hundredwords

How do you say "I don't understand" and "I can't speak Taiwanese" in Taiwanese?

Expect to hear 你會曉講台語喔！ (Lí ē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí ooh!, "You can speak Taiwanese!"), 講華語嘛會使。 (Kóng Huâ-gí mā ē-sái., "Mandarin is fine too"). Useful things to say: 我袂曉講台語。 (Guá bē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí., "I can't speak Taiwanese") and 一屑仔。 (Tsi̍t-sut-á., "Just a little").

Draft: First draft. A native Taiwanese speaker has not checked these lines yet, and some wording varies between north and south. Tell us if something sounds off.

The whole conversation: When you only know a little

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.

    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!
  3. You say
    一屑仔。 Tsi̍t-sut-á. Just a little.
  4. You say
    我聽無。 Guá thiann bô. I don't understand.
  5. You say
    請你講較慢咧。 Tshiánn lí kóng khah bān--leh. Please speak a bit slower.
  6. You say
    這台語按怎講？ Tse Tâi-gí án-tsuánn kóng? How do you say this in Taiwanese?
  7. You hear
    講華語嘛會使。 Kóng Huâ-gí mā ē-sái. Mandarin is fine too.

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

  8. You say
    是。 Sī. Yes, that's right.
  9. You say
    毋是。 M̄-sī. No, it isn't.
  10. You say
    好！ Hó! OK!
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

How do you say "I don't understand" and "I can't speak Taiwanese" in Taiwanese?

Expect to hear 你會曉講台語喔！ (Lí ē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí ooh!, "You can speak Taiwanese!"), 講華語嘛會使。 (Kóng Huâ-gí mā ē-sái., "Mandarin is fine too"). Useful things to say: 我袂曉講台語。 (Guá bē-hiáu kóng Tâi-gí., "I can't speak Taiwanese") and 一屑仔。 (Tsi̍t-sut-á., "Just a little").