Mandarin Chinese is the official language in Taiwan, and many locals speak Taiwanese Hokkien too. A few local phrases go a long way in making connections and navigating the country. Here are some essential expressions for travelers:
👋 Basic Greetings
| English |
Mandarin |
Pronunciation |
| Hello | 你好 | nǐ hǎo |
| Thank you | 謝謝 | xièxiè |
| You’re welcome | 不客氣 | bú kè qì |
| Goodbye | 再見 | zài jiàn |
| Yes / No | 是 / 不是 | shì / bú shì |
| Excuse me / Sorry | 對不起 | duì bù qǐ |
🍜 Food & Shopping
| English |
Mandarin |
Pronunciation |
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢？ | zhè ge duō shǎo qián? |
| I don’t eat meat | 我不吃肉 | wǒ bù chī ròu |
| No spicy | 不要辣 | bú yào là |
| One, please | 我要一個 | wǒ yào yī ge |
| Delicious! | 好吃！ | hǎo chī! |
| Can I try? | 可以試試看嗎？ | kě yǐ shì shì kàn ma? |
🚖 Getting Around
| English |
Mandarin |
Pronunciation |
| Where is the MRT? | 捷運在哪裡？ | jié yùn zài nǎ lǐ? |
| I want to go to… | 我要去… | wǒ yào qù… |
| Please stop here | 請在這裡停 | qǐng zài zhè lǐ tíng |
| How far? | 多遠？ | duō yuǎn? |
💬 Other Handy Phrases
| English |
Mandarin |
Pronunciation |
| Do you speak English? | 你會說英文嗎？ | nǐ huì shuō yīng wén ma? |
| I don’t understand | 我聽不懂 | wǒ tīng bù dǒng |
| Where is the bathroom? | 廁所在哪裡？ | cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ? |
| Help! | 救命！ | jiù mìng! |
WRUGoing tip: Download a language app like Pleco or Google Translate and save the phrases for offline use. It’s a lifesaver when signs or menus don’t have English!
