Basic Words

1. 係

   he3

   Yes

   Usage

   The basic affirmative reply; 係 is the copula "to be", so it also answers "is it?" directly

   Grammar Note

   The negative is 毋係 (m5 he3). Hakka writes the copula with 係, not Mandarin 是

2. 毋係

   m5 he3

   No

   Usage

   The basic negative reply; say it gently to stay polite

   Grammar Note

   毋 (m5) negates the copula and habitual or intended actions; "not have" is 無 (mo5) and "not yet" is 吂 (mang5)

3. 請

   qiang2

   Please

   Usage

   A polite word placed before a request or an invitation, as in 請問 (may I ask)

   Grammar Note

   Placed before a verb it adds politeness; on its own 請 also means to invite or to treat someone

4. 多謝

   do1 qia3

   Thank you

   Usage

   The standard way to say thanks, fine for elders and equals alike

   Grammar Note

   謝 is read qia3. The MOE dictionary glosses 多謝 as "very grateful"

5. 壞勢！

   fai2 se3!

   Excuse me / Sorry (light apology)

   Usage

   A light "sorry" for bumping into someone or a small mistake

   Grammar Note

   The MOE dictionary glosses it as "sorry, I feel bad about it"; 失禮 is a synonym

6. 失禮

   siid4 li1

   I am sorry / Excuse me

   Usage

   A slightly more formal apology, also used to excuse yourself when passing someone

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary sense 2 is "sorry". It sounds slightly more polite than 壞勢

7. 無問題

   mo5 mun3 ti5

   No problem

   Usage

   A reply to an apology or a request, meaning "it is fine"

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary example is about a matter being safe in your hands. 無 (mo5) means "not have"

8. 𠊎聽無

   ngai5 tang1 mo5

   I do not understand

   Usage

   Use it when you cannot catch or understand what was said

   Grammar Note

   聽無 is a dictionary headword (cannot understand by hearing); the positive is 聽有 (tang1 iu1). There is no separate verb like Mandarin 懂. Composed from dictionary-verified words

9. 𠊎曉得

   ngai5 hiau2 ded4

   I know / I understand

   Usage

   Use it to say "I know" or "got it"

   Grammar Note

   𠊎 is the Hakka character for "I". The negative is 𠊎毋知 (ngai5 m5 di1). Composed from dictionary-verified words

10. 好

    ho2

    OK / Good

    Usage

    A short reply to agree or accept

    Grammar Note

    好 is ho2 (good). In the sense of "be fond of" it is read hau3, a different word

11. 請等一下仔

    qiang2 den2 id4 ha3 e2

    Please wait a moment

    Usage

    Use it to ask someone to wait for a short while

    Grammar Note

    等一下仔 is a headword. Do not use 等下 (den2 ha3), which means "later". Composed from dictionary-verified words

12. 罅擺

    la3 bai2

    That is enough

    Usage

    Say it when you have enough, or when you want no more

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses 罅擺 as "enough". 罅 means "sufficient"; the negative is 毋罅 (m5 la3)

13. 一儕

    id4 sa5

    One person

    Usage

    Use it to give the number of people, for example at a restaurant

    Grammar Note

    The classifier for people is 儕 (sa5). 一 is an entering-tone syllable read id4. Composed from dictionary-verified words

14. 兩儕

    liong2 sa5

    Two people

    Usage

    Gives the party size as two, for example when asking for a table

    Grammar Note

    Before a classifier "two" is 兩 (liong2), not 二. The dictionary glosses it as "two people"

15. 三儕

    sam1 sa5

    Three people

    Usage

    Gives the party size as three

    Grammar Note

    A numeral followed by 儕 gives the number of people. Composed from dictionary-verified words

16. 𠊎無預約

    ngai5 mo5 i3 iog4

    I do not have a reservation

    Usage

    Tell this to staff when you arrive without a reservation

    Grammar Note

    無 (mo5) expresses "do not have"; it is not 吂 (mang5, "not yet"). Composed from dictionary-verified words

17. 𠊎有預約

    ngai5 iu1 i3 iog4

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Tell staff at a restaurant or hotel that you have booked

    Grammar Note

    有 (iu1) and 無 (mo5) are the paired verbs of having and not having. Composed from dictionary-verified words

18. 請幫助𠊎

    qiang2 bong1 cu3 ngai5

    Please help me

    Usage

    A polite way to ask for help

    Grammar Note

    The native synonym is 𢯭手 (ten3 su2); the dictionary example is an offer: "shall I help you?". Composed from dictionary-verified words

19. 請再講一擺

    qiang2 zai3 gong2 id4 bai2

    Please say it again

    Usage

    Ask someone to repeat what you did not catch

    Grammar Note

    The classifier for occasions is 擺 (bai2), corresponding to Mandarin 次. Composed from dictionary-verified words

20. 請慢慢仔講

    qiang2 man3 man3 e2 gong2

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    Ask this when someone speaks too fast for you

    Grammar Note

    慢慢仔 is a headword; the suffix 仔 (e2) forms the adverb. Composed from dictionary-verified words

21. 𠊎會講一息仔客話

    ngai5 voi3 gong2 id4 xid8 e2 hag4 fa3

    I can speak a little Hakka

    Usage

    Tell people you speak a little Hakka; it is usually warmly received

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary headword is 客話, not Mandarin 客語. 會 (voi3) means "know how to". Composed from dictionary-verified words

22. 你會講英文無？

    ngi5 voi3 gong2 in1 vun5 mo5?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Use it to ask whether someone can communicate in English

    Grammar Note

    Sentence-final 無 (mo5) makes a yes/no question. Hakka has no polite "您"; 你 is used for everyone. Composed from dictionary-verified words

23. 這隻

    ia2 zag4

    This one

    Usage

    Point to something near you

    Grammar Note

    Hakka does not use 個 here; the classifier is 隻 (zag4)

24. 該隻

    ge3 zag4

    That one

    Usage

    Point to something farther away

    Grammar Note

    The distal word is 該 (ge3); 該 read goi1 is a different word meaning "ought to"

25. 這位

    ia2 vi3

    Here

    Usage

    Points to a place: "here"

    Grammar Note

    位 (vi3) marks a place. Dictionary sense 2 is "this person" (polite)

26. 該位

    ge3 vi3

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place farther away: "there"

    Grammar Note

    The counterpart of 這位. The dictionary pairs it with 在 as in "over there"

27. 𠊎

    ngai5

    I; me

    Usage

    The first-person pronoun; the plural is 𠊎等 (ngai5 den2)

    Grammar Note

    Hakka writes "I" with its own character 𠊎, not 我; it is the MOE recommended character

28. 你

    ngi5

    You

    Usage

    The second-person pronoun; there is no honorific form

    Grammar Note

    The plural is 你等. "Your" has its own form 若 (ngia1)

29. 共下

    kiung3 ha3

    Together

    Usage

    Use it to invite or ask someone to do something together

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary maps it to Mandarin 一起; Mandarin 一起 itself is not used

Browse all TravelPhrases languages