Tibetan language and Chinese Mandarin ( or Chinese Pinyin) are the two main languages of Tibet. In urban Tibet, almost all Tibetans speak Chinese. And Tibetan dialects would be more popular at remote villages in Tibet. Nevertheless, even if you have studied or picked up some Chinese in mainland China, it’s worth trying to get a few Tibetan script together. It will be much appreciated by Tibetans you encounter on your Tibet travel.
An ancient book was written in Tibetan script.
Useful Words
Tibetan language has some tricky sounds for English speakers, it’s hard to master in a short time. However, learning some greetings and daily-used Tibetan words can be fun and helpful when shopping in Tibet or meeting emergencies.
Tashi dele must be the first Tibetan phrases you would hear in Tibet. It means hello, good luck,or may many good things come to you. It’s a common greeting in Tibetan daily life. You would speak Tashi dele to our Tibetan guide or hear it while enjoying your meal or making friends with Tibetans. Here we offer some English to Tibetan translation for some useful words in Chinese Pinyin.
CONVERSATION & ESSENTIALS
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| Hello |
tashi dele |
nin hao |
| Goodbye (when staying) |
kalee pay |
zai jian |
| Goodbye (when leaving) |
kalee shu |
zai jian |
| Thank you. |
tujay chay |
xie xie |
| Sorry. |
gonda |
dui bu qi |
| I want… |
nga la…go |
wo xiang… |
| Good |
yag-po |
hao de |
| What's your name? |
kerang gi tsenla kare ray? |
nin jiao shenme mingzi |
| My name is… - and yours? |
ngai ming-la…sa, a- ni kerang-gi tsenla kare ray? |
wo jiao…-nin ne? |
| Is it OK to take a photo? |
par gyabna digiy-rebay? |
zheli keyi paizhao ma? |
HEALTH & EMERGENCIES
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| Help! |
rog nangda! |
jiu ming a! |
| Fire! |
may bahgi! |
qi huo la! |
| Thief! |
kuma du! |
zhua xiao tou! |
| Go away! |
phah gyuk! |
zou kai! |
| I'm ill. |
nga nagidu |
wo bing le. |
| It's an emergency. |
za dagpo ray! |
jin ji qing kuang! |
| Call a doctor! |
amchi kay tongda! |
qing jiao yisheng! |
| Call the police! |
korsoong-wa kay tongda! |
qing jiao jingcha! |
ACCOMMODATION
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| Where's a...? |
...kabah yoray? |
...zai nar? |
| Guesthouse |
dhon khang |
zhao dai suo |
| Hotel |
dru-khang |
bin guan/jiu dian |
| Do you have a room available? |
khang mi yobay? |
nimen you fangjian ma? |
| How much is it for one night? |
tsen chik la katso ray? |
duo shao qian yi wan? |
| I need some hot water. |
ngala chu tsapo go |
wo xu yao xie re shui |
DIRECTIONS
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| Where is the ...? |
... kabah yo ray? |
…zai nar? |
| I'm looking for ... |
... ka-bah yo-may mik tagiyo |
wo zai zhao… |
| Right |
yeba |
you bian |
| Left |
yonba |
zuo bian |
| Straight ahead |
shar gya |
zhi zou |
LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
| Do you speak English? |
Do you speak English? |
ni hui shuo yingyu ma? |
| Dose anyone here speak English? |
kayrang injikay shing-gi yobay |
zher you ren hui shuo yingyu ma? |
| I don't understand. |
ha ko masong |
wo ting de dong. |
| I understand. |
ha kosong |
wo ting bu dong. |
SHOPPING & SERVICES
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| I'd like to buy ... |
nga ... nyondo yo |
wo xiang mai… |
| How much is it? |
gong katso ray? |
duo shao qian? |
| It's expensive. |
gong chenpo resha |
tai gui le. |
| I don't like it. |
loh doh masong |
wo bu xi huan. |
| I'll take it. |
te nyogi yin |
wo jiu maizhei ge. |
TIME & DATES
| English | Tibetan Language | Mandarin |
|---|
| What's the time? |
chutso katso ray? |
jidian? |
| ... Hour ... Minute |
chutso ... karma ... |
…dian…fen |
| When? |
kadu? |
shen me shi hou? |
| Now |
tanda |
xian zai |
| Today |
tering |
jin tian |
| Tomorrow |
sangnyi |
ming tian |
| Yesterday |
kaysa |
zuo tian |
Useful Numbers
Here we provide the telephone numbers for emergency, weather broadcast, and other useful Tibetan numbers that are frequently used by Tibet tourists. Area codes for major cities in Tibet are also available.
General Numbers:
Police: 110
Fire: 119
Ambulance: 120
Weather Forecast: 12121
Local Phone Number Inquiry: 114
Consumer Complain: 12315
Tibet Hospital:
People's Hospital of TAR: 0891-6332462
Lhasa People's Hospital Emergency Center: 0891-98120
Tibet Transportation:
Gonggar Airport Information Desk: 0891-6182220
Bus Station of TAR: 0891-6824469
Tibet Phone Area Code:
Lhasa: 0891
Shigatse (Xigaze): 0892
Lhoka (Shannan): 0893
Nyingchi: 0894
Chamdo (Qamdo): 0895
Nagqu (Nakchu): 0896
Ngari (Ali): 0897
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