This phrase sheet provides commonly used Teis expressions for travelers, merchants, pilgrims, and envoys. It includes everyday street speech, imperial-formal variants, pronunciation guidance, and restricted temple honorific language.
Pronunciation Guide
| Rule | Explanation |
|---|
| a | ah |
| e | eh |
| i | ee |
| o | oh |
| u | oo |
| Hyphen (-) | Light pause between syllables |
| Stress | Falls gently on the final syllable |
Affirmation, Negation & Uncertainty
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Va | Yes |
| Mor | No |
| Va-eh | Maybe |
| Il va | Certainly |
| Kai va | Probably |
| Mor va | Probably not |
Greetings & Time of Day
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Sha kai | Hello |
| Kai lun | Good morning |
| Kai sha | Good day |
| Kai mor | Good evening |
| Sha mor | Good night |
| Sha ren | Goodbye / safe travels |
Politeness & Courtesy
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Kai il | Please |
| Il kai | Thank you |
| Il kai-ren | Thank you very much |
| Shu-na | Excuse me |
| Mor shu | Sorry |
| Tal va | It’s alright / no problem |
Questions & Understanding
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Va shu | I understand |
| Mor shu | I don’t understand |
| Ren va? | What is this? |
| Ren il? | What is that? |
| Sha ren? | Where is…? |
| Ren kai? | Which way? |
| Vaen il? | How much? |
| Shu va? | Are you well? |
Directions & Locations
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Sha | Here |
| Il | There |
| Tal | Up / above |
| Mor | Down / below |
| Kai | Near |
| Lun | Far |
| Ren | Road / way |
Common Location Questions
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Sha ren kai? | Where is the market? |
| Sha ren esh? | Where is the water? |
| Sha ren sha? | Where is the inn or house? |
| Sha tal ren | I am lost |
Food & Lodging
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Mor esh | I need food |
| Esh il | I need water |
| Kai mor | Good food |
| Na lun | I need rest |
| Sha kai sha? | Is there an inn? |
Market & Trade
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Vaen mor | Too expensive |
| Vaen kai | Fair price |
| Mor vaen | No money |
| Kai vaen | I will buy |
| Mor kai | I will not buy |
Help & Trouble
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Tal! | Help! |
| Mor kai! | Stop! |
| Na mor | I am hurt or unwell |
| Shu tal va? | Can you help me? |
Imperial-Formal Speech
Imperial-formal Teis is used when addressing officials, elders, magistrates, or in legal settings. Respect is conveyed through particles such as -ren, -il, and -shu.
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Va, il-ren | Yes (formal) |
| Mor, il-ren | No (formal) |
| Sha-ren kai | Formal greeting |
| Il kai-ren | Many thanks |
| Va shu-ren | I understand (formal) |
| Vaen il-shu? | How much? (formal) |
Temple-Only Honorific Speech
Temple Teis is a restricted ritual register used exclusively within sanctified spaces such as temples, ancestral halls, and sacred courts. Casual or incorrect usage is considered sacrilegious. Speakers linguistically lower themselves and never use street phrasing.
Temple Greetings & Entry
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Sha-ren il-va | Blessings upon this place |
| Na il-shu kai-mor | I enter in reverence |
| Il-ren tal-va shu | I acknowledge the sanctity |
| Kai-moren va-shu | May harmony endure |
Addressing Priests or Sacred Icons
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Il-shu ren-na | I speak with humility |
| Tal-mor il-sha | I submit to the rite |
| Ren-shu il-va? | I seek guidance |
| Na shu-tal | I await instruction |
Ritual Responses
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Va-shu il-ren | It is received |
| Shu-ren kai-tal | The words are accepted |
| Va tal-moren | It shall be done |
| Kai-shu moren | The rite is complete |
Hospitality, Dining & Leisure
These phrases are commonly used in inns, tea houses, bath houses, performance halls, and pleasure houses. They remain polite, non-explicit, and socially appropriate in public-facing establishments.
Entering an Establishment
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Sha kai sha | Greetings to this house |
| Kai va shu | Is there space? |
| Na kai ren | I seek welcome |
| Shu kai va? | Are guests received? |
Eating & Drinking
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Mor esh kai | I would like food |
| Esh il kai | I would like water |
| Mor vaen lun | I will order more |
| Kai mor il | The food is good |
| Esh kai mor | The drink is pleasant |
| Mor va esh | No more food, please |
Lodging & Comfort
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Na lun kai | I seek rest |
| Sha kai lun? | Is there a room? |
| Kai lun il | The bed is comfortable |
| Mor lun ren | I will stay the night |
| Vaen il lun? | How much for the night? |
Entertainment & Company
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Kai shu tal | Fine music |
| Na shu tal | I wish to listen |
| Kai ren va | Pleasant company |
| Na kai va | I am enjoying myself |
| Kai mor shu | This brings joy |
Polite Requests in Pleasure Houses
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Na shu kai-tal | I request respectful company |
| Kai shu ren | Let us speak |
| Mor kai ren | No, thank you |
| Tal va kai | That is enough |
| Kai va moren | I am content |
Departing Politely
| Teis | Meaning |
|---|
| Il kai sha | Thank you for the hospitality |
| Sha ren kai | I depart in peace |
| Kai-moren va | May harmony remain |
Traveler Warning: Never use street or imperial Teis inside a temple. Speak softly, slowly, and only when addressed.
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