to write down some phrases in chinese characters so you can show to your driver. Here is a short list of phrases written in traditional chinese characters that are used in Taiwan:

• 你去哪裡？ -- where are you going?
• 我想去。。。 -- I'd like to go to...
• 我沒有錢。 -- I don't have any money.
• 您走公路嗎？ -- Do you take the highway?
• 我們在哪裡？ -- Where are we?
• 可以停車嗎？ -- Can you stop the car, please?
• 我要下車. -- I want to leave the car. (does not sound as impolite in chinese as it does in english).

Hindi/Urdu

1. Hello -- Namaste (Hindi) / Salaam (Urdu)
2. How are you? -- Aapka haal kya hae? (formal) / Tumhaara haal kya hae? (informal)

Japanese

1. morning / good afternoon / evening / night! – お早うございます (ohayo gozaimasu) / 今日は (Konnichiwa) / 今晩は (Konbanwa) / oyasumi nasai
2. Excuse me – sumimasen
3. Are you going to... – ... e ikimasu ka?
4. Could I go with you? – anata to issho ni ittemo iidesu ka?
5. Gas station / parking area / rest area / parking space / along the highway – gasorin sutando / pākingu eria / sābisu eria / chusha jo / kousoku do ni sotte
6. Is it free? / I can't pay – tada desuka? / watashi wa haraemasen
7. Do you speak ...? other languages? / Could you speak more slowly please? – ... o hanashimasu ka? / hoka no kotoba o shitte masuka? / yukkuri hanashite kudasai
8. Yes / No / Maybe / No, thanks – Hai / Iie / Tabun / kekko desu / irimasen
9. Great / perfect / bad / no problem – Subarashii or Good sugoi (casual) / warui / daijōbu
10. I don't understand you / I don't know – Wakarimasen / shirimasen
11. I'm going to / where are you going? – ... e ikimasu / Doko made?
12. My name is... / What's your name? / I'm from... / Where are you from? – Namae wa ... desu / Namae wa nan desu ka? / watashi wa ... kara kimashita / Doko kara kimashita ka?
13. I'm ... years old. / How old are you? – ...sai desu / nan sai desuka?
14. I'm studying ... – ... benkyo shiteimasu
15. I have a boyfriend/girlfriend / I'm married / I’m single. – kareshi/kanojo ga imsu / kekkon shiteimasu / dokushin desu
16. I'm on holidays. / I'm visiting friends in... / I'm just travelling there. – bakeishon/kyukachu desu / ... tomodachi no tokoro ni ikimasu / tada no ryokou desu/tada soko e ryokou ni ikimasu
17. I'm staying for ... / I'm coming back ... – nokori masu / modotte kimasu
18. Don't touch me! / Let me get out! / Stop! / Help! – sawaranaide! / watashi o dashite! / matte! / tasukete!
19. Could you drop me off here? – koko de oroshite kudasai
20. Thanks for your help. / Have a good trip! – Domo arigato gozaimasu. / ki o tsukete!
21. Where can I find ... – doko de ... o sagase masuka?
22. the centre / a map – sentaa / chizu
23. a bathroom / a supermarket / a pharmacy / a camping spot – toire / supaa / kusuri ya / camp jo
24. an internet cafe / an ATM / a bank –
25. a subway station / a bus station / a train station – chikatetsu / basu tei / eki
26. the highway to / a good spot to hitchhike – jidosha do ni / hitchhike o suru noni ii tokoro
27. water / tea / coffee – o-mizu / o-cha / kohi
28. beer / (red) wine / juice – biru / wain (akai) / jūsu
29. vegetarian / a small restaurant / bread / a cheap restaurant –
30. Cheers! / Enjoy! – Kampai! / tanoshinde kudasai!
31. I'm hungry/thirsty/all right/cold/hot/sick –
32. North/south/east/west – kita / minami / higashi / nishi
33. yesterday/today/tomorrow/ – kinō/kyō/ashita
34. one/two/three/four/five/six/seven/eight/nine/ten – ichi/ni/san/shi or yon/go/roku/shichi or nana/hachi/kyū/jū
35. eleven/twelve/thirteen/fourteen/fifteen/sixteen/seventeen/eighteen/nineteen/twenty – jū-ichi/jū-ni/jū-san/jū-yon/jū-go/jū-roku/jū-shichi or jū-nana/jū-hachi/jū-kyū/ni jū
36. twenty-one / thirty – ni jū / san jū
37. hour/day/week/month/kilometre –
38. left/right/straight ahead/before/after – hidari / migi / massugu / mae or saki / mae / atode
39. this one/the next one/the last one – kono / tsugi no / saigo no
40. often/rarely/never/long/short –
41. up/down/on top of/under –
42. How far is it on foot? / Where are we? –
43. How much is it? / What time is it? – Ikura desu ka? / Nanji desu ka ??
44. I am / We are looking for a place to sleep. – watashi/watashitachi wa nerutokoro o sagashite imasu.
45. Where can I / we buy a ticket? – doko de ken o kae masuka?
46. Who? / What? / Where? / Why? / When? – Dare? / Nani? / Doko? / Naze? / Itsu?
47. How?/How much?/How much time?/Which? – doyatte? / ikura desu ka? / donokurai no jikan? / dore desu ka?

Mongolian

Most of this phrasebook was compiled by Zenit with the help of faint memories and a semi-helpful dictionary. Don't expect correct grammar, but most of the phrases should be understandable if you get the pronunciation right (good luck). Zenit is giving away one Mongolian dictionary, by the way.

1. Hello -- Sain baina uu.
2. Could I get a lift to...? -- Bi tergend qine suja bolhoo ruu...?
3. - a gasstation / along the highway -- Dos nemeh urtuu / zam dagan
4. Is the lift free? / I can't pay. -- Zosi ohkuu bolhoo? (Inner Mongolia) / Tugerig tulku bolhoo? (Outer Mongolia)
5. Is it possible for free? -- Tulburgui bolomzh?
6. Where is the highway? – Zasamal zan ha baih bai??
7. Can we pitch our tent here? -- Bid end maixhna bar'zh bolokh uu?
8. Do you speak ...? / any other languages / Could you speak slow? -- ...yarikh ve? / Khel yalgaatai / Yavach udaan bolomsh ve?
9. yes / no / maybe / no thanks / -- Tim / Uguy / Bolzoshgui / Uguy bayrlalaa
10. That’s great / perfect / bad / no problem -- Ene saykhan / yag taarakh / muu / hamagui
11. I don't understand. / I don't know. -- Bi oilgekui/oilgukhgui / Bi medhkui
12. I'm going to ... / Where are you going to? – Bi ... oqinaa. / Qi ha oqihbai? (or, according to Zenit's experience: Bi yavaakh ruu... / Khashaa yavakh ve?)
13. My name is... / I’m from... -- Mini ner ... gedeg. / Bi ... yin hun.
14. I’m ... years old. -- Bi ...-toi
15. I study.... -- Bi surakh...
16. I have a boy-friend/a girl-friend. / I'm married. -- Bi naiz saluu-tai / uyerkhdeg buzgui-tai / Bi ger bultey
17. I’m on holiday. -- Bi amraltaar
18. Don’t touch me! / Let (me?) out! / Stop! / Help! -- Khurekhgui! / Tarakh! / Zogsookh! / Tus!, tuslamzh!
19. Can you drop me off here? -- Namaii ende bulgaj bolhoo.
20. Thank you! -- bayrlalaa'
21. Where can I find ...? -- Khaa....?
22. - the city centre / a map -- Khot'n tuv / gazryn zugar
23. - a toilet / a supermarket / a shop / a pharmacy / a campsite -- bie zasakh gazar / supermarket / khunziyn delguur / emiyn san / zhuultshny baaz
24. - a bank / a shower-- bank / khaluun us
25. - a busstation / a trainstation -- avtobusny budaal / galt teregny budaal
26. - the highway to ... -- zam ruu...
27. water / -- Bayrtai!
28. I’m hungry / thirsty / fine / cold / hot / sick -- Bi ulsguluntei / tsangasaan / sayn / zhavar / khaluun / buulzhis tsutgakh
29. north / east / south / west -- khoid / zuun / umnu / baruun
30. yesterday / today / tomorrow -- utshigdur / unuu uye / margaash
31. zero / one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten -- teg / neg / hoyor / durav / guruv / tav / surgaa / doloo / naim / es / arav
32. eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen / seventeen / eighteen / nineteen / twenty -- arvan neg / arvan hoyor / etc. / xor'
33. twenty-one / thirty -- khoryin neg / gutsh
34. hour / day / week / month / kilometre -- tsag / khonog / doloo khonog / sar / kilometr
35. (to/on the) left / (to/on the) right / straight on / before/ after -- zuun tal(d) / baruun tal(d) / tegsh / umnu, urd / daraa
36. this / next / last -- ene / daraagiyn / khamgiyn
37. often / seldom / never / long / short -- bayn bayn / khaaya / yeruusuu / urt / bogino
38. over / under -- deeguur / dor
39. Is it far (on foot)? / Where are we here? -- (Yavgan) khol/als ve? / Bid khaa end?
40. How much does it cost? / What time is it? -- Ter yamar unetey ve? / Hitt'n tsag bolsh bayna?
41. Where can we buy a ticket? -- Khaa bolomzh avakh tiys?
42. Who? / What? / Where? / Why? / When? -- khen? / yuu? / khaa? / yagaad? / khezee?
43. How much? / How long? / Which? -- Hitt'n? - aly/khen?

There is a translation for to hitchhike, being zamyn unaand daygdakh. The accuracy of this translation is not proven, though (and especially if it includes the absence of payment, a notion notoriously hard to come by in Mongolia). A hitchhiker is zamyn unaand daygdagtsh.

Russian

In this transcription, e is usually pronounced rather like ye.

1. Hello = Здравствуйте (Привет) - Zdrastvuyte (more formal) / Привет Privet (more informal)
2. Excuse me.. = Извините (Прошу прощения) - Izvinite / Proshoo(u:) proscheniya
3. Do you possibly drive in the direction of ...? = Вы случайно не едете в сторону ...?- Vi edete v napravlenii …?
4. Could I get a lift to...? = Вы можете меня подвезти к ...? - Vi ne mogli bi podvezti menya k …?
5. - a petrol station / a service area / a parking place? / along the motorway = заправке / сервисной зоне / парковке? - benzopravke/ rayonu(u:) obsluzhivaniya/ parkovke/ pau(o:) doroge
6. Is the lift free? / I can't pay. = Это бесплатно? / У меня нет денег. - Yeto besplatno?/ U(u:) menya net deneg
7. Do you speak ...? / any other languages / Could you speak slower, please? = Вы говорите на ...? / других языках? / Говорите, пожалуйста, помедленнее. - Vi govorite na…?/ drugih yazikah?Govorite, pozhal(oo(u:))ysta, medlennee.
8. yes / no / maybe / no thanks / = Да / Нет / Может быть / Нет, спасибо - da/ net/ vozmozhno/ net, spasibo
9. That’s great / perfect / bad / no problem = Хорошо / Отлично / Плохо / Нет проблем - Yeto velikolepno/ otlichno/ ploho/ net problem
10. I don't understand. / I don't know. = Я не понимаю. / Я не знаю. - Ya ne ponimayu/ Ya ne znayu
11. I'm going to ... / Where are you going to? = Мне нужно в ... (Я еду в ...) / Куда вы едете? - Mne nuzhno v … /( Ya edu(u:) v…)/ Ku(u:)da vi edete?
12. My name is... / What's your name? / I’m from... / Where are you from? = Меня зовут ... / Как вас зовут? / Я из ... / Откуда вы? - Menya zovut …/ Kak vas zovut?/ Ya iz.../Otku(u:)da vi?
13. I’m ... years old. / How old are you? = Мне ... лет. / Сколько вам лет?- Mne … let./ Skol’ko vam let?
14. I study.... / My subjects are... / I’m in my ... year. / I will become a .... = Я изучаю ... / Я изучаю ... / Я на ... курсе. - Ya izuchayu… / Ya izuchayu…/ Yan a … kurse.
15. I have a boy-friend/a girl-friend. / I'm married. = У меня есть парень/девушка. / Я [male]женат, [female]замужем.- U(u:) menya est’ paren’/devushka. Ya(male) zhenat, Ya(female) zamuzhem.
16. I’m on holiday. / I visit friends in... / I'm hitchhiking around... = У меня каникулы / Я еду в гости к друзьям в ... / Я путешествую автостопом. - U(u:) menya kaniku(u:)/ Ya edu v gosti k druz’yam v …/ Ya pu(u:)teshestvuyu avtostopom.
17. I will stay for... / I’m going back... = Я проведу там ... / Я возвращаюсь ...- Ya provedu tam …/ Ya vozvraschayus’…
18. Don’t touch me! / Let me out! / Stop! / Help! = Не трогай меня! / Пусти! / Стой! (Останови!) / Помогите!-Ne troga(Λ)y menya!/ P(oo(u:))sti!/ Stoy!(Ostanovi)/Pomoghite!
19. Can you drop me off here? = Вы можете меня здесь высадить? - Vi mozhete menya zdes’ vysadit’?
20. Thank you! / Have a nice day/trip! = Спасибо! / Хорошей дороги! - Spasibo!/ Horoshey dorogi!
21. Where can I find ...? = Как мне найти ...? (or just Где ...?) - Kak mne na(Λ)yti…? ( Gde?)
22. - the city centre / a map = центр города / карту - tsentr goroda/ kartu(u:)
23. - a toilet / a supermarket / a pharmacy / a campsite = туалет / супермаркет / аптека / место для палатки - tu(u:)a(Λ)let/supermarket/apteka/ mesto dlya palatki
24. - an internetcafe / a cashmachine / a bank = интернет-кафе / банкомат / банк - internet-ka(Λ)fe/ ba(Λ)nkomat/ ba(Λ)nk
25. - a metrostation / a busstation / a trainstation = станция метро / автостанция / вокзал - sta(Λ)ntsiya metro/ a(Λ)vtosta(Λ)ntsiya/ vokza(Λ)l
26. - the motorway to ... / a good hitchhikingspot = трасса в сторону ... / хорошее место для автостопа - tra(Λ)ssa v storonu(u:)…/ horoshee mesto dlya a(Λ)vtostopa
27. water / (herbal) tea / hot chocolate / coffee = вода / (травяной) чай / горячий шоколад / кофе - voda(Λ)/ cha(Λ)y/ goryachiy shokola(Λ)d/kofe
28. beer / (red, white) wine / juice = пиво / (красное, белое) вино / сок - pivo/(kra(Λ)snoe, beloe) vino/ sok
29. vegetarian / diner / bread / a cheap restaurant = вегетарианец / столовая / хлеб / дешевый ресторан - vegetarianets/stolovaya/ hleb/ deshoviy restoran
30. Cheers! / Enjoy your meal! = На здоровье! / Приятного аппетита! - Na zdorovie ! Priyatnogo appetita!
31. I’m hungry / thirsty / fine / cold / hot / sick = Я голодный / Я хочу пить / Я в порядке / Мне холодно / Мне жарко / Мне плохо - Ya golodniy/ Ya hochu pit’ / Ya v poryadke/ Mne holodno/Mne zharko/ Mne ploho
32. north / east / south / west = север / восток / юг / запад - sever/vostok/yug/zapad
33. yesterday / today / tomorrow = вчера / сегодня / завтра - vchera/ segodnya/ zavtra
34. zero / one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten = ноль / один / два / три / четыре / пять / шесть / семь / восемь / девять / десять - nol’/odin/dva/tri/chetire/pyat’/shest’/sem’/ vosem’/ devyat’/ desyat’/
35. eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen / seventeen / eighteen / nineteen / twenty = одиннадцать / двенадцать / тринадцать / четырнадцать / пятнадцать / шестнадцать / семнадцать / восемнадцать / девятнадцать / двадцать - odinadtsat’/dvenadtsat’/trinadtsat’/chetirnadtsat’/ petnadtsat’/ shestnadtsat’/semnadtsat’/vosemnadtsat’/devetnadtsat’/ dvadtsat’
36. twenty-one / thirty = двадцать один / тридцать - dvadtsat’ odin/ tridtsat’
37. hour / day / week / month / kilometre = час / день / неделя / месяц / километр - chas/ den’/ nedelya/ mesyats/ kilometr
38. left / right / straight on / before/ after = налево / направо / прямо / перед / после - nalevo/ napravo/ pryamo/ pered/ posle
39. this / next / last / = этот / следующий / последний - Yetot/sledu(u:)yuschiy/ posledniy
40. often / seldom / never / long / short = часто / редко / никогда / далеко / близко - chasto/redko/nikogda/ daleko/ blizko
41. up / down / over / under = вверх / вниз / над / под - vverh/ vniz/ nad/ pod
42. How far is it (on foot)? / Where are we? = Это далеко (пешком)? / Где мы? - Yeto daleko(peshkom)? / Gde mi?
43. How much does it cost? / What time is it? = Сколько это стоит? / Который час? - Skol’ko yeto stoit/ Kotoriy chas?
44. We are looking for a place to sleep. = Мы ищем где можно переночевать. - Mi ischem gde mozhno perenochevat’.
45. Where can we buy a ticket? = Где купить билет? - Gde kupit’ bilet?
46. Who? / What? / Where? / Why? / When? = Кто? / Что? / Где? / Почему? / Когда? - Kto?/ Chto?/ Gde?/ Pochemu(u:)?/ Kogda?
47. How? / How much? / How long? / Which? = Как? / Сколько? / Как долго? / Какой? - Kak?/ Skol’ko?/ Kak dolgo?/ Kakoy?

Thai

As Thai and Lao are closely related languages and mutually understandable, there is no separate phrasebook for Lao. Deviations from Thai are mentioned in brackets. "Krap" is used by male speakers and "kaa" by female speakers.

1. Hello = Sawaidee krap/kaa (Sabaidee)
2. Where are you going? = Pai nai? (Pai sai?)
3. I don't have money. = Mai mi ngen. (Bo mi ngen)
4. No problem = Mai penyang. (bo penyang)
5. Good / bad / a little = Dee / mai dee (bo dee) / nit-noy (noy n'ng)
6. I don't understand = Mai cautchai (bo cautchai)
7. Thank you! = Ko pun krap/kaa! (capchai)
8. Where is... = nai...
9. Road = thanon
10. Temple = wat
11. to sleep = nun
12. vegetarian = mangsavilat