Royal District Nursing Service

Workplace words and phrases

Mandarin (Chinese)
RDNS January 2007 Page 1 of 6
ACHS 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 language
Topic 1: Greetings
Topic 2: Making / changing appointments
Topic 3: Medical problems
Topic 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 6
ACHS L1
Introduction to Chinese Written and
Chinese Spoken - Standard Mandarin
MANDARIN
The 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 Chinese
dialects are so varied that Chinese people speaking different dialects often cannot communicate
amongst themselves orally. Mandarin, being different from many Chinese dialects and spoken by
more and more Australian Chinese nowadays, is the official language in the mainland of China and
Taiwan.
The Chinese language is a tonal language. One pronunciation usually has four tones to represent
different characters, and different meanings, in Mandarin. Tones are slightly different stresses of
pronouncing characters. However, it seems to be no simple way to correctly indicate tones of
characters 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 in
Mandarin, such as (Wang Mr. ) and (Wang Mrs.).
Royal District Nursing Service
Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)
RDNS January 2007 Page 3 of 6
ACHS L1
Topic 1: GREETINGS
English 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 hwa
ma?
I understand War ting de dong
I dont understand you War ting boow dong nee sore de
hwa
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 6
ACHS L1
Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTS
English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
What day can I visit you?
At what time?
War ker yee jiy sing chee jee lye
taun 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 taun
farng de si jen
Royal District Nursing Service
Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)
RDNS January 2007 Page 5 of 6
ACHS L1
Topic 3: MEDICAL PROBLEMS
English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
How are you? Nee how ma?
Where does it hurt? Jiuw de nar lee teng?
The chemist will bring your
tablets this afternoon / tomorrow
/
Jin ten sia woo / ming ten yao jee
si hway gey Nee die yao lye
Show me the medications that
you are taking
Rang war karn yee karn Nee chi
de yao
I want you to take your medicine Nee day chi yao ah
Can you get yourself some
water?
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 Di stri ct Nursi ng Servi ce
Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)


RDNS September 2005 Page 6 of 6
ACHS L1
Topic 4: FAREWELL

English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English
You can ri ng me on .
j _ _ _ _
[ _......
Nee ker yee da dien hwa gey war,
dien hwa how ma si
Thank you
_ _
Siare siare
I m pleased t o have met you
_ _ j }
J en dow nee jern gao sing
You are welcome

Boow ker chee
Good - bye
_
Tsai jen
Keep well
_
Bao jong
Take care / All the best / Good
luck
_ / _ j | _ / _ j

Bao jong / joo nee yee chair dough
how / joo nee how yoon