| Taishanese | IPA | Cantonese | Mandarin | English | Notes |
| 吃铲 | hiak33 tsan55 | 食糊 | 看家本领 | one's key and survival skill | |
| 冇路 | mɔu33 lu325 | 冇行 | 没办法/没希望 | hopeless, no way out | |
| 挞牌 | at33 pai225 | 挞牌 | 摊牌 | to show off one's card | |
| 入旅城 | yip32 lui21 siaŋ225 | 入城 | 进城 | to enter town, to go into the Town of Taishan | |
| 诈(架)势 | dza33 (ga55) sai215 | 诈假意 | 伪装 | to fake | |
| 捋 | lɔt33 | 刮(钱) | 刮(钱) | to extort, to scrape | Example: 捋埋捋埋一大堆 (He) accumulated wealth through extortion. |
| 烦 | fan21 | 憎 | 讨厌 | to dislike | |
| 掴 | gak33 | 掴 | 掴 | to slap (someone's face) | |
| 封 | fǝŋ33 | 掴 | 掴 | to slap (someone's face) | Literally 'to bestow.' |
| 拂 | fit33 | 拂 | 抽打 | to strike, to whip | |
| 放 | fɔŋ33 | 放 | 放 | to put (down), to release | |
| * | bɔi55 | 揾 | 找 | to look for, to find | |
| 揾 | vun55 | 揾 | 找 | to look for, to find | |
| * | paŋ33 | 分 | 摊分 | to apportion, to share, to divide up | |
| * | pat33 | 塌 | 塌下 | collapsed (i.e. an empty box) | |
| 捽 | dzut33 | 笃下 | 轻戳 | to poke | |
| 嘱 | dzǝk33 | 交帶 | 嘱咐 | to instruct/ask (quietly and seriously) | |
| 缴 | giau55 | 抹干 | 擦干 | to dry (with a cloth) | |
| 缴脚布 | giau55 giak33 bu33 | 抹脚布 | 擦脚布 | towel/cloth for drying one's feet | |
| 缴臀 | giau55 hun22 | 吻屎 | 擦屁股 | to wipe one's backside (after using the toilet) | |
| 恨 | han32 | 惜 | 疼爱 | to love tenderly (grandmotherly), to treasure, to spoil | |
| 脱 | hɔt33 | 除/甩 | 脱 | to take off (cloths); to become detached | |
| 哭 | hǝk33 | 喊 | 哭 | to cry, to weep | |
| 歇(下) | hɛt33 (ha21) | 唞(下) | 歇(一阵子) | to take a break | |
| 吃 | hiak33 | 食 | 吃 | to eat; (chess) to capture | |
| 晓 | hiau55 | 识 | 会 | have the ability (to do something) | |
| 晓领 | hiau55 liaŋ21 | 识 | 会 | have the ability (to do something), know (how to do something) | |
| 识 | sɛt55 | 知道 | 知道 | know/understand (how to do something) | |
| 识领 | sɛt55 liaŋ21 | 知道 | 知道 | know/understand (how to do something) | |
| 知𡃴 | i33 tui22 | 知道 | 知道 | know/understand (about something) | Literally 'to recognize the scent of.' |
| 趯 | iak33 | 赶 | 赶走 | to chase away | |
| 冚 | kǝm55 | 笠/冚 | 盖 | to cover, to put the cover on | Example: 冚住个餸篮 cover up the food-basket. |
| 搻 | lak32 | 抱(仔) | 抱(小孩) | to hold/cradle (a baby) with both arms | |
| * | lai22 | 跛 | 瘸 | lame, to go lame | |
| *脚 | lai22 giak215 | 跛佬 | 瘸子 | a lame person | |
| (吟) | laŋ22 | 叫 | 呻吟 | to groan | |
| 搜 | ɬǝu55 | 扬 | 抖 | to shake | Like shaking a down comforter out to keep it from bunching up, i.e. holding one edge in your hands and lifting the loose end into the air before bringing it back down sharply. |
| 瞄 | miau22 | 𥊙 | 偷看 | to peek, to peep | |
| 躐(过) | lap33 (gɔ33) | 𨈇(过) | 跨(过) | to step across | |
| 扎起 | dzat33 hi55 | 绑住 | 捆起 | to bundle; to tie up | |
| * | nǝk33 | 撳住 | 按住 | to press down (with hand) | |
| * | nak55 | 黐 | 贴 | to glue, to stick to | |
| 好口 | hɔu55 həu55 | 会卖口乖 | 油嘴滑舌 | having a slick mouth | |
| 好口 | hɔu55 həu55 | 拣饮择食 | 嘴尖 | fastidious about one's food, picky with food | |
| 捺 | nap32 | 扑 | 敲 | to hit/strike (over someone's head with a club) | |
| 匿 | nat33 | 匿 | 藏 | to hide/conceal oneself | |
| 捏 | nɛt33 | 搣 | 捏 | to pinch | |
| 念在 | niam32 dɔi32 | 俾面 | 顾念 | to be mindful of, for the sake of, in due respect to (someone) | |
| 念 | niam32 | 挂住 | 挂念 | to worry about, to miss | |
| 𢗉 | nut32 | 惊 | 怕 | to fear, to be afraid of, to be scared of | |
| 旅 | lui21 | 去 | 去 | to go, to be going to; let's go | |
| *(下) | ŋam55 (ha21) | 褪(下) | 挪(一挪) | to nudge (oneself) | |
| 嗑 | ŋǝp33 | 嗑 | 嗑 | crack or bite off with the front teeth | |
| 饶 | ŋiau22 | 让 | 宽待 | to pardon, to yield, to give ground | Example: (Go Game) 饶你两子 to let you lay two pieces down (make two moves) first. |
| 捡 | giam55 | 拾 | 拾 | to pick up | |
| 拈 | niam33 | 拧 | 拾 | to pick, to select | |
| 拍 | pak33 | 打走/赶走 | 打走/赶走 | to kick out, to drive away | Literally 'to swap.' |
| 舐 | sai21 | 𦧺 | 舔 | to lick | |
| 闩 | san33 | 熄 | 关 | to turn off (a light) | |
| 嗍 | sɔk33 | 吸 | 吸 | to suck | |
| 嗦 | sɔk33 | 氹 | 骗/哄 | to fool (a kid), to cajole | Example: 嗦细民仔么? Trying to cajole a kid? (Don't treat me like a kid). |
| 摔 | sɔt55 | 𡄽 | 滑 | to slide, to slip | Example: 一个唔小心摔翻到处 Not paying attention, I slipped and fell. |
| 摔翻 | sɔt55 fan55 | 𡄽低 | 滑倒 | to slip and fall | Example: 一个唔小心摔翻到处 Not paying attention, I slipped and fell. |
| 溜下来 | liu33 ha33 lɔi22 | 𡄽落来 | 滑下来 | to slip down | |
| * | sɔu32 | 抌 | 扔掉 | to throw away | |
| * | vein33 | 抌 | 扔掉 | to throw away | |
| * | siap33 | 扭 | 扭 | to sprain (oneself) | Example: *啊条腰 I sprained the small of my back. |
| 闪 | siam55 | 扭 | 扭 | to sprain (oneself) | Example: 闪啊条腰 I sprained the small of my back. |
| 失 | sit55 | 唔见 | 不见 | lost (something) | |
| 挦 | tiam22 | 掹/抽 | 拔/抽 | to pluck (feathers), to draw ((lots) | Example: 劏鸡挦毛 slaughter the chicken and pluck its feathers. |
| * | tsǝm22 | 跳 | 跳 | to jump, to lope | Example: 细抿仔跟尾** The kids are loping along. |
| 瞧 | tsiau22 | 𥊙 | 偷看 | to peep | |
| 搲 | va55 | 𢯎/搲 | 搔/抓 | to scratch, to claw | |
| 壅 | yǝŋ33 | 埋 | 埋 | to bury | |
| 大姨 | ai32 yi22 | 姨妈 | 姨妈 | aunt (mother's older sister) | |
| 拥 | yǝŋ55 | 抢 | 抢 | to rob | |
| 拥(上去) | yǝŋ55(siaŋ33 hui33) | 冲(上去) | 抢先 | to rush forward | |
| * | nɔn55 | 拧 | 拧/捻 | to twist (thread) | |
| 旋 | dun32 | 拧 | 拧 | to turn, to (un)screw | |
| ** | dɔk32 hat33 | 嘥 | 浪费 | to waste | |
| 擦 | tut33 | 擦 | 擦 | to rub off, to erase | |
| 愁 | sǝu22 | 惊 | 怕 | to be afraid of, to worry about | Example: 愁我无钱还 Worried that I could not pay back. |
| 闹交 | nɔu32 gɔu215 | 嗌交 | 吵架 | bickering, quarrel | |
| 踏 | tat33 | 冲 | 冲 | to rush | Example: 我踏出去 I rush out |
| 跌 | ɛt33 | 挤 | 放 | to put down, to place | |
| 捡埋 | giam55 mɔi22 | 收埋 | 收藏好 | to place (something) in a secured place | |
| 捡好 | giam55 hɔu55 | 收好 | 放好 | to place (something) in its proper place, to tidy up | |
| 则(下) | dak33 (ha21) | 戥(下) | 掂量 | to weight, to judge the weight of an object by holding it in one's hand | |
| 罱 | nam55 | 𢳂 | 舀 | to scoop up | |
| 罱水 | nam55 sui55 | 𢳂水 | 舀水 | to scoop up water (with a ladle) | |
| 召 | diu33 | 喊/嗌 | 呼叫/呼唤 | to cry, to call out | Example: 召佢出来 Call him to come out; 赤a 到处召 Crying because of the pain. |
| 定住 | ein32 dzi325 | 乖 | 规矩 | (children) quiet, well-behaved, have good concentration | |
| 扼紧 | ak33 gin55 | 抓实 | 紧抓 | to hold tight to (something) | |
| 挤 | ti33 | 挤 | 塞进 | to stuff, to cram into, to squeeze into | Example: 挤入个皮喼 Squeeze it into the suitcase. |
| 蒙 | bǝŋ33 | 蒙 | 蒙盖 | to cover (with dust/powder) | |
| * | na22 | 擒 | 爬 | to climb | Example: *山 Mountain climbing; *上*下 Climbing up and down. |
| 戽鱼 | fu33 ŋui215 | to fish | By way of damming and isolating a section of the water body then baling out all the water. 戽: to bale out water. | ||
| 联杉 | lun22 sam21 | 联杉 | 缝衣 | to hand sew; hand sewing | |
| 着火 | dziak32 fɔ55 | 开灯/着火 | 开灯/着火 | to turn on light, to catch fire | |
| 返归 | fan33 gi33 | 返屋企 | 回家 | to go home, to return home | |
| 挟 | gap32 | 标心 | 劫持 | to hold (somebody) for ransom | |
| 校表 | gɔu33 biau335 | 校钟 | 调整时钟 | to adjust the clock | |
| 乞米 | hat55 mai55 | 乞 | 行乞 | (beggar) to beg | |
| 乱旨估 | lɔn32 dzi55 gu55 | 乱(咁) | 乱 | irresponsibly | |
| 毋旨(估) | mu21 dzi55 (gu55) | 唔啱/唔通 | 不如/难道 | 'How about...' 'Would it be that...?' instead | |
| 乜 | mɔt55 | 乜嘢 | 什么 | what | |
| 行冥路 | ham22 mein21 lu325 | 偷偷地 | 暗地里 | secretly, furtively | Assimilation: [haŋ22 mein21 lu325] → [ham22 mein21 lu325] |
| 贪便 | ham32 bein325 | 顺便 | 趁手 | conveniently | |
| *己 | gak32 gi55 | 自己 | 自己 | self, myself | |
| 行电 | haŋ22 ein32(5) | 用电 | 电动 | electricity-powered, battery-powered | |
| 讲係 | gɔŋ55 hai32 | 先至係 | 只不过才 | It's only ... | |
| 做下 | du33 ha21 | 全部 | 全部 | all | |
| 哆啰 | ɔ55 lɔ21 | 全部 | 全部 | Transliteration of 'all.' | |
| 几 | gi55 | 几 | 有些 | quite, somewhat | |
| 顶尖 | ein55 niam33 | 几 | 挺 | quite, to certain extent | Assimilation: [ein55 diam33] → [ein55 niam33] |
| 冚板 | ham32 ban55 | 唔通一定 | 难道一定 | Do you have to ...? | Example: 冚板要做么? Do I have to do it? |
| 密乱 | mit32 lɔn325 | 唔停咁 | 不停地 | incessantly, non-stop | |
| 行特 | haŋ22 ak325 | 特登 | 有意 | purposely | |
| 死毋该 | ɬi55 mu33 kɔi21 | 好鬼 | 蛮 | very, large, an obscene amount | Example: 我有死无该多钱 I have an obscene amount of money. |
| 伱 | nit55 | 啲 | 一点点 | a little bit | |
| 梗 | gaŋ55 | 一定 | 一定 | will, for sure | |
| 一条子气 | yit55 hiau33 du55 hi335 | 一次 | 一口气 | at one time | |
| 几好 | gi55 hɔu215 | 点 | 怎么样 | how, How is it that ...? | Example: 作几好该好呀? What is this all about? |
| 诂旨 | gu55 dzi55 | 仲以为 | 还以为 | thought of or assumed (wrongly) | Example: 诂旨佢好好码,原来係假个 Thought he's strong and brave but turned out to be totally wrong. |
| 还 | van21 | 仲 | 还 | still | |
| 廿 | ŋip32 | 廿 | 二十 | twenty | Contraction: [ŋi32 sip32] → [ŋip32]. Example: 埋年廿九 The 29th of the 12th Moon. |
| 得 | ak335 | 净得 | 只有 | only have | Example: 得三毫子 (I) have only thirty cents. |
| 倷/乃 | nai55 | 啲 | 些 | some | Example: 该乃係乜? What are these? |
| 肫 | kin21 | (鸟类)肾 | (鸟类)肾 | stomach or kidney (of birds) | |
| 𠹌 | lin55 | 𨳊 | 鸡巴 | penis; (vulgar) very | |
| 雀仔 | diak21 dɔi55 | 宾舟 | 鸡巴 | penis | |
| 春牯 | tsun21 gu55 | 春袋 | 阴茎 | penis | |
| 𠹌头 | lin55 hǝu225 | 戇𨳊 | 笨蛋 | stupid, dumb | |
| 𠹌头 | lin55 hǝu22 | 𠹌仔 | 笨蛋 | dickhead, dimwit | |
| 姩 | nein215 | 奶 | 乳房/人乳 | breast; human breast milk | |
| 眼仁 | ŋan55 ŋin21 | 眼窟 | 眼珠 | eyeball | |
| 咮 | dzɔi21 | 椗 | 喙 | beak, a small protruding part | Riddle: 古仔古仔有个咮 Oh riddles and riddles with a beak! |
| 热涝 | ŋɛt32 lau215 | 热痱 | 痱子 | pimples | |
| 酒米 | diu55 mai55 | 暗疮 | 青春痘 | pimple, pustule, acne | |
| 手剒 | siu55 tsɔk21 | 手踭 | 手肘 | elbow | |
| 痂 | ga21 | 焦 | 疮痂 | scab | |
| 脷咮 | li32 dzɔi21 | 脷尖 | 舌尖 | tip of the tongue | |
| 门地伏 | mɔn22 i32 bǝk21 | 门槛 | 门槛 | door sill | |
| 砸篮 | dzak32 lam21 | New Year's thank-you gift | literally 'to weight the basket.' During the New Year season, food items are presented as gifts in a basket. A thank-you gift should be placed inside the returned basket. The purpose is to avoid 'emptiness.' If the giver needs to have the basket back immediately and the receiver is not prepared, a portion from what just received can serve the purpose. | ||
| 烧宝纸 | siau33 bɔu55 dzi55 | 烧衣 | 烧银宝 | ritual burning of paper money | Ritual burning of paper money, cloths, and others as offerings to ancestors. |
| 手信 | siu55 ɬim21 | 手信 | 手信 | souvenirs, gifts | Assimilation: [siu55 ɬin33] → [siu55 ɬim21] |
| 堆 | ui21 | 假发 | 假发 | a simple grave | Literally 'a heap.' The most simple type of graves: usually just an unmarked mud heap. |
| 鸡忘记 | gai33 mɔŋ32 gi335 | 鸡忘记 | 鸡的胰脏 | The spleen of a chicken | In Taishanese folklore, a child ate it would become forgetful. |
| 弇门 | yiam55 mɔn22 | 弇门 | 关门 | to close the door | Just closed, not locked |
| 恶抵 | ɔk33 ai55 | 难顶 | 难受 | hard to endure; uncomfortable | |
| 疚 | gǝu33 | 累 | 累 | tired | |
| * | nai33 | 累 | 累 | tired | |
| 奇巧 | ki22 kɔu55 | 奇妙 | 奇妙 | wonderful, magical; wonder | |
| 奇奇巧巧 | ki22 ki22 kɔu55 kɔu55 | 奇奇怪怪 | 奇奇怪怪 | (personal character) strange, odd | |
| 乐着 | lɔk32 dziak32(5) | 自在 | 舒服 | comfortable, easy-going, relaxing | |
| 骚 | ɬɔu215 | 姣 | 娇媚 | flirtatious | |
| 心喜 | ɬim33 hi335 | 开心 | 开心 | happy, pleased, glad | |
| 扭纹 | niu55 mun225 | 扭偈 | 淘气 | naughty | |
| 牛精 | ŋǝu22 dein33(5) | 牛精 | 蛮 | bad-tempered, unreasonable | |
| 嗍气 | sɔk33 hi335 | 嗍气 | 吃力 | strenuous; to gasp for breath | |
| 爽 | sɔŋ55 | 过瘾 | 痛快 | happy; joyful, satisfying | Example: '好爽!' 'I am having a good time!' |