What is the total outlay each day for this boat?
第隻船每日要幾化費用
Di-tsak zen ’me-nyih iau kyi-hau fi-yoong?

You must arrange for a tow.
儂要預備拖个小火輪船
Noong iau yui-be thoo-kuh siau hoo-lung-zen.

What is the cost of the tow to Soochow?
到蘇州小火輪个拖錢耍幾化
Tau Soo-tseu siau hoo-lung-zen-kuh thoo-dien iau kyi-hau?

What is the cost of the tow to Hangchow?
到杭州小火輪个拖錢要幾化
Tau ‘Aung-tseu siau hoo-lung-zen-kuh thoo-dien iau kyi-hau?

The boat must be made clean.
船要收作來乾淨
Zen iau seu-tsauh-le koen-zing.

When does the tide ebb?
潮水幾時退 (or 落).
Dzau-s kyi-z the (or lauh)?

When does the tide flow?
潮水幾時漲 (or 來)
Dzau-s kyi-z tsang (or le)?

Now the tide is contrary.
現在是逆水
Yien-dze z nyuh-s.

Now the tide is favorable.
現在是順水
Yien-dze z zung-s.

To-night the boat must stop here.
今夜船要停拉此地
Kyung-ya zen iau ding la tsh-di.