Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases

Mandarin (Chinese)

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.

RDNS January 2007 Page 1 of 6

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Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)

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.).

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 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)

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

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 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)

Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTS

English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English

What day can I visit you? War ker yee jiy sing chee jee lye
taun farng nee?
At what time?
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 Sarng woo

Noon Jong woo

Afternoon Sia woo

Evening / Night 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

RDNS January 2007 Page 4 of 6

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 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)

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 / Jin ten sia woo / ming ten yao jee
tablets this afternoon / tomorrow si hway gey Nee die yao lye

Show me the medications that Rang war karn yee karn Nee chi
you are taking de yao

I want you to take your medicine Nee day chi yao ah

Can you get yourself some Nee neng ji jee nar sway ma?
water?

I need to War yao

Check your blood pressure Jen char nee de shu yar

Take your pulse Jen char nee de my boow

Change your dressing 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?

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 Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases
Mandarin (Chinese)

Topic 4: FAREWELL
English Chinese Closest Pronunciation in
English

You can ring me on . Nee ker yee da dien hwa gey war,
...... dien hwa how ma si

Thank you Siare siare

Im pleased to have met you Jen 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 / / Bao jong / joo nee yee chair dough
luck how / joo nee how yoon

RDNS September 2005 Page 6 of 6

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