Looking for practical Chinese (Simplified) (中文) to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chinese (Simplified) phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Somali.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Somali-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chinese (Simplified) (中文) to Somali translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
你好
Salaan(nǐ hǎo)
谢谢
Mahadsanid(xièxiè)
早上好
Subax wanaagsan(zǎoshang hǎo)
下午好
Duhur wanaagsan(xiàwǔ hǎo)
晚上好
Habeen wanaagsan(wǎnshang hǎo)
晚安
Habeen wanaagsan(wǎn'ān)
再见
Ilaa dambe(zàijiàn)
再见
Nabad gelyo(zàijiàn)
你叫什么名字?
Magacaa maxay tahay?(nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?)
我叫约翰
Magacaygu waa John(wǒ jiào yuēhàn)
你好吗?
Sidee tahay?(nǐ hǎo ma?)
很高兴认识你
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
你会说英语吗?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
我说印地语说得不好。
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo(wǒ shuō yìndìyǔ shuō dé bù hǎo.)
我不明白。
Ma fahmin(wǒ bù míngbái.)
请慢点说。
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal(qǐng màn diǎn shuō.)
你能再说一遍吗?
Ma ku celin kartaa?(nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?)
洗手间在哪里?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?(xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
我怎么去市中心?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?(wǒ zěnme qù shì zhōngxīn?)