Amdo Tibetan phrasebook

Amdo Tibetan (ཨ་མདོ་སྐད), a set of mutually intelligible Tibetan dialects, is the main language of Amdo, namely the Tibetan-speaking regions of Qinghai and Gansu. Nomads in the Sichuan prefectures of Ngawa and Garzê also speak Amdo, while the town folk, many of whom are also conversant in Chinese, speak Gyalrong, Kham Tibetan and other highly internally-divergent languages. There are also many Amdo-born people among the Tibetan Exile community. They usually speak Amdo in addition to Standard Tibetan, English, Hindi, Chinese and other languages.

Pronunciation guide

Spoken Amdo is quite close to Old Tibetan, the model of the written language common to all culturally Tibetan regions. For this reason, the written form is given in the Wylie transliteration, a letter-for-letter rendering of the Tibetan script to Latin.

Plain Vowels

Tibetan script	Wylie	English approximation	Name
ཨ	a	ah
ཨི	i	uh	guh-guh
ཨུ	u	uh	zhap-chuh
ཨེ	e	eh/ey	ndruhng-eh
ཨོ	o	aw	nah-raw

Note that the vowels "i" and "u" have merged in the vague schwa sound "uh".

Final consonants and suffixes

In the Written Language, a syllable can end in any of the consonants in g, ng, d, n, b, m, r, l, s. Some of the consonants can be followed by an additional -s, making: -gs, -ngs, -bs, -ms.

-ng, -m, -n is exactly as in English. -r is a Scottish rolling r or an American -r (but not changing the vowel as in English!). -g and -b can be pronounced in two ways: hard (-ck, -pp) or soft (-kh/-gh, -v). A final -l and a final -d are pronounced alike, either as "t" or a clear "l". In some places however, "ul" and "il" are pronounced like "oo" and "ee" rather than "uht".

A final -s is lost, so "legs" is pronounced "lack", not "lacks". Most importantly, if the -s follows the vowel (as, es, ...), the vowel sound is changed into "ee". "dus" (time, when) is read "dee", not "duhs", for example.

"ing" and "ang" are pronounced alike, as "ang" or "uhng"; while "ung" is pronounced "oong".

The genitive suffix (like "'s" in English) "-'i", modifies the vowel sound into "ee", except for a Written "o", which turns into "oo".

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: bde mo (vdeh-maw) (literally "well")
How are you?: khyod bde mo yin na (chaw vdeh-maw yuhn-NAH)
Fine, thank you.: bde mo yin, bde mo yin (vdeh-maw yuhn, vdeh-maw yuhn) (You don't usually say the "thank you" bit)
What is your name?: khyo'i mying nga chi zer (choo nyuhng-ngah chuh zehr)
My name is ______ .: ngi mying nga ____ zer ra (nguh nyuhng-ngah _______ zeh-rah)
Nice to meet you.: . ( )
Please.: . ( )
Thank you.: . ( )
You're welcome.: . ( )
Yes.: . ( )
No.: . ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . ( )
I'm sorry.: . ( )
Goodbye: . ( )
I can't speak Tibetan [well].: ngas bod skad [yag po] mi shes. (ngee wot-shkat [yack-poh] mee-shee)
Do you speak English?: ? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? ( ?)
Help!: ! ( !)
Look out!: ! ( !)
Good morning.: . ( )
Good evening.: . ( )
Good night.: . ( )
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: . ( )
Where is the toilet?: ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: . ( .)
Don't touch me!: ! ( !)
I'll call the police.: . ( .)
Police!: ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!: ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.: . ( .)
It's an emergency.: . ( .)
I'm lost.: . ( .)
I lost my bag.: . ( .)
I lost my wallet.: . ( .)
I'm sick.: . ( .)
I've been injured.: . ( .)
I need a doctor.: . ( .)
Can I use your phone?: ? ( ?)

Numbers

0: ( )
1: gcig (khchuhck)
2: gnyis (ghnyee)
3: gsum (khsuhm)
4: bzhi (vzhuh)
5: lnga (rngah)
6: drug (druhck)
7: bdun (vduhn)
8: brgyad (vjat)
9: dgu (rguh)
10: bcu (fchuh)
11: ( )
12: ( )
13: ( )
14: ( )
15: ( )
16: ( )
17: ( )
18: ( )
19: ( )
20: ( )
21: ( )
22: ( )
23: ( )
30: ( )
40: ( )
50: ( )
60: ( )
70: ( )
80: ( )
90: ( )
100: ( )
200: ( )
300: ( )
1,000: ( )
2,000: ( )
1,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000,000: ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ( )
half: ( )
less: ( )
more: ( )

Time

now: ( )
later: ( )
before: ( )
morning: ( )
afternoon: ( )
evening: ( )
night: ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM: ( )
two o'clock AM: ( )
noon: ( )
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: ( )

Duration

_____ minute(s): ( )
_____ hour(s): ( )
_____ day(s): ( )
_____ week(s): ( )
_____ month(s): ( )
_____ year(s): ( )

Days

today: ( )
yesterday: ( )
tomorrow: ( )
this week: ( )
last week: ( )
next week: ( )

Sunday: ( )
Monday: ( )
Tuesday: ( )
Wednesday: ( )
Thursday: ( )
Friday: ( )
Saturday: ( )

Months

January: ( )
February: ( )
March: ( )
April: ( )
May: ( )
June: ( )
July: ( )
August: ( )
September: ( )
October: ( )
November: ( )
December: ( )

Colors

black: ( )
white: ( )
gray: ( )
red: ( )
blue: ( )
yellow: ( )
green: ( )
orange: ( )
purple: ( )
brown: ( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: ( )
Where does this train/bus go?: ( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: ( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: ( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: ( )
...the train station?: ( )
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: ( )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: ( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: ( )
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: ( )
street: ( )
Turn left.: ( )
Turn right.: ( )
left: ( )
right: ( )
straight ahead: ( )
towards the _____: ( )
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: ( )
Watch for the _____.: ( )
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi

Taxi!: ( )
Take me to _____, please.: ( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?: ( )
Take me there, please.: ( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: ( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: ( )
Does the room come with...: ( )
...bedsheets?: ( )
...a bathroom?: ( )
...a telephone?: ( )
...a TV?: ( )
May I see the room first?: ( )
Do you have anything quieter?: ( )
...bigger?: ( )
...cleaner?: ( )
...cheaper?: ( )
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ( )
Can you suggest another hotel?: ( )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: ( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: ( )
Please clean my room.: ( )
Can you wake me at _____?: ( )
I want to check out.: ( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: ( )
Do you accept British pounds?: ( )
Do you accept Euros?: ( )
Do you accept credit cards?: ( )
Can you change money for me?: ( )
Where can I get money changed?: ( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: ( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: ( )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: ( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: ( )
Can I look at the menu, please?: ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: ( )
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: ( )
I don't eat pork.: ( )
I don't eat beef.: ( )
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: ( )
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: ( )
beef: ( )
fish: ( )
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: ( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: ( )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( )
rice: ( )
beans: ( )
May I have a glass of _____?: ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: ( )
tea (drink): ( )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( )
beer: ( )
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: ( )
It was delicious.: ( )
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: ( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: ( )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: ( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( )
That's too expensive.: ( )
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: ( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: ( )
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: ( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.: ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: ( )
It was a misunderstanding.: ( )
Where are you taking me?: ( )
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: ( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: ( )

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