Useful Phrases in the Shanghai Dialect

by Gilbert McIntosh

Have you any business to-day?
今朝儂有啥事體否
Kyung-tsau noong yeu sa z-thi va?

Do you wish to order anything to-day?
今朝儂要定啥貨色否
Kyung-tsau noong iau ding* sa hoo-suh va?

Yes, I want to order.*
我要定个
Ngoo iau ding kuh.
* Ding (定) and Ta (帶) are commonly used in Shanghai as equivalents for “order.” Ding actually contains the idea of contract and money paid; Ta actually contains the idea of bringing the goods with you; but they each have a wider significance.

I do not want to order.
我勿要定啥貨
Ngoo ’veh iau ding sa hoo.

I want to purchase.
我要買
Ngoo iau ma.

I want to sell.
我要賣脫
Ngoo iau ma-theh.

It cannot be bought (i.e., Can not sell at that price).
買勿動
Ma ’veh doong.

It can be bought (i.e., Can sell at that price).
買得動 (or 可以買)
Ma tuh-doong (or Khau-i ma).

What do you want to buy?
儂要買啥物事
Noong iau ma sa meh-z?

Will you sell?
儂要賣脫否
Noong iau ma-theh va?