| Taishanese | IPA | Cantonese | Mandarin | English | Notes |
| 软熟 | ŋun33 sək32 | 软熟 | 柔软 | soft | |
| 矮细 | ai55 ɬai33 | 矮细 | 矮小 | (person) undersized, short and small | |
| 四正 | ɬu33 dziaŋ33 | 四正 | 端庄整齐 | neat and proper | Assimilation: [ɬi33 dziaŋ33] → [ɬu33 dziaŋ33] |
| 幼细 | yiu33 ɬai33 | 幼细 | 纤细 | slim, thin, fine, tender | |
| 频扑 | pin22 pɔk33 | 频扑 | 忙碌 | busy | |
| 快趣 | fai33 tui33 | 快趣 | 利索/快 | fast, quickly, soon | |
| 快手快脚 | fai33 siu55 fai33 giak33 | 快手快脚 | (做事)快 | nimble of hands and fast of feet, perform task quickly | |
| 唔知 | mi33 | 唔知 | 不知道 | do not know | Assimilation: [m22 i33] → [mi33] |
| 乜头路 | mɔt55 həu22 lu32 | 发生乜嘢事 | 为什么 | what is the reason, what is going on | Example: 总唔知乜头路呀! I have no idea what is going on! |
| 新净 | ɬin33 diaŋ32 | 新净 | 如新 | as new, in good condition | |
| 偷笑 | həu33 ɬiau335 | 偷笑 | 暗笑 | to snicker, to chuckle | |
| 吹胀 | tsui33 dziaŋ33 | 吹胀 | 气坏 | don't know if one should laugh or cry, furious | |
| 唔忿气 | m22 fun32 hi33 | 唔忿气 | 不服气 | unwilling to accept result, unwilling to submit, unconvinced | |
| 唂气 | gək55 hi33 | 唂气 | 憋气 | choke with resentment | |
| 砸 | dzak32 | 砸 | 压 | to weight down, to hold down, to press | Example: 用镇纸砸住乃纸 Use the paperweight to hold down the papers. |
| 靓女 | liaŋ33 nui55 | 靓女 | 漂亮的姑娘 | pretty girl | |
| 靓仔 | liaŋ33 dɔi55 | 靓仔 | 英俊的小伙子 | good-looking boy, lad | |
| 老姑婆 | lɔu55 gu33 pɔ22 | 老姑婆 | 老处女 | old unmarried lady | |
| 荡失路 | ɔŋ32 sit55 lu32 | 荡失路 | 迷路 | to lose one's way, to stray | |
| 探热 | ham33 ŋɛt32 | 探热 | 量温度 | to take one's temperature | |
| 探病 | ham33 biaŋ32 | 探病 | 探病 | to visit a sick person; hospital visit | |
| 同班 | həŋ22 ban33 | 同班 | 同班同学 | classmate | |
| 膏渣 | gɔu33 dza32 | 猪油渣 | 猪油渣 | cracklings | |
| 隔篱膏渣香 | gak33 li21 gɔu33 dza21 hiaŋ33 | 隔篱饭菜香 | 这山望着那山高 | The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence | Literally 'Cracklings are more delicious on the other side of the fence.' |
| 香水 | hiaŋ33 sui55 | 香水 | 香水 | perfume | |
| 古龙水 | gu55 ləŋ22 sui55 | 古龙水 | 古龙水 | cologne | Literally 'cologne water.' 古龙 is the transliteration of cologne. |
| 八 | bat33 | 八 | 饶舌 | gossipy | |
| 话 | va32 | 话 | 说 | to admonish, to berate, to scold | Example: 你话下佢啦 You should admonish him. |
| 好捡敛 | hɔu55 giam55 liam55 | (person) good at safekeeping things | |||
| 金山橙 | gim33 san33 tsaŋ225 | 金山橙 | 金山橙 | navel orange, Sunkist orange, Californian orange | |
| 黄头龙 | vɔŋ22 həu22 ləŋ225 | 黄头龙蛇 | 草腹链蛇 | buff striped keelback, Amphiesma stolata, water snake | |
| 黄头龙蛇酒 | vɔŋ22 həu22 ləŋ225 sia22 diu55 | 黄头龙蛇酒 | 黄头龙蛇酒 | (Amphiesma Stolata) snake wine | |
| 蛇王 | sia22 vɔŋ22 | 蛇王 | 偷懒/懒鬼 | to goof off; a lazy person | Literally 'the king of snakes.' |
| 王 | vɔŋ22 | 王 | 王 | king | |
| 皇后 | vɔŋ22 həu32 | 皇后 | 皇后 | queen | |
| 王子 | vɔŋ22 du55 | 王子 | 王子 | prince | |
| 公主 | gəŋ33 dzi55 | 公主 | 公主 | princess | |
| 皇帝女 | vɔŋ22 ai33 nui55 | 皇帝女 | (刁蛮)公主 | princess, (female) spoiled brat | |
| 杂碎 | dap32 ɬui33 | 杂碎 | 杂碎 | chop suey | |
| 炒饭 | tsɔu55 fan32 | 炒饭 | 炒饭 | fried rice | |
| 炒面 | tsɔu55 mein32 | 炒面 | 炒面 | fried noodles, chow mein | |
| 甜酸鸡 | hiam22 ɬɔn33 gai33 | 甜酸鸡 | 甜酸鸡 | sweet and sour chicken | |
| 古老肉 | gu55 lɔu55 ŋək32 | 古老肉 | 咕噜肉 | sweet and sour pork | |
| 蘑菇鸡片 | mɔ22 gu33 gai33 pein335 | 蘑菇鸡片 | 蘑菇鸡片 | Chicken with Mushrooms, Moo Goo Gai Pan | |
| 叉烧包 | tsa33 siau33 bɔu335 | 叉烧包 | 叉烧包 | BBQ Pork Bun, cha siu bao | |
| 管 | gɔn55 | 管 | 管子 | tube, pipe, duct, straw | |
| 心情 | ɬim33 tein22 | 心情 | 心情 | mood | |
| 性格 | ɬein33 gak55 | 性格 | 性格 | character, personality | |
| 性别 | ɬein33 bɛt32 | 性别 | 性别 | sex, one's sex orientation | |
| 情人节 | tein22 ŋin22 dɛt55/33 | 情人节 | 情人节 | Valentine's Day | |
| 圣诞节 | ɬein33 an33 dɛt55/33 | 圣诞节 | 圣诞节 | Christmas Day | |
| 烧花衣 | siau33 fa33 yi33(5) | Festivity on the ninth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Burning of colorful paper cloths. | |||
| 秩序 | ɛt32 dui32 | 秩序 | 秩序 | order; orderly; orderliness | |
| 守秩序 | siu55 ɛt32 dui32 | 守秩序 | 守秩序 | to follow rules | |
| 狗啮 | gəu55 ŋat325 | 死仔 | 该死的 | cursed, damnable, evil | Literally '(who be) bitten by a dog.' |
| 搦 | nɛt55 | 搦 | 持/握 | to carry with hand, to hold (tube, brush, pen) | |
| 病历 | biaŋ32 lɛt32 | 病历 | 病历 | medical record, case history | |
| 历史 | lɛt32 ɬu55 | 历史 | 历史 | history | |
| 经历 | gein33 lɛt32 | 经历 | 经历 | to go through, to experience; life experience | |
| 抢 | tiaŋ55 | 抢 | 抢 | to rob, to grab, to loot | |
| 龙 | lǝŋ22 | 龙 | 龙 | dragon | |
| 笑笑 | ɬiau33 ɬiau335 | 笑笑地 | 微笑 | smilingly, with a smile | |
| 公平 | gǝŋ33 pein22 | 公平 | 公平 | fair, just, impartial, equitable; fairness | |
| 开声 | hɔi33 siaŋ33 | 开声 | 讲出来 | to speak up, to let me know | |
| 大声 | ai32 siaŋ33 | 大声 | 大声 | loud; loudly | |
| 离婚 | li22 fun33 | 离婚 | 离婚 | divorce | |
| 理解 | li21 gai55 | 理解 | 理解 | understanding, comprehension; to comprehend | |
| 理想 | li21 ɬiaŋ55 | 理想 | 理想 | ideal, goal, dream | |
| 理论 | li21 lun32 | 理论 | 理论 | theory | |
| 理发 | li21 fat55 | 理发 | 理发 | haircut | |
| 喜好 | hi55 hɔu33 | 喜好 | 喜好 | (hobby) preference, like | |
| 捉* | dzɔk33 sat215 | 突然 | 突然 | suddenly | |
| 突然之间 | ut32 ŋein33 dzi33 gan335 | 突然之间 | 突然之间 | suddenly | |
| 开朗 | hɔi33 lɔŋ21 | 开朗 | 开朗 | cheerful, bright | |
| 冲突 | tsəŋ33 ut32 | 冲突 | 冲突 | conflict, contention, clash | |
| 硬碰硬 | ŋaŋ32 pəŋ33 ŋaŋ325 | 硬碰硬 | 硬碰硬 | to confront the tough with toughness, to clash hard | |
| 万一 | man32 yit55 | 万一 | 万一 | in case, just in case, by chance | |
| 反正 | fan55 dzein33 | 反正 | 反正 | anyway, in any case | |
| 命好/好命 | miaŋ32 hɔu55/hɔu55 miaŋ32 | 命好/好命 | 命好 | predestine to have an easy life, fortunate | |
| 底 | ai55 | 底 | 底 | bottom | |
| 自私 | du32 ɬu33 | 自私 | 自私 | selfish; selfishness | |
| 私人 | ɬu33 ŋi22(5) | 私人 | 私人 | private, personal | |
| 丝 | ɬu33 | 丝 | 丝 | silk | |
| 丝 | ɬu21 | 丝 | 丝 | filament, fiber, thread | |
| 表现 | biau55 yian32 | 表现 | 表现 | (job) performance, behavior | |
| 态度 | hai33 u32 | 态度 | 态度 | attitude, approach, manner | |
| 意见 | yi33 gein33 | 意见 | 意见 | opinion, view, idea | |
| 有意 | yiu33 yi33 | 有意 | 有意 | intentionally, deliberately, on purpose | |
| 冇意 | mɔu33 yi33 | 冇意 | 无意 | unintentionally, not on purpose | |
| 醒目 | ɬein55 mək32 | 醒目 | 抢眼 | eye-catching, prominent | |
| 目录 | mək32 lək32 | 目录 | 目录 | catalog, directory, content | |
| 冇 | mɔu33 | 冇 | 没有 | have not, without | Example: 冇钱 Do not have money. |
| 诈 | dza33 | 诈 | 装作 | to pretend | Example: 诈睇唔见 He has not yet come |
| 运气 | vun32 hi33 | 运气 | 运气 | fortune, fate | |
| 夹生 | gap33 saŋ33 | 监生 | 活生生 | while still alive, half-cooked | |
| 天生 | hein33 saŋ33 | 天生 | 天生 | innate, natural | |
| 表 | biau55 | 表 | 表 | form, table, list | |
| 红豆冰 | həŋ22 əu32 bein33 | 红豆冰 | 红豆冰 | red bean ice drink | |
| 冰室 | bein33 sit55 | 冰室 | 冰室 | restaurant for ice creams and other cold drinks | |
| 顾问 | gu33 mun32 | 顾问 | 顾问 | advisor | |
| 帮忙 | bɔŋ33 mɔŋ22 | 帮忙 | 帮忙 | to help; help | |
| 忙 | mɔŋ22 | 忙 | 忙 | busy | |
| 临急临忙 | lim22 gip55 lim22 mɔŋ22 | 临急临忙 | 临急临忙 | last minute, unprepared, in a great rush | |
| 扣 | kəu33 | 扣 | 扣 | to buckle, to button; to deduct | |
| 只管 | dzi55 gɔn55 | 即管 | 尽管 | despite, in spite of | |
| 立杂 | lap32 dap32 | 立杂 | 杂碎/杂乱 | miscellaneous, mixed, this and that | |
| 樽领 | dun21 liaŋ21 | 樽领 | 高领 | high collar | |
| 扎马 | dzap33 ma21 | 扎马 | 扎马步 | (martial arts) horse stance, stance | (Cantonese slang) two groups facing each other but not yet start fighting, squat over the toilet. Assimilation: [dzat33 ma21] → [dzap33 ma21] |
| 屎坑 | si55 haŋ335 | 屎坑 | 茅坑 | squat down toilet | |
| 唐餐 | hɔŋ22 tan335 | 唐餐 | 中国菜 | Chinese cuisine | |
| 唐楼 | hɔŋ22 ləu225 | 唐楼 | 中式房子 | Chinese style building | |
| 唐话 | hɔŋ22 va325 | 唐话 | 中国话 | Chinese spoken language | |
| 金山客 | gim33 san33 hak33 | 金山客 | 金山客 | overseas ethnic Chinese (esp. from the Four Counties) | Literally 'the Gold Mountain Guest.' |
| 雪屐 | ɬut55 kiak21 | 雪屐 | 溜冰鞋 | roller skates, roller, skate | |
| 滑雪屐 | vat32 ɬut55 kiak21 | 滑雪屐 | 溜冰 | roller skating; to roller skate | |
| 扭计 | niu55 gai325 | 扭计 | 闹别扭 | (children) to make a fuss | |
| 反复 | fan55 fək55 | 反复 | 反复 | repeatedly, again and again; tend to flip-flop, keep on changing position | |
| 起床 | hi55 tsɔŋ22 | 起床 | 起床 | to get up (from bed in the morning) | |
| 唔得闲 | mak33 han22/kan22 | 唔得闲 | 没空 | busy, do not have the time | Assimilation/Contraction: [m22 ak33 han22] → [mak33 kan22] |
| 唔知几 | mi33 gi55 | 唔知几 | 不知多么 | extremely | Literally 'not knowing how.' Assimilation/Contraction: [m22 i33 gi55] → [mi33 gi55] |
| 几知几 | gi532 gi55 | 点知几/唔知几 | 不知怎么/不知多么 | how does one know, extremely | Assimilation/Contraction: [gi55 i33 gi55] → [gi532 gi55] |
| 唔得过日 | mak33 gɔ33 ŋit21 | 好闷 | 日子难熬 | bored, cannot while away the time | Assimilation/Contraction: [m22 ak33] → [mak33] |
| 有排 | yiu33 pai225 | 有排 | 有段时间/早着呢 | to have a while | |
| 字典 | du32 ein55 | 字典 | 字典 | character dictionary | |
| 词典/辞典 | ɬu22 ein55 | 词典/辞典 | 词典/辞典 | (word) dictionary | |
| 司机 | ɬu33 gi33 | 司机 | 司机 | (car/train) driver | |
| 飞机师 | fi33 gi33 ɬu33 | 飞机师 | 飞行员 | pilot, aviator | |
| 博士 | bɔk55 ɬu32 | 博士 | 博士 | Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy | |
| 银幕 | ŋan22 mɔk55 | 银幕 | 银幕 | movie screen | |
| 开幕 | hɔi33 mɔk55 | 开幕 | 开幕 | curtain rising, inauguration | |
| 花生壳 | fa33 saŋ33 hɔk21 | 花生壳 | 花生壳 | peanut shells | |
| 寒暑表 | hɔn22 si55 biau55 | 寒暑表 | 温度计 | home thermometer | |
| 丑人 | tsiu55 ŋin225 | 丑人 | 白脸 | bad cop, bad buy, offender, bearer of bad news | Example: 做丑人 to play the bad guy. |
| 避忌 | bi32 gi32 | 避忌 | 避忌 | taboo | |
| 丑心 | tsiu55 ɬim33 | 黑心 | 黑心肠 | wicked | |
| 揸主意 | dza33 dzi55 yi33 | 揸主意 | 拿主意 | to make a decision | |
| 论尽 | lun32 dzun32 | 论尽 | 笨手笨脚 | clumsy | |
| 鳄鱼 | ŋɔk55 ŋui22 | 鳄鱼 | 鳄鱼 | crocodile, alligator | |
| 鲸鱼 | kein22 ŋui22 | 鲸鱼 | 鲸鱼 | whale | |
| 鱼骨 | ŋui21 gut55 | 鱼骨 | 鱼骨 | fish bone | |
| 鱼肚 | ŋui21 u55 | 鱼肚 | 鱼肚 | fish belly | |
| 鱼头 | ŋui21 həu22 | 鱼头 | 鱼头 | fish head | |
| 鱼尾 | ŋui21 mi55 | 鱼尾 | 鱼尾 | fish tail | |
| 鱼露 | ŋui21 lu32 | 鱼露 | 鱼露 | fish sauce | |
| 紫菜 | du55 tɔi21 | 紫菜 | 紫菜 | seaweed | |
| 蒜子 | ɬɔn21 du55 | 蒜头 | 蒜头 | garlic | |
| 疮(仔) | tsɔŋ21 (dɔi55) | 疮 | 疮 | sore, wound, skin ulcer | |
| 圆 | yɔn22 | 圆 | 圆 | round | |
| 圆 | yɔn215 | 汤圆 | 汤圆 | (round shape) dumpling | Adj: [yɔn22] round; Noun [yɔn215] dumpling. |
| 同志 | həŋ22 dzi33 | 同志 | 同志 | comrade | (Hong Kong slang) gay, lesbian |
| 颈尾椎 | giaŋ55 mi55 dzui21 | 颈椎 | 颈椎 | nape | |
| 脚 | giak21 | 沉淀 | 沉淀物 | (solid) dreg, crumb | Noun: [giak33] foot; [giak21] dreg |
| 渣 | dza21 | 渣 | 渣 | dreg, residue | |
| 衣 | yi21 | 衣 | 种皮 | seed coat, testa, film | Example: 花生衣 seed coat of the peanuts |
| 傻 | sɔ21 | 傻 | 傻 | foolish, stupid, insane; to become insane, to go crazy | |
| 做尾 | du33 mi55 | 收尾 | 最后 | in the end | |
| 收尾 | siu33 mi55 | 收尾 | 最后 | in the end | |
| 手尾 | siu55 mi55 | 手尾 | 尚未完成的细节 | loose ends | |
| 手尾長 | siu55 mi55 tsiaŋ22 | 手尾長 | (事)需跟进良久 | (of problem) likely to drag on | |
| 惟是...惟是 | vi22 si21 | 越...越... | 越...越... | the more ... the more ... | |
| 维持 | vi22 tsi22 | 维持 | 维持 | to maintain, to sustain | |
| 薏米 | yi21 mai55 | 薏米 | 薏米 | Job's Tears | |
| 衫袖口 | sam21 diu32 həu55 | 衫袖口 | 衣袖口 | mouth of a sleeve | |
| 砧板 | im21 ban55 | 砧板 | 砧板 | cutting board | |
| 声尾 | siaŋ21 mi55 | 口音 | 口音 | local accent | |
| 洗衫板 | ɬai55 sam21 ban55 | 洗衫板 | 洗衣板 | washing board, laundry board | |
| 扫街佬 | ɬɔu33 gai21 lɔu55 | 扫街佬 | 街道清洁工 | street sweeper | |
| 老糠 | lɔu55 hɔŋ21 | 老糠 | 老糠 | coarsely ground husk | |
| 蔗渣 | dzia21 dza21 | 蔗渣 | 蔗渣 | biogases | |
| 桑叶 | sɔŋ21 yiap21 | 桑叶 | 桑叶 | mulberry leaf | |
| 镬镬撑撑 | vɔk21 vɔk21 tsaŋ33 tsaŋ33 | 砂煲罂罉 | 鍋碗瓢盆 | pots and pans | |
| 胆生毛 | am55 saŋ33 mɔu22 | 胆生毛 | 鲁莽 | reckless | Literally 'Gall bladder grows hairs.' |
| 书虫 | si33 tsəŋ22 | 书虫 | 书虫/书呆子 | bookworm | |
| 地基 | i32 gi21 | 地基 | 地基 | building foundation | |
| 死火 | ɬi55 fɔ55 | 死火 | 抛锚/糟糕 | (car) to break down; terrible | |
| 群 | kun22 | 群 | 跟...混在一起 | to group, to join | Unusually with negative connotation, for example: 群埋穷众人, 学坏嗮 (He) hang out with that group of people and went astray. |
| 畀张三脚凳我坐 | i55 dziaŋ33 ɬam33 giak33 aŋ21(5) ŋɔi33 tɔ33 | 畀张三脚凳我坐 | to set me up to fail | Literally 'to have me sit on a chair with only three legs.' | |
| 树叶 | si32 yiap21 | 树叶 | 树叶 | tree leaf | |
| 种树 | dzəŋ33 si32 | 种树 | 种树 | to plant a tree; tree planting | |
| 树林 | si32 ləm21 | 树林 | 树林 | forest | |
| 根 | gin33 | 根 | 根 | root | |
| 跟 | gin33 | 跟 | 跟 | to follow, to go with | |
| 塞车 | ɬak55 tsia33 | 塞车 | 堵车 | traffic jam | |
| 鼻塞 | bi32 ɬak55 | 鼻塞 | 鼻塞 | having a stuffy nose; nasal congestion | |
| 伤风 | siaŋ33 fəŋ33 | 伤风 | 伤风 | to catch cold; a cold | |
| 运动 | vun32 əŋ32 | 运动 | 运动 | sports; campaign, movement | |
| 运动会 | vun32 əŋ32 vɔi325 | 运动会 | 运动会 | games, sports competition | |
| 运气 | vun32 hi33 | 运气 | 运气 | luck, fortune | |
| 好运 | hɔu55 vun32 | 好运 | 运气好 | good luck; having good fortune | |
| 运输 | vun32 si33 | 运输 | 运输 | transportation | |
| 时来运转 | si22 lɔi22 vun32 dzɔn55 | 时来运转 | 时来运转 | a turn for the better; to take a turn for the better | |
| 变化 | bein33 fa33 | 变化 | 变化 | change | |
| 行 | haŋ22 | 拍拖 | 谈恋爱 | to date | Example: 佢同个女仔行紧 He is dating a girl. |
| 烂溶溶 | lan32 yəŋ22 yəŋ22 | 烂溶溶 | 破烂 | rotten, broken | |
| 溶溶烂烂 | yəŋ22 yəŋ22 lan32 lan32 | 溶溶烂烂 | 破烂 | rotten, broken | |
| 总司令 | dəŋ55 ɬu33 lein32 | 总司令 | 总司令 | Commander in Chief | |
| 爽手 | sɔŋ55 siu55 | 爽手 | 爽快 | straightforward, forthright | |
| 零零丁丁 | lein22 lein22 ein33 ein33 | 零零丁丁 | 孤孤单单 | alone, odd | |
| 避 | bi32 | 避 | 避 | to evade, to shy away from | |
| 鹤 | hɔk215 | 鹤 | 鹤 | crane | |
| 机器 | gi33 hi33 | 机器 | 机器 | machine | |
| 水管 | sui55 gɔn55 | 水管 | 水管 | water pipe | |
| 管工 | gɔn55 gəŋ33(5) | 管工 | 管工 | foreman | |
| 派出所 | pai33 tsut55 sɔ55 | 派出所 | 派出所 | neighborhood police station, local police station | |
| 城管 | sein22 gɔn55 | 城管 | 城管 | (city) code enforcer, code inspector | |
| 公安 | gəŋ33 ɔn335 | 公安 | 公安 | public security officer | |
| 公安局 | gəŋ33 ɔn33 gək325 | 公安局 | 公安局 | Public Security Bureau | |
| 报户口 | bɔu33 fu32 həu55 | 报户口 | 报户口 | to register with the police for temporary stay in a city/town. | |
| 黑人 | hak55 ŋin22 | 黑人 | 黑人 | black people | |
| 白人 | bak32 ŋin22 | 白人 | 白人 | white man, Caucasian | |
| 叉 | tsa215 | 叉 | 叉 | fork | |
| 羹 | gaŋ335 | 羹 | 羹子 | spoon | |
| 拆 | tsak33 | 拆 | 拆 | to dismantle, to tear down | |
| 拆屋 | tsak33 ək55 | 拆屋 | 拆房子 | to tear down a house | |
| 才能 | tɔi22 naŋ22 | 才能 | 才能 | talent, ability |