language basics

An annoying thing about language-learning tutorials is that they often focus on language that you'll never actually use as a tourist. When I travel somewhere for a short period I know that I can only internalize a few words of the language, so I'm not going to be having conversations. I want to prioritize basics so that I can show respect to the locals by trying to get by in their language, even though I know we'll end up switching to English for anything of substance.

The first words and phrases I try to learn as a tourist in a new language, in rough order of decreasing priority:

Hello

Japanese: konnichiwa ('good morning': ohayō gozaimasu, 'good evening': konbanwa)

Mandarin: Nǐ hǎo (nee how), or honorific: nín hǎo

Cantonese: nei5 hou2 (the numbers indicate tones in Jyutping romanization - both are rising tones, the second slightly higher than the first)

Vietnamese: xin chào

Thai: sah-wah-dee krawb (emphasis on 'dee' with a flat tone, then upwards tone on the polite participle 'krawb')

Spanish: Hola / Buenos dias

French: Salut / Bonjour

Thank you (very much)

If you can't say anything else, this is appropriate in almost any circumstance

Japanese: (domo) arigatou gozaimasu (/gozaimashita for something already done, like after a meal)

Mandarin: xiè xie (pronunciation guide and video)

Cantonese: m-goi (thanks for helping / a service) or do ze (thanks for a tangible gift)

Vietnamese: cảm ơn ('gauhm uhhn')

Thai: cope/cup koon krawb

Spanish: (Muchas) Gracias

French: merci

Yes / no

Japanese: hai (yes)

Mandarin: Duì ('correct') / Bù ('not')

Spanish: Si / no

French: Oui / non

'Please' or 'I would like'

Order in a restaurant by saying this and pointing

Japanese: kudasai

Mandarin: qǐng

Cantonese: can just use m-goi (same as 'thank you')

Spanish: Por favor

French: s'il vous plait

Excuse me / sorry

Use to get someone's attention or apologize for being inevitably clueless

French: excuse-moi or pardon

English

'sorry, English?' works compositionally, no need to memorize 'do you speak?'

One, two, three, …

Spanish: Uno, dos, tres…

French: Un, deux, trois, …