What you'll say, and what you'll hear back

Older people in Taiwan often speak Taiwanese first. A few words of it at the corner shop or the guesthouse gets a big smile.

Taiwanese is spoken most in the south (Tainan, Kaohsiung) and by older people everywhere. Young people in Taipei mostly speak Mandarin, but almost everyone understands these greetings.

1. You say
   你好！ Lí hó! Hello!
   Word 1: 你好 · hello
2. You hear
   食飽未？ Tsia̍h-pá buē? Have you eaten?
   Word 2: 食飽未 · have you eaten? (a greeting)

   This is a hello, not an invitation to lunch. Answer with the next line.

3. You say
   食飽矣。 Tsia̍h-pá ah. I have, thanks.
   Word 3: 食飽矣 · I've eaten (the reply)
4. You say
   阿伯，你好！ A-peh, lí hó! Hello, uncle!
   Word 4: 阿伯 · uncle (any older man)
5. You say
   阿姨，多謝！ A-î, to-siā! Thanks, auntie!
   Word 5: 阿姨 · auntie (any older woman)
6. You say
   多謝！ To-siā! Thank you!
   Word 6: 多謝 · thank you

   感謝 (kám-siā) also means thank you and sounds a little more formal.

7. You say
   歹勢！ Pháinn-sè! Sorry! Excuse me!
   Word 7: 歹勢 · sorry, excuse me

   Sorry, excuse me and pardon me in one word. Even Mandarin speakers use it.

8. You hear
   無要緊。 Bô-iàu-kín. No problem.
   Word 8: 無要緊 · no problem, never mind
9. You hear
   你是佗位人？ Lí sī tó-uī lâng? Where are you from?
   Word 9: 佗位 · where
10. You say
    再會！ Tsài-huē! Goodbye!
    Word 10: 再會 · goodbye

    Plenty of people just say 掰掰 (bai-bai), the same as in Mandarin.

The moment someone answers you in fast Taiwanese. These lines buy you time.

1. You say
   我袂曉講台語。 Guá bē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí. I can't speak Taiwanese.
   Word 11: 袂曉 · can't, don't know how

   In the south you will also hear buē-hiáu.

2. You hear
   你會曉講台語喔！ Lí ē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí ooh! You can speak Taiwanese!
   Word 12: 會曉 · can, know how to
3. You say
   一屑仔。 Tsi̍t-sut-á. Just a little.
   Word 13: 一屑仔 · a little bit
4. You say
   我聽無。 Guá thiann bô. I don't understand.
   Word 14: 聽無 · don't understand (what I hear)
5. You say
   請你講較慢咧。 Tshiánn lí kóng khah bān--leh. Please speak a bit slower.
   Word 15: 慢 · slow
6. You say
   這台語按怎講？ Tse Tâi-gí án-tsuánn kóng? How do you say this in Taiwanese?
   Word 16: 按怎 · how
7. You hear
   講華語嘛會使。 Kóng Huâ-gí mā ē-sái. Mandarin is fine too.
   Word 17: 會使 · can, may, it's OK

   華語 (Huâ-gí) is Mandarin. Nearly everyone under 60 speaks it.

8. You say
   是。 Sī. Yes, that's right.
   Word 18: 是 · yes, it is
9. You say
   毋是。 M̄-sī. No, it isn't.
   Word 19: 毋是 · no, it isn't
10. You say
    好！ Hó! OK!
    Word 20: 好 · good, OK

A small rice shop with plastic stools. The owner shouts the questions, so they come quickly.

1. You hear
   欲食啥？ Beh tsia̍h siánn? What will you have?
   Word 21: 欲 · want to, will
2. You say
   一碗滷肉飯。 Tsi̍t uánn lóo-bah-pn̄g. A bowl of braised pork rice.
   Word 22: 滷肉飯 · braised pork rice
3. You hear
   欲加卵無？ Beh ka nn̄g bô? Add an egg?
   Word 23: 卵 · egg
4. You hear
   佇遮食抑是包轉去？ Tī tsia tsia̍h ia̍h-sī pau tńg-khì? Eat here or take it home?
   Word 24: 包轉去 · take away
5. You say
   佇遮食。 Tī tsia tsia̍h. Eating here.
   Word 25: 遮 · here
6. You hear
   啉啥？ Lim siánn? Anything to drink?
   Word 26: 啉 · drink
7. You say
   我欲水。 Guá beh tsuí. Water, please.
   Word 27: 水 · water
8. You say
   予我這个。 Hōo guá tsit ê. Give me this one.
   Word 28: 這个 · this one
9. You say
   好食！ Hó-tsia̍h! Delicious!
   Word 29: 好食 · delicious
10. You say
    閣一碗！ Koh tsi̍t uánn! Another bowl!
    Word 30: 閣 · again, another

Morning markets run on Taiwanese. Prices are quoted fast, by the catty, and a little haggling is welcome.

1. You say
   這偌濟錢？ Tse guā-tsē tsînn? How much is this?
   Word 31: 偌濟錢 · how much (money)
2. You hear
   一斤一百箍。 Tsi̍t kin tsi̍t-pah khoo. A hundred dollars a catty.
   Word 32: 箍 · dollar (spoken)

   Dollars are 箍 (khoo). A 斤 (kin) is 600 grams.

3. You say
   傷貴矣！ Siunn kuì ah! That's too expensive!
   Word 33: 傷貴 · too expensive
4. You say
   算較俗咧。 Sǹg khah sio̍k--leh. Make it a bit cheaper.
   Word 34: 俗 · cheap
5. You hear
   好啦，算你九十。 Hó--lah, sǹg lí káu-tsa̍p. OK, ninety for you.
   Word 35: 九十 · ninety
6. You say
   我欲兩个。 Guá beh nn̄g ê. I'll take two.
   Word 36: 兩 · two (of something)

   Two (兩) and egg (卵) are both nn̄g. Context does the rest.

7. You say
   有較細的無？ Ū khah sè--ê bô? Do you have a smaller one?
   Word 37: 細 · small
8. You hear
   新鮮的喔！ Sin-tshinn--ê ooh! It's fresh!
   Word 38: 新鮮 · fresh
9. You hear
   愛袋仔無？ Ài tē-á bô? Do you want a bag?
   Word 39: 袋仔 · bag
10. You say
    毋免。 M̄-bián. No need.
    Word 40: 毋免 · no need

In Tainan and Kaohsiung the night market stall owners talk to each other in Taiwanese, and they love it when you try.

1. You say
   一份蚵仔煎。 Tsi̍t hūn ô-á-tsian. One oyster omelette.
   Word 41: 蚵仔煎 · oyster omelette

   Mandarin speakers say this dish in Taiwanese too, so you will hear ô-á-tsian everywhere.

2. You say
   肉圓兩粒。 Bah-uân nn̄g lia̍p. Two bah-uân.
   Word 42: 肉圓 · bah-uân (stuffed dumpling)
3. You hear
   欲薟無？ Beh hiam bô? Spicy?
   Word 43: 薟 · spicy

   Signs often write 辣 for this word, but people say hiam.

4. You say
   小可薟就好。 Sió-khuá hiam tō hó. Just a little spicy.
   Word 44: 小可 · a little
5. You say
   毋愛薟。 M̄-ài hiam. Not spicy.
   Word 45: 毋愛 · don't want
6. You hear
   甜的抑是鹹的？ Tinn--ê ia̍h-sī kiâm--ê? Sweet or savoury?
   Word 46: 鹹 · salty, savoury
7. You say
   甜的。 Tinn--ê. Sweet.
   Word 47: 甜 · sweet
8. You hear
   一份五十。 Tsi̍t hūn gōo-tsa̍p. Fifty for one.
   Word 48: 五十 · fifty
9. You hear
   燒的，細膩喔！ Sio--ê, sè-jī ooh! It's hot, careful!
   Word 49: 燒 · hot
10. You hear
    足好食喔！ Tsiok hó-tsia̍h ooh! It's really good!
    Word 50: 足 · very, really

Taxi drivers in the south often switch to Taiwanese once they hear you try.

1. You hear
   欲去佗？ Beh khì toh? Where to?
   Word 51: 去 · go
2. You say
   我欲去車頭。 Guá beh khì tshia-thâu. To the train station, please.
   Word 52: 車頭 · train station
3. You say
   直直行。 Ti̍t-ti̍t kiânn. Go straight on.
   Word 53: 直直 · straight on
4. You say
   正爿。 Tsiànn-pîng. On the right.
   Word 54: 正爿 · right side
5. You say
   倒爿。 Tò-pîng. On the left.
   Word 55: 倒爿 · left side
6. You say
   佇遮停。 Tī tsia thîng. Stop here.
   Word 56: 停 · stop
7. You say
   便所佇佗位？ Piān-sóo tī tó-uī? Where's the toilet?
   Word 57: 便所 · toilet
8. You hear
   佇彼爿。 Tī hit-pîng. Over there.
   Word 58: 彼爿 · over there
9. You say
   遠無？ Hn̄g bô? Is it far?
   Word 59: 遠 · far
10. You hear
    誠近。 Tsiânn kīn. It's very close.
    Word 60: 近 · near

Temple volunteers are often older and speak Taiwanese first. They are happy to show you what to do.

1. You hear
   你欲拜拜無？ Lí beh pài-pài bô? Would you like to pray?
   Word 61: 拜拜 · pray, worship

   In Taiwanese 拜拜 means praying at a temple. Bye-bye is spelt 掰掰.

2. You hear
   香愛按呢插。 Hiunn ài án-ne tshah. Put the incense in like this.
   Word 62: 香 · incense
3. You say
   按呢喔？ Án-ne ooh? Like this?
   Word 63: 按呢 · like this, so
4. You hear
   這是媽祖。 Tse sī Má-tsóo. This is Mazu.
   Word 64: 媽祖 · Mazu, the sea goddess

   Mazu protects fishermen and travellers, and she is the most popular goddess in Taiwan.

5. You say
   會使翕相無？ Ē-sái hip-siōng bô? Can I take photos?
   Word 65: 翕相 · take a photo
6. You hear
   內底袂使翕相。 Lāi-té bē-sái hip-siōng. No photos inside.
   Word 66: 袂使 · not allowed
7. You say
   真媠！ Tsin suí! So beautiful!
   Word 67: 媠 · beautiful
8. You say
   真有意思。 Tsin ū ì-sù. Really interesting.
   Word 68: 真 · really
9. You hear
   免錢的。 Bián-tsînn--ê. It's free.
   Word 69: 免錢 · free of charge
10. You hear
    平安！ Pîng-an! Stay safe!
    Word 70: 平安 · safe, peace

Counting people at a restaurant door and checking when a shop opens.

1. You hear
   幾个人？ Kuí ê lâng? How many people?
   Word 71: 幾 · how many
2. You say
   一个人。 Tsi̍t ê lâng. Just one.
   Word 72: 人 · person
3. You say
   三个。 Sann ê. Three.
   Word 73: 三 · three
4. You say
   四个。 Sì ê. Four.
   Word 74: 四 · four
5. You hear
   一百五。 Tsi̍t-pah-gōo. A hundred and fifty.
   Word 75: 百 · hundred
6. You say
   這馬幾點？ Tsit-má kuí tiám? What time is it now?
   Word 76: 這馬 · now
7. You hear
   三點半。 Sann tiám puànn. Half past three.
   Word 77: 點 · o'clock
8. You say
   今仔日有開無？ Kin-á-ji̍t ū khui bô? Are you open today?
   Word 78: 今仔日 · today
9. You hear
   明仔載才開。 Bîn-á-tsài tsiah khui. Not until tomorrow.
   Word 79: 明仔載 · tomorrow
10. You hear
    下晡五點關門。 Ē-poo gōo tiám kuainn-mn̂g. We close at five in the afternoon.
    Word 80: 下晡 · afternoon

If you are unwell or lost, say it in Mandarin or English first. These lines help when the person in front of you is an older local.

1. You say
   救人喔！ Kiù-lâng ooh! Help!
   Word 81: 救人 · help! (emergency)

   In an emergency call 119 for an ambulance or fire and 110 for the police.

2. You say
   我無爽快。 Guá bô sóng-khuài. I'm not feeling well.
   Word 82: 無爽快 · unwell
3. You say
   我腹肚疼。 Guá pak-tóo thiànn. My stomach hurts.
   Word 83: 腹肚 · stomach
4. You say
   遮足疼。 Tsia tsiok thiànn. It really hurts here.
   Word 84: 疼 · hurt, painful
5. You say
   我欲看醫生。 Guá beh khuànn i-sing. I need to see a doctor.
   Word 85: 醫生 · doctor
6. You hear
   你有要緊無？ Lí ū iàu-kín bô? Are you all right?
   Word 86: 要緊 · serious, a problem
7. You say
   我的手機無去矣。 Guá ê tshiú-ki bô--khì ah. My phone has gone.
   Word 87: 無去 · gone, lost
8. You say
   我揣無路。 Guá tshuē bô lōo. I can't find my way.
   Word 88: 揣 · look for, find
9. You hear
   我共你鬥相共。 Guá kā lí tàu-sann-kāng. I'll help you.
   Word 89: 鬥相共 · help out
10. You say
    警察局佇佗位？ Kíng-tshat-kio̍k tī tó-uī? Where's the police station?
    Word 90: 警察 · police

Beer at a hot-fry restaurant (熱炒) with new friends. Taiwanese comes out once the glasses do.

1. You hear
   乾杯！ Kan-pue! Cheers!
   Word 91: 乾杯 · cheers (lit. dry the glass)
2. You hear
   你來台灣偌久矣？ Lí lâi Tâi-uân guā kú ah? How long have you been in Taiwan?
   Word 92: 偌久 · how long
3. You say
   一禮拜。 Tsi̍t lé-pài. A week.
   Word 93: 禮拜 · week
4. You hear
   台灣好耍無？ Tâi-uân hó-sńg bô? Are you having fun in Taiwan?
   Word 94: 好耍 · fun
5. You say
   誠好耍！ Tsiânn hó-sńg! Lots of fun!
   Word 95: 誠 · very
6. You hear
   你幾歲？ Lí kuí huè? How old are you?
   Word 96: 歲 · years old

   A normal question here. It helps people work out how to address you.

7. You say
   我愛台灣。 Guá ài Tâi-uân. I love Taiwan.
   Word 97: 愛 · love, want
8. You hear
   有閒閣來喔！ Ū-îng koh lâi ooh! Come back when you have time!
   Word 98: 有閒 · free, have time
9. You say
   一定！ It-tīng! Definitely!
   Word 99: 一定 · definitely
10. You say
    掰掰！ Bai-bai! Bye!
    Word 100: 掰掰 · bye