Greetings

1. 你好！

   ngi5 ho2!

   Hello

   Usage

   Common in textbooks and signage; in daily speech 食飽吂 or 恁早 sound more natural

   Grammar Note

   Composed greeting: there is no phrase headword; it joins 你 and 好. 好 is ho2 "good", not hau3 "to like"

2. 恁早！

   an2 zo2!

   Good morning

   Usage

   A morning greeting, fine for teachers, elders and family alike

   Grammar Note

   Literally "so early". Dictionary sense 1 is "so early"; sense 2 is the morning greeting

3. 食飽吂？

   siid8 bau2 mang5?

   Hello (lit. Have you eaten yet?)

   Usage

   The classic Hakka greeting when meeting someone, usable at any time of day; it is not really a question about food

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-final 吂 (mang5) makes "have you … yet?". The dictionary glosses this as a meeting greeting equivalent to "hello"

4. 你食飽吂？

   ngi5 siid8 bau2 mang5?

   Have you eaten yet?

   Usage

   Used when you really do ask whether someone has eaten

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-final 吂 forms the "have you … yet?" question. Answer 食飽 (done) or 吂 (not yet)

5. 多謝！

   do1 qia3!

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common way to say thanks

   Grammar Note

   謝 is read qia3 in Hakka, not Mandarin xie. The dictionary glosses it as "very grateful"

6. 請問……

   qiang2 mun3 ...

   Excuse me / May I ask

   Usage

   An opener before asking for directions, prices, etc.

   Grammar Note

   請 is qiang2 (the dictionary's own example for sense 1 is 請問). It opens a sentence; the question follows

7. 失禮！

   siid4 li1!

   I'm sorry / Excuse me

   Usage

   A light apology, or a way to get attention; e.g. after stepping on someone's foot

   Grammar Note

   Literally "lacking courtesy". Synonym: 壞勢 (fai2 se3). Sense 1 is "impolite"; sense 2 is the apology

8. 壞勢！

   fai2 se3!

   Sorry / I apologize

   Usage

   An apology for causing trouble; same meaning as 失禮

   Grammar Note

   Glossed as "excuse me, sorry"; the dictionary example has someone offering to pay after damaging a car

9. 再見！

   zai3 gien3!

   Goodbye / See you

   Usage

   A farewell, often followed by 有閒正來尞 ("come visit again when you have time")

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary synonyms: 再會 and 正來尞 (zang3 loi5 liau3, "come to play again")

10. 歡迎！

    fon1 ngiang5!

    Welcome

    Usage

    Said when welcoming a guest

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary headword meaning "to welcome"; a person can follow it, as in 歡迎你

11. 無問題。

    mo5 mun3 ti5.

    No problem

    Usage

    Replies "it's fine" to a request or worry

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary headword. 無 is mo5 "not have", different from 毋 (m5)

12. 請問，你喊做麼个名？

    qiang2 mun3, ngi5 ham3 zo3 ma2 ge3 miang5?

    Excuse me, what is your name?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask a new acquaintance's name

    Grammar Note

    喊做 means "to be called"; the dictionary example is 佢喊做麼个名. Hakka has no honorific "you", so politeness comes from 請問

13. 請問，便所在哪位？

    qiang2 mun3, pien3 so2 cai3 nai3 vi3?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Used to ask where the toilet is

    Grammar Note

    Hakka says 便所 for toilet, and 在哪位 for "where". Composed from dictionary-verified words

14. 𠊎毋會講客話。

    ngai5 m5 voi3 gong2 hag4 fa3.

    I can't speak Hakka

    Usage

    Tells people you cannot speak Hakka, so they speak slowly or switch language

    Grammar Note

    𠊎 is the MOE recommended character for "I". The dictionary word for the language is 客話 (客語 is not a headword). Composed from dictionary-verified words

15. 𠊎下擺再來。

    ngai5 ha3 bai2 zai3 loi5.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop or lodging to say you will return

    Grammar Note

    下擺 means "next time"; 擺 counts occasions. Composed from dictionary-verified words

16. 𠊎今晡日當快樂。

    ngai5 gim1 bu1 ngid4 dong1 kuai3 log8.

    I had a great time today

    Usage

    Said after an enjoyable day, as a thank-you

    Grammar Note

    今晡日 is "today" and 當 (dong1) is "very". Composed from dictionary-verified words

17. 多謝，再見！

    do1 qia3, zai3 gien3!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    Thanks and goodbye in one go

    Grammar Note

    Simply 多謝 plus 再見; both are dictionary headwords

18. 𠊎出門。

    ngai5 cud4 mun5.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said to family when leaving home

    Grammar Note

    出門 means "go out" (sense 2 is a funeral procession). Composed from dictionary-verified words

19. 𠊎轉來。

    ngai5 zon2 loi5.

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said to family on returning home

    Grammar Note

    轉來 is "come back"; the dictionary has its counterpart 轉去 (zon2 hi3). Composed from dictionary-verified words

20. 𠊎先轉去。

    ngai5 xien1 zon2 hi3.

    I'll head home first

    Usage

    Said to the group when leaving first

    Grammar Note

    先 goes before the verb. Because 走 means "run" in Hakka, "go home" is 轉去. Composed from dictionary-verified words

21. 毋使客氣。

    m5 sii2 hag4 hi3.

    You're welcome

    Usage

    A reply to thanks

    Grammar Note

    毋使 means "no need to". Composed from dictionary-verified words

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