Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases— Mandarin (Chinese)
© RDNS January 2007 Page 1 of 6ACHS L1
Guidelines for Use
RDNS is committed to the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004, which informs RDNS' policies to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds can enjoy access to RDNS' services equally, and are treated with respect and sensitivity.
RDNS' clients originate from 145 countries and speak 74 languages.
Each of RDNS' nursing centres provides services to local CALD communities, which vary markedly from centre to centre. Some centres may have large population groups from single ethnic backgrounds; others may have several groups of varying ethnicity.
RDNS recognises that effective communication is essential to the delivery of high quality services and communicates with people who speak little or no English with the use of accredited interpreters (on-site and telephone), the provision of translated materials, and wherever possible employing staff who can provide services to clients in a language other than English.
In addition, RDNS makes available this information sheet which comprises common words and phrases that might be used when a client from a non-English speaking background is experiencing an episode of care from RDNS.
Whilst this document was originally developed for use by RDNS staff, it may of use to you or people you know and as a result is freely available for download and use.
This document includes information on the following:
Introduction to the languageTopic 1: GreetingsTopic 2: Making / changing appointmentsTopic 3: Medical problemsTopic 4: farewell
RDNS remains committed to providing the best possible care to all of our clients.
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases— Mandarin (Chinese)
© RDNS January 2007 Page 2 of 6ACHS L1
Introduction to Chinese Written andChinese Spoken - Standard Mandarin
MANDARINThe written form of the Chinese language is based on characters of square shape (such as), not an alphabet. Chinese characters do not represent sounds. A Chinese character can be
pronounced in many different ways in different Chinese dialects. Pronunciations of different Chinesedialects are so varied that Chinese people speaking different dialects often cannot communicateamongst themselves orally. Mandarin, being different from many Chinese dialects and spoken bymore and more Australian Chinese nowadays, is the official language in the mainland of China andTaiwan.
The Chinese language is a tonal language. One pronunciation usually has four tones to representdifferent characters, and different meanings, in Mandarin. Tones are slightly different stresses ofpronouncing characters. However, it seems to be no simple way to correctly indicate tones ofcharacters in a sentence.
Please be informed the following issues in using the workplace words and phrases:In English: we say “Mr. Wang” and “Mrs. Wang”. But we should say in a different word order inMandarin, such as (Wang Mr. ) and “ ”(Wang Mrs.).
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases— Mandarin (Chinese)
© RDNS January 2007 Page 3 of 6ACHS L1
Topic 1: GREETINGSEnglish Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
Hello Nee how
Good morning Jao sarng how
Good afternoon Sia woo how
Good evening / night / Wahn sarng how / wahn arn
What is your name? Nee jiow sum mor ming ji?
I am a nurse War si hoo si
My name is War de ming ji si
Mr …… / Mrs …… ...... / ...... ……sien serng / ……tai tai
I am happy to see you again Hern gao sing yo jen dow Nee la
No Boow si
Yes si
Good how
Do you understand me? Nee ting de dong war sore de hwama?
I understand War ting de dong
I don’t understand you War ting boow dong nee sore dehwa
Do you need an interpreter? Nee shu yao chuang yi yuan ma?
I need an interpreter War shu yao chuan yi yuan
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases— Mandarin (Chinese)
© RDNS January 2007 Page 4 of 6ACHS L1
Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTSEnglish Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
What day can I visit you?
At what time?
War ker yee jiy sing chee jee lyetaun farng nee?
Sum mo si jen lye how?
Monday Sing chee yee
Tuesday Sing chee er
Wednesday Sing chee san
Thursday Sing chee si
Friday Sing chee woo
Saturday Sing chee liuw
Sunday Sing chee rr
Morning
Noon
Afternoon
Evening / Night
Sarng woo
Jong woo
Sia woo
Wahn sang
I need to………… War shu yao……
Make a phone call Da ge dien hwa
Speak…… …… Da dien hwa gey
to your doctor Nee de yee serng
to your family Nee de jia reng
to your son Nee de er ji
to your daughter Nee de hoo er
to your husband Nee de sien serng
to your wife Nee de tai tai
to your brother Nee de siong dee
to your sister Nee de jer may
I need to change our visit time War yao gai ben war men taunfarng de si jen
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases— Mandarin (Chinese)
© RDNS January 2007 Page 5 of 6ACHS L1
Topic 3: MEDICAL PROBLEMSEnglish Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
How are you? Nee how ma?
Where does it hurt? Jiuw de nar lee teng?
The chemist will bring yourtablets this afternoon / tomorrow
/ Jin ten sia woo / ming ten yao jeesi hway gey Nee die yao lye
Show me the medications thatyou are taking
Rang war karn yee karn Nee chide yao
I want you to take your medicine Nee day chi yao ah
Can you get yourself somewater?
Nee neng ji jee nar sway ma?
I need to……
Check your blood pressure
Take your pulse
Change your dressing
…… War yao
Jen char nee de shu yar
Jen char nee de my boow
Hwan yao
Ambulance Jiw hoo cher
Doctor Yee serng
Medicine Yao woo
Are you constipated? Nee yo ben bi ma?
Do you have diabetes? Nee yo tarng niow bing ma?
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Mandarin (Chinese)
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Topic 4: FAREWELL
English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in English
You can ring me on ……. 你 可 以 打 電 話 給 我 , 電 話 號 碼 是......
Nee ker yee da dien hwa gey war, dien hwa how ma si ……
Thank you 謝 謝 Siare siare
I’m pleased to have met you 見 到 你 真 高 興 Jen dow nee jern gao sing
You are welcome 不 客 氣 Boow ker chee
Good - bye 再 見 Tsai jen
Keep well 保 重 Bao jong
Take care / All the best / Good luck
保 重 / 祝 你 一 切 都 好 / 祝 你 好 運
Bao jong / joo nee yee chair dough how / joo nee how yoon