Essential Taiwan Mandarin phrases (the ones you'll actually use)
Not a top-100 list — a short set of phrases chosen because daily life in Taiwan runs on them, in Traditional characters with Taiwan-standard pronunciation.
The universal ones
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me / sorry (all-purpose) | 不好意思 | bùhǎoyìsi |
| Thank you | 謝謝 | xièxie |
| I want this one | 我要這個 | wǒ yào zhège |
| Is this okay? / Can I…? | 可以嗎？ | kěyǐ ma? |
| I don't understand | 我聽不懂 | wǒ tīng bù dǒng |
| Please say it again slower | 請再說一次，慢一點 | qǐng zài shuō yīcì, màn yīdiǎn |
不好意思 deserves special mention: it opens nearly every interaction in Taiwan — getting a server's attention, squeezing past someone on the MRT, prefacing any question to a stranger. When in doubt, start with it.
Convenience store (the daily gauntlet)
| You'll hear | Chinese | It means |
|---|---|---|
| yǒu zàijù ma? | 有載具嗎？ | Do you have an e-invoice carrier? (Say 沒有 méiyǒu if not) |
| xūyào dàizi ma? | 需要袋子嗎？ | Do you need a bag? (Bags cost a little — say 要 yào or 不用 bùyòng) |
| yào jiārè ma? | 要加熱嗎？ | Want it heated up? |
The 載具 question ambushes every newcomer. It's Taiwan's electronic receipt system — locals store invoices (which double as lottery tickets) on a phone barcode. 沒有 works fine forever.
Eating out
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| How many people? (you'll hear) | 幾位？ | jǐ wèi? |
| What do you recommend? | 有什麼推薦的？ | yǒu shénme tuījiàn de? |
| For here / to go (you'll hear) | 內用還是外帶？ | nèiyòng háishì wàidài? |
| Set meal or à la carte? (you'll hear) | 要套餐還是單點？ | yào tàocān háishì dāndiǎn? |
| The bill, please | 買單 / 結帳 | mǎidān / jiézhàng |
| No cilantro | 不要香菜 | búyào xiāngcài |
Getting around
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Please go to this address | 請到這個地址 | qǐng dào zhège dìzhǐ |
| Stop here, please (taxi) | 這裡停就好 | zhèlǐ tíng jiù hǎo |
| EasyCard (transit card) | 悠遊卡 | yōuyóukǎ |
| Where is the MRT station? | 捷運站在哪裡？ | jiéyùn zhàn zài nǎlǐ? |
When something's wrong
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Please help me | 請幫我 | qǐng bāng wǒ |
| I'm registering at a clinic | 我要掛號 | wǒ yào guàhào |
| I'm allergic to… | 我對……過敏 | wǒ duì … guòmǐn |
| Call the police (emergency: 110) | 請叫警察 | qǐng jiào jǐngchá |
Why phrase lists only get you halfway
Here's what a static list can't do: tell you what the other person says back. Real interactions are two-sided — you say 我要掛號, and the receptionist fires back a question about your insurance card, first visit or return, which department. The freeze doesn't happen on your line; it happens on theirs. Learning situations — both sides, with audio, in the accent you'll actually hear — is what turns phrases into conversations.
Pocket Taiwan — full situations, both sides, with audio
Everything on this page and hundreds more phrases, organized by situation — clinic, landlord, night market, scooter shop, bank — with Traditional characters, Taiwan-accurate pinyin, tap-to-hear audio, likely replies, and an AI mode to practice the whole conversation.
Get it on Google PlayOn iPhone or desktop? Use the free web version.
Curious why Taiwan's pronunciation differs from your textbook? See how Taiwan Mandarin differs — or if you're planning to study here, the learning in Taiwan guide.