Teochew phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Teochew (潮汕話/潮汕话 Diê⁵ suan³ uê⁷ or 潮州話/潮州话 Diê⁵ ziu¹ uê⁷), also Romanized as Chiuchow, is the main language of the Chaoshan region in Eastern Guangdong, around the cities of Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang. It is also fairly common in Hong Kong and among overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Pontianak and Johor Bahru being examples of Southeast Asian cities where Teochew speakers form the majority among the ethnic Chinese community.

Each of the three main Teochew-speaking cities in China, as well as each overseas region where it is spoken, has its own slightly different variant, though they are similar enough not to hinder mutual comprehension; the prestige dialect is that of Chaozhou, though the Shantou dialect is more commonly heard due to the city's economic dominance. The overseas variants are influenced by other local languages; the Teochew spoken in Singapore and Malaysia has loan words from Malay and Hokkien, while the Teochew spoken in Thailand has loan words from Thai.

All Chinese languages, in general, use the same set of characters in reading and writing in formal settings, based on standard Mandarin. This means that a Teochew speaker and a Mandarin speaker cannot talk to each other, but either can generally read what the other writes. However, when Teochew is written in a more colloquial form, there are significant differences with standard Mandarin, thus necessitating the use of some extra characters not commonly used in Mandarin, and meaning that a Mandarin speaker will not be able to understand everything. Use the Chinese phrasebook for reading most writing in Teochew-speaking areas.

Teochew is closely related to Minnan Hua and Hainanese, but only partly mutually intelligible with Minnan Hua and mutually unintelligible with Hainanese. Teochew is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin or Cantonese, but it is common for Teochew speakers to also know one or both of those. Foreigners in the region usually choose to learn Mandarin rather than Teochew because it is much more widely used.

Pronunciation guide

Like other dialects of Chinese, Teochew is written using Chinese characters but employs its own unique pronunciation. Traditional Chinese characters are used in some overseas Teochew communities, while simplified characters are used in mainland China. Where differences exist, in this guide, we write the traditional Chinese characters before the slash and simplified Chinese character after it.

Peng'im, which was developed by the Guangdong provincial government in 1960, is generally the most common system for Romanizing Teochew, and will be used in this guide. See Wikipedia for details if needed. However, as most native speakers do not know how to read Romanized Teochew, stick to Chinese characters for written communication.

Vowels

The letters a, i and u are pronounced as in Spanish, Italian and German.

Vowels of Peng'im
Letter	IPA	English example
a	a	father
e	ɯ	no equivalent in English, like Estonian õ or Korean eu
ê	ɛ	hen
i	i	see
o	ɔ	law
u	u	goose

Vowels can also be nasalized in Teochew. In Peng'im, this is represented by an n at the end of the syllable after the vowel.

Vowel combinations

Vowel combinations of Peng'im
Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
ai	ai	my	pinyin 'ai'
ao	au	cow	pinyin 'ao'
ia	ia	-
iê	iɛ	-
io	iɔ	but hoil
iu	iu	-
oi	ɔi	-
ou	ou	-	pinyin 'ou'
ua	ua	-	pinyin 'wa'
uê	uɛ	way	pinyin 'wei'
ui	ui	-
iou	iou	-
uai	uai	why	pinyin 'wai'

Consonants

While Mandarin only distinguishes between aspirated and unaspirated (unvoiced) consonants, and English only distinguishes between voiced and unvoiced consonants meaning-wise, Teochew makes a distinction in both cases. This means that aspirated unvoiced (p, t, k, c), unaspirated unvoiced (b, d, g, z), and unaspirated voiced (bh, gh, r) are all separate phonemic consonants in Teochew. Pronouncing everything accurately is therefore going to be a challenge for native English or Mandarin speakers. However, unlike in Mandarin, there is no "tongue rolling" (pinyin zh, ch, sh, r) initial consonant.

Initial consonanats of Peng'im
Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
bh	b	ban	English 'b'
b	p	span	pinyin 'b'
p	pʰ	pan	pinyin 'p'
r	dz/ʑ	jam	English 'j'
z	ts/tɕ	-	pinyin 'z' or 'j'
c	tsʰ/tɕʰ	cats	pinyin 'c' or 'q'
s	s/ɕ	sun	pinyin 's' or 'x'
gh	g	get	English hard 'g'
g	k	skin	pinyin 'g'
k	kʰ	kin	pinyin 'k'
d	t	Stan	pinyin 'd'
t	tʰ	tan	pinyin 't'
h	h	hat	English 'h'
m	m	map	English 'm'
n	n	net	English 'n'
l	l	line	English 'l'
ng	ŋ	sing	English 'ng'

Teochew retains some final consonants of Middle Chinese that Mandarin has lost, such as b, g, and m. On the other hand, Teochew has lost the n final consonant that Mandarin has retained, and you will often hear native Teochew speakers mispronouncing the n final as ng when speaking Mandarin. The final m and ng are pronounced as in English, but b and g are different. They are similar to English p and k but unreleased. This means that the mouth moves into the position of making the consonant, but no burst of air is released.

Final consonanats of Peng'im
Letter	IPA	English example	Notes
b	p	span	pinyin 'b'
g	k	skin	pinyin 'g'
m	m	map	English 'm'
ng	ŋ	sing	English 'ng'

Furthermore, an h at the end of a syllable in Peng'im represents a glottal stop (ʔ); this is the sound in the middle of the English word 'uh-oh'.

Tones

Teochew is a tonal language, meaning that the tone must be correct in order to convey the correct meaning. Tone sandhi is rather complex in Teochew, which makes it a little harder to learn than Mandarin. In general, tone sandhi occurs on all syllables of a word other than the final syllable.

Teochew has 8 different tones, denoted with a superscript number after the syllable in Peng'im. Tone sandhi is rather complex in Teochew, making it harder to learn than Mandarin. In general, tone sandhi occurs on all syllables other than the final syllable of a word.

Tones of Teochew
Number	Name	Pitch	Description	After tone sandhi
1	yin level (陰平/阴平)	33	high	1
2	yin rising (陰上/阴上)	52	falling	6
3	yin departing (陰去/阴去)	213	low falling	2 or 5
4	yin entering (陰入/阴入)	2	mid stopped	8
5	yang level (陽平/阳平)	5	rising	7
6	yang rising (陽上/阳上)	35	falling	9
7	yang departing (陽去/阳去)	1	mid	9
8	yang entering (陽入/阳入)	4	high stopped	4

Tone 9 as seen in the table occurs only after tone sandhi, and is described as a high falling tone.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: 汝好。 le² ho².
How are you?: 汝好無？/汝好无？ le² ho² bho⁵?
Not bad: 𠁞孬/𠀾孬 bhoi⁶ mo²
Fine, thank you.: 好，㩼謝。/好，㩼谢。 ho², zoi⁷ sia⁷.
What is your name?: 汝叫乜名? le² giê³ mih⁴ mian⁵?
My name is ______ .: 我個名是 ______。/我个名是 ______。 ua² gai⁷ mian⁵ si⁶ ______ .
Nice to meet you.: 很高興見到你. (heng² gao¹ hêng³ gin³ dao³ le²)
Please.: 請。/请。 cian².
Thank you.: 㩼謝。/㩼谢。 zoi⁷ sia⁷.
You're welcome.: 免客氣。/免客气。 miang² kêh⁴ ki³.
Excuse me. (getting attention): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): 孬意思。 mo² i³ se³.
I'm sorry.: 對唔住。/对唔住。 dui³ m⁶ zu⁶.
Goodbye: 再见。/再見。 zai³ giang³.
Goodbye (informal): . ( )
I can't speak Teochew.: 我唔曉呾潮汕話。/我唔晓呾潮汕话。 ua² m⁶ hiou² dan³ diê⁵ suan¹ uê⁷.
Do you speak English?: 請問汝會曉呾英文𠁞？/请问汝会晓呾英文𠀾？ cian² mung⁷ le² oi⁶ hiou² dan³ êng¹ bhung⁵ bhoi⁶?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: 請問有人會曉呾英文無？/请问有人会晓呾英文无？ cian² mung⁷ u⁶ nang⁵ oi⁶ hiou² dan³ êng¹ bhung⁵ bho⁵?
Help!: 救命！ giu³ mian⁷!
Look out!: 小心！ (siê² sim1^!)
Good morning.: . ( )
Good evening.: . ( )
Good night.: . ( )
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: 我𠁞聽。/我𠀾听。 ua² bhoi⁶ tian¹
Where is the toilet?: 廁所在底塊？/厕所在底块？ cê³ so² do⁶ di⁷ go³?

Problems

Leave me alone.: . (Mai tan tiang te wa .)
Don't touch me!: ! (mai tang wa !)
I'll call the police.: . (wa ka ma ta / ceng pia .)
Police!: 警察！ gêng⁶ cag⁴!
Stop! Thief!: ! ! (U nang tau kiok ! !)
I need your help.: . (wa ai le siou hu wa .)
It's an emergency.: . (ane ui hiam .)
I'm lost.: . (wa emcai wa todiko .)
I lost my bag.: . (wa kai pau bo to ke a .)
I lost my wallet.: . ( .)
I'm sick.: . (wa pua pe .)
I've been injured.: . ( .)
I want to see a doctor.: 我愛睇醫生。/我爱睇医生。 ua² ain³ toin² ui¹ sêng¹.
Can I use your phone?: ? (wa oi sai eng le kai tiang ue bue? ?)

Numbers

Numbers in Teochew follow the same system as other varieties of Chinese.

0: 空 kang³
1: 一 zêg⁸ / ig⁴

Note: ig⁴ is used in the ones and tens place (except for the number 1 itself) and in ordinal numbers, whereas zêg⁸ is used for multiples of numbers 100 and greater, as well as before counter words.

2: 兩/两 no⁶ / 二 ri⁶

Note: 二 ri⁶ is used in the ones and tens place (except for the number 2 itself) and in ordinal numbers, whereas 兩/两 no⁶ is used for multiples of numbers 100 and greater, as well as before counter words.

3: 三 san¹
4: 四 si³
5: 五 ngou⁶
6: 六 lag⁸
7: 七 cig⁴
8: 八 boih⁴
9: 九 gao²
10: 十 zab⁸
11: 十一 zab⁸ ig⁴
12: 十二 zab⁸ ri⁶
13: 十三 zab⁸ san¹
14: 十四 zab⁸ si³
15: 十五 zab⁸ ngou⁶
16: 十六 zab⁸ lag⁸
17: 十七 zab⁸ cig⁴
18: 十八 zab⁸ boih⁴
19: 十九 zab⁸ gao²
20: 二十 ri⁶ zab⁸
21: 二十一 ri⁶ zab⁸ ig⁴
22: 二十二 ri⁶ zab⁸ ri⁶
23: 二十三 ri⁶ zab⁸ san¹
30: 三十 san¹ zab⁸
40: 四十 si³ zab⁸
50: 五十 ngou⁶ zab⁸
60: 六十 lag⁸ zab⁸
70: 七十 cig⁴ zab⁸
80: 八十 boih⁴ zab⁸
90: 九十 gao² zab⁸
100: 一百 zêg⁸ bêh⁴
200: 兩百/两百 no⁶ bêh⁴
300: 三百 san¹ bêh⁴
1,000: 一千 zêg⁸ coin¹
2,000: 兩千/两千 no⁶ coin¹

Like Mandarin, Teochew groups numbers starting from 10,000 into units of four digits starting with 萬/万 bhuêng⁷. "One million" would therefore be "one hundred ten-thousands" (一百萬/一百万) and "one billion" would be "ten hundred-millions" (十億/十亿).

10,000: 一萬/一万 zêg⁸ bhuêng⁷
20,000: 兩萬/两万 no⁶ bhuêng⁷
100,000: 十萬/十万 zab⁸ bhuêng⁷
1,000,000: 一百萬/一百万 zêg⁸ bêh⁴ bhuêng⁷
10,000,000: 一千萬/一千万 zêg⁸ coin¹ bhuêng⁷
100,000,000: 一億/一亿 zêg⁸ êg⁸
1,000,000,000: 十億/十亿 zab⁸ êg⁸
1,000,000,000,000: 一兆 zêg⁸ diou⁶
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): _____號/_____号 _____ ho⁷
half: 半 buan³
less: 少 ziê²
more: 㩼 zoi⁷

Time

now: 只陣/只阵 zi² zung⁵
later: ( kin kia )
before: (ku ca )
morning: 眠起 mung⁵ ki² / 猛早 mên² za²
noon: 日晝/日昼 rig⁸ dao³
afternoon: 下旰 ê⁷ gua³
evening: 暝昏 mên⁵ hung¹
night: 暝旰 mên⁵ gua³ / 暝暗 mên⁵ am³
midnight: 半暝 buan³ mên⁵

Clock time

1:00: 一点/一點 zêg⁸ diam²
2:00: 两点/兩點 no⁶ diam²
2:30: 两点半/兩點半 no⁶ diam² buan³ / 两点三十分/兩點三十分 no⁶ diam² san¹ zab⁸ hung¹
3:00: 三点/三點 san¹ diam²

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ 分鐘/_____ 分钟 _____ hung¹ zêng¹
_____ hour(s): _____ 點鐘/_____ 点钟 _____ diam² zêng¹
_____ day(s): _____ 日 _____ rig⁸
_____ week(s): _____ 禮拜/_____ 礼拜 _____ loi² bai³
_____ month(s): _____ 個月/ _____ 个月 _____ gai⁵ ghuêh⁸
_____ year(s): _____ 年 _____ ni⁵

Days

today: 今日 gim¹ rig⁸ / 囝日 gian² rig⁸
yesterday: 昨日 za¹ rig⁸
tomorrow: 明起 muan³ ki² / 明日 muan³ rig⁸
this week: 只個禮拜/只个礼拜 zi² gai⁵ loi² bai³
last week: 頂個禮拜/顶个礼拜 dêng² gai⁵ loi² bai³
next week: 後個禮拜/后个礼拜 ao⁶ gai⁵ loi² bai³

Sunday: 禮拜/礼拜 loi² bai³
Monday: 拜一 bai³ ig⁴
Tuesday: 拜二 bai³ ri⁶
Wednesday: 拜三 bai³ san¹
Thursday: 拜四 bai³ si³
Friday: 拜五 bai³ ngou⁶
Saturday: 拜六 bai³ lag⁸

Months

January: 一月 ig⁴ ghuêh⁸
February: 二月 ri⁶ ghuêh⁸
March: 三月 san¹ ghuêh⁸
April: 四月 si³ ghuêh⁸
May: 五月 ngou⁶ ghuêh⁸
June: 六月 lag⁸ ghuêh⁸
July: 七月 cig⁴ ghuêh⁸
August: 八月 boih⁴ ghuêh⁸
September: 九月 gao² ghuêh⁸
October: 十月 zab⁸ ghuêh⁸
November: 十一月 zab⁸ ig⁴ ghuêh⁸
December: 十二月 zab⁸ ri⁶ ghuêh⁸

Writing time and date

Colors

black: 烏色/乌色 ou¹ sêg⁴
white: 白色 bêh⁸ sêg⁴
gray: 灰色 huê¹ sêg⁴
red: 紅色/红色 ang⁵ sêg⁴
blue: 藍色/蓝色 nam⁵ sêg⁴
yellow: 黃色/黄色 ng⁵ sêg⁴
green: 青色 cên¹ sêg⁴
orange: 柑色 gan¹ sêg⁴
purple: 紫色 zi² sêg⁴
brown: 赤色 ciah⁴ sêg⁴

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: (Ikai pio ku lui?)
One ticket to _____, please.: (wa ai bue cek kai pio)
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 _____ ?: 請問汝做呢去_____啊？/请问汝做呢去_____啊？ cian² mung⁷ le² zo³ ni⁵ ke³ _____ a⁷?
...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 _____?: 底塊有好㩼_____啊？/底块有好㩼_____啊？ di⁷ go³ u⁶ hoh⁴ zoi⁷ _____ a⁷?
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: ( )
street: ( )
Turn left.: 斡去倒手爿 uêg⁴ ke³ do³ ciu² boin⁵
Turn right.: 斡去正手爿 uêg⁴ ke³ zian³ ciu² boin⁵
left: 倒 do³
right: 正 zian³
in front of the _____: _____頭前 / _____头前 tao⁵ zoin⁵
behind the _____: _____後爿 / _____后爿 ao⁶ boin⁵
straight ahead: 直直去 dig⁸ dig⁸ ke³
inside: 內爿/内爿 lai⁶ boin⁵
outside: 口爿 kao² boin⁵
towards the _____: ( )
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: ( )
Watch for the _____.: ( )
intersection: ( )
north: 北 bag⁴
south: 南 nam⁵
east: 東 dang¹
west: 西 sai¹
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?: (le u pang keng bo? )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: (cek kai pang keng ku lui )
Does the room come with...: ( )
...bedsheets?: (pou teng )
...a bathroom?: (ek pe )
...a telephone?: 電話/电话 diêng⁶ uê⁷
...a TV?: 電視機/电视机 diêng⁶ si⁶ gi¹
May I see the room first?: (wa oisai/esai toi seng bue? ikai pang keng )
Do you have anything quieter?: (le u pangkeng, bue ca kai bue? loncong nang tiam tiam kai )
...bigger?: ( tua kai kai)
...cleaner?: (Kang nang )
...cheaper?: ( you phi)
OK, I'll take it.: (wa ai )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: 我愛徛_____暝。/我爱徛_____暝。 ua² ain³ kia⁶ _____ mên⁵.
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?: ( le hiau ua lui khek wa 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

One peculiarity of Teochew is that it does not distinguish between eating and drinking. As such, the verb 食 (ziah⁸) is used to refer to both eating and drinking.

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.: 我無食豬肉。/我无食猪肉。ua² bho⁵ ziah⁸ de¹ nêg⁸.
I don't eat beef.: 我無食牛肉。/我无食牛肉。ua² bho⁵ ziah⁸ ghu⁵ nêg⁸.
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): mai nkah iu
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( ciak za ki )
lunch: ( ciak jit dao )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( ciak ah meh )
I want _____.: 我愛_____。/我爱_____。 ua² ain³ _____.
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: 雞/鸡 goi¹
duck: 鴨/鸭 ah⁴
goose: 鵝/鹅 gho⁵
beef: 牛肉 ghu⁵ nêg⁸
pork: 豬肉/猪肉 de¹ nêg⁸
mutton: 羊肉 iên⁵ nêg⁸
fish: 魚/鱼 he⁵
ham: 火腿（hueh tui）
sausage: 腊肠（lak ciang）
cheese: ( )
eggs: 卵 neng⁶
salad: 杂菜 tchap chye
vegetables: 菜 cai³
(fresh) fruit: cheh guai
bread: 麵包 min⁷ bao¹
toast: ( )
noodles: 麵/面 min⁷
rice (cooked): 飯/饭 bung⁷
rice (raw): 米 bhi²
congee / rice porridge: 糜 muê⁵
beans: 豆 dao⁷
May I have a glass of _____?: ( hiau khek wa cek cheng _____ me?)
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: 咖啡 gia¹ hui¹
tea (drink): 茶 dê⁵
juice: 汁 chap
(bubbly) water: 汽水 ( bu zui)
(still) water: 水 zui²
milk: 奶 ni⁶
beer: 啤酒 bi⁵ ziu²
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: 鹽/盐 iam⁵
sugar: 糖 teng⁵
soy sauce: 豉油 si⁷ iu⁵
fish sauce: 臊湯/臊汤 co¹ teng¹
black pepper: 乌胡椒 (ou hou jio)
butter: 牛油 ghu⁵ iu⁵
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: 我食好。ua² ziah⁸ ho².
delicious.: 好食 ho² ziah⁸
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: 結數/结数 gig⁴ siou³

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( le u boi ciu me? )
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: 水 zui²
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( phi zui )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( cek kai ge)
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: ( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( cia hok coi lui? )
That's too expensive.: ( cia khak kue kui )
Would you take _____?: ( le ai khiok _____ me? )
expensive: 貴/贵 gui³
cheap: 便 pin¹
I can't afford it.: ( wa boi hiau boi )
I don't want it.: 我莫 ua² mai³
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: 好，我挈伊。 ho², ua² kiêh⁸ i¹.
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( )
...toothpaste.: 牙膏 ghê⁵ go¹
...a toothbrush.: 齒漱/齿漱 ki² ciu³
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: 餅藥/饼药 pian² iêh⁸
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: 雨遮 hou⁶ zia¹
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: 紙/纸 zua²
...a pen.: 筆/笔 big⁴
...English-language books.: 英文書/英文书 êng¹ bhung⁵ ze¹
...English-language magazines.: 英文雜誌/英文杂志 êng¹ bhung⁵ zab⁸ zi³
...an English-language newspaper.: 英文報紙/英文报纸 êng¹ bhung⁵ bo³ zua²

Driving

I want to rent a car.: 我愛稅車。/ 我爱税车。 ua² ain³ suê³ cia¹.
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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