How do you give a taxi directions in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 欲去佗? (Beh khì toh?, "Where to?"). Useful things to say: 我欲去車頭。 (Guá beh khì tshia-thâu., "To the train station, please") and 直直行。 (Ti̍t-ti̍t kiânn., "Go straight on").

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: Taxi and getting around

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?
  2. You say
    我欲去車頭。 Guá beh khì tshia-thâu. To the train station, please.
  3. You say
    直直行。 Ti̍t-ti̍t kiânn. Go straight on.
  4. You say
    正爿。 Tsiànn-pîng. On the right.
  5. You say
    倒爿。 Tò-pîng. On the left.
  6. You say
    佇遮停。 Tī tsia thîng. Stop here.
  7. You say
    便所佇佗位? Piān-sóo tī tó-uī? Where's the toilet?
  8. You hear
    佇彼爿。 Tī hit-pîng. Over there.
  9. You say
    遠無? Hn̄g bô? Is it far?
  10. You hear
    誠近。 Tsiânn kīn. It's very close.
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

How do you give a taxi directions in Taiwanese Hokkien?

Expect to hear 欲去佗? (Beh khì toh?, "Where to?"). Useful things to say: 我欲去車頭。 (Guá beh khì tshia-thâu., "To the train station, please") and 直直行。 (Ti̍t-ti̍t kiânn., "Go straight on").

What does "欲去佗?" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "Where to?". It is pronounced Beh khì toh?. A natural reply is 我欲去車頭。 (Guá beh khì tshia-thâu.), "To the train station, please".