Looking for practical Tetum to Chinese (Simplified) (中文) phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tetum phrase first, then the Chinese (Simplified) translation (中文) — 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 Chinese (Simplified).
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Chinese (Simplified)-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tetum to Chinese (Simplified) (中文) 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.
Olá
你好(nǐ hǎo)
Obrigadu
谢谢(xièxiè)
Bondia
早上好(zǎoshang hǎo)
Bona tarde
下午好(xiàwǔ hǎo)
Bona noite
晚上好(wǎnshang hǎo)
Bona noite
晚安(wǎn'ān)
Ami hanesan
再见(zàijiàn)
Adeus
再见(zàijiàn)
Quale naran ida?
你叫什么名字？(nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?)
Naran hau John.
我叫约翰(wǒ jiào yuēhàn)
Kona ba o?
你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma?)
Diak ba halo ho o.
很高兴认识你(hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Keta fala Inglês?
你会说英语吗？(nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?)
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
我说印地语说得不好。(wǒ shuō yìndìyǔ shuō dé bù hǎo.)
Hau la hatene.
我不明白。(wǒ bù míngbái.)
Favor fala ba moris.
请慢点说。(qǐng màn diǎn shuō.)
Keta bele fala fali?
你能再说一遍吗？(nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?)
Onde mak banheira?
洗手间在哪里？(xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
我怎么去市中心？(wǒ zěnme qù shì zhōngxīn?)
Virar ba hadau.
左转。(zuǒ zhuǎn.)
Virar ba direita.
右转。(yòu zhuǎn.)
Baa diretamente.
直走。(zhí zǒu.)
Iha ne'e barak?
票价是多少？(piào jià shì duōshǎo?)
Ticket ida, favor.
请给我一张票。(qǐng gěi wǒ yī zhāng piào.)
Iha ne'e laran ka?
离这里远吗？(lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma?)
Hau nune'e.
我迷路了。(wǒ mílù le.)
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
我在哪里可以买SIM卡？(wǒ zài nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi SIM kǎ?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Sim
是的(shì de)
La
不是(bù shì)
Talvez
也许(yě xǔ)
Hau hakarak
我同意(wǒ tóng yì)
Hau la hakarak
我不同意(wǒ bù tóng yì)
Nia mak diak
听起来不错(tīng qǐ lái bù cuò)
Ita nian ideia sa?
你觉得怎么样？(nǐ jué de zěn me yàng)
Mak bele ajuda hau?
你能帮我吗？(nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma)
Hau precisa ajuda
我需要帮助(wǒ xū yào bāng zhù)
Hakarak momentu
等一下(děng yī xià)
Hau mós
对不起(duì bù qǐ)
La problema
没问题(méi wèn tí)
Parabens
恭喜(gōng xǐ)
Parabens ba aniversario
生日快乐(shēng rì kuài lè)
Hau haruka viagen diak
一路平安(yī lù píng ān)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.