Taiwanese Mandarin uses tones. Think of them as pitch patterns.
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| → | High and flat | Singing one note |
| ↗ | Rising | "Really?" |
| ↙↗ | Falling then rising | Like confusion |
| ↘ | Sharp falling | Command voice |
| · | Neutral | Short unstressed syllable |
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left | 左邊 | Zuǒ Biān | ZWOH↙↗ BYEN→ |
| Right | 右邊 | Yòu Biān | YOH↘ BYEN→ |
| Straight | 直走 | Zhí Zǒu | JRR↗ DZOH↙↗ |
| Turn Left | 左轉 | Zuǒ Zhuǎn | ZWOH↙↗ JWAN↙↗ |
| Turn Right | 右轉 | Yòu Zhuǎn | YOH↘ JWAN↙↗ |
| Here | 這裡 | Zhè Lǐ | JUH↘ LEE↙↗ |
| There | 那裡 | Nà Lǐ | NAH↘ LEE↙↗ |
| Near | 附近 | Fù Jìn | FOO↘ JIN↘ |
| Far | 很遠 | Hěn Yuǎn | HUN↙↗ YWAN↙↗ |
↑
Straight
|
Left ← You → Right
|
↓
Chinese:
請問捷運站在哪裡？
Pinyin:
Qǐng Wèn Jié Yùn Zhàn Zài Nǎ Lǐ?
Pronunciation:
CHEENG↙↗ WUN↘ JYEH↗ YUN↘ JAN↘ DZAI↘ NAH↙↗ LEE↙↗
Meaning:
Excuse me, where is the MRT station?
Chinese:
哪一條線？
Pinyin:
Nǎ Yì Tiáo Xiàn?
Pronunciation:
NAH↙↗ EE↘ TYAOW↗ SHYEN↘
Meaning:
Which line?
| Number | Chinese | Pinyin | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 零 | Líng | LEENG↗ |
| 1 | 一 | Yī | YEE→ |
| 2 | 二 | Èr | ARR↘ |
| 2 (used for quantity) | 兩 | Liǎng | LYANG↙↗ |
| 3 | 三 | Sān | SAHN→ |
| 4 | 四 | Sì | SRR↘ |
| 5 | 五 | Wǔ | WOO↙↗ |
| 6 | 六 | Liù | LYOH↘ |
| 7 | 七 | Qī | CHEE→ |
| 8 | 八 | Bā | BAH→ |
| 9 | 九 | Jiǔ | JEE-OH↙↗ |
| 10 | 十 | Shí | SHRR↗ |
| Number | Chinese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 二十 | ARR↘ SHRR↗ |
| 30 | 三十 | SAHN→ SHRR↗ |
| 50 | 五十 | WOO↙↗ SHRR↗ |
| 100 | 一百 | YEE→ BYE↙↗ |
| 1000 | 一千 | YEE→ CHYEN→ |
Chinese:
我要一杯珍珠奶茶
Pinyin:
Wǒ Yào Yì Bēi Zhēn Zhū Nǎi Chá
Pronunciation:
WAW↙↗ YAOW↘ EE↘ BAY→ JEN→ JOO→ NYE↙↗ CHA↗
Meaning:
I'd like a bubble milk tea.
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 中杯 | JONG→ BAY→ |
| Large | 大杯 | DAH↘ BAY→ |
When ordering, you'll hear:
甜度？
Tián Dù?
TYEN↗ DOO↘
Meaning:
Sugar level?
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 全糖 | Quán Táng | 100% sugar |
| 少糖 | Shǎo Táng | Less sugar |
| 半糖 | Bàn Táng | Half sugar |
| 微糖 | Wēi Táng | 25% sugar |
| 無糖 | Wú Táng | No sugar |
Quan Tang
CHWAN↗ TAHNG↗
Shao Tang
SHAOW↙↗ TAHNG↗
Ban Tang
BAN↘ TAHNG↗
Wei Tang
WAY→ TAHNG↗
Wu Tang
WOO↗ TAHNG↗
You'll hear:
冰塊？
Bīng Kuài?
BING→ KWHY↘
Meaning:
Ice level?
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 正常冰 | Zhèng Cháng Bīng | Normal Ice |
| 少冰 | Shǎo Bīng | Less Ice |
| 微冰 | Wēi Bīng | Light Ice |
| 去冰 | Qù Bīng | No Ice |
Zheng Chang Bing
JUNG↘ CHAHNG↗ BING→
Shao Bing
SHAOW↙↗ BING→
Wei Bing
WAY→ BING→
Qu Bing
CHOO↘ BING→
You:
我要一杯大杯珍珠奶茶，半糖去冰。
Pinyin:
Wǒ Yào Yì Bēi Dà Bēi Zhēn Zhū Nǎi Chá, Bàn Táng Qù Bīng.
Pronunciation:
WAW↙↗ YAOW↘ EE↘ BAY→ DAH↘ BAY→ JEN→ JOO→ NYE↙↗ CHA↗ BAN↘ TAHNG↗ CHOO↘ BING→
Meaning:
I'd like a large bubble milk tea, half sugar, no ice.
Taiwan has stores everywhere.
- 7-Eleven
- FamilyMart
- Hi-Life
- OK Mart
Chinese:
可以刷卡嗎？
Pinyin:
Kě Yǐ Shuā Kǎ Ma?
Pronunciation:
KUH↙↗ EE↙↗ SHWA→ KAH↙↗ MA·
Chinese:
現金
Pinyin:
Xiàn Jīn
Pronunciation:
SHYEN↘ JIN→
Chinese:
信用卡
Pinyin:
Xìn Yòng Kǎ
Pronunciation:
SHEEN↘ YONG↘ KAH↙↗
Chinese:
我要這個
Pinyin:
Wǒ Yào Zhè Ge
Pronunciation:
WAW↙↗ YAOW↘ JUH↘ guh·
Chinese:
好吃
Pinyin:
Hǎo Chī
Pronunciation:
HOW↙↗ CHRR→
Chinese:
不要辣
Pinyin:
Bú Yào Là
Pronunciation:
BOO↗ YAOW↘ LAH↘
Chinese:
很辣
Pinyin:
Hěn Là
Pronunciation:
HUN↙↗ LAH↘
Chinese:
請到這裡
Pinyin:
Qǐng Dào Zhè Lǐ
Pronunciation:
CHEENG↙↗ DAOW↘ JUH↘ LEE↙↗
Chinese:
這裡停
Pinyin:
Zhè Lǐ Tíng
Pronunciation:
JUH↘ LEE↙↗ TING↗
Chinese:
救命！
Pinyin:
Jiù Mìng!
Pronunciation:
JYOH↘ MING↘
Chinese:
請叫警察
Pinyin:
Qǐng Jiào Jǐng Chá
Pronunciation:
CHEENG↙↗ JYAOW↘ JING↙↗ CHA↗
Chinese:
我需要醫生
Pinyin:
Wǒ Xū Yào Yī Shēng
Pronunciation:
WAW↙↗ SHOO→ YAOW↘ EE→ SHUNG→
Chinese:
我要一杯大杯珍珠奶茶，半糖去冰。
Pinyin:
Wǒ Yào Yì Bēi Dà Bēi Zhēn Zhū Nǎi Chá, Bàn Táng Qù Bīng.
Pronunciation:
WAW↙↗ YAOW↘ EE↘ BAY→ DAH↘ BAY→ JEN→ JOO→ NYE↙↗ CHA↗ BAN↘ TAHNG↗ CHOO↘ BING→
Meaning:
Large bubble milk tea, half sugar, no ice.
Practical Usage in Modern China
“这个” is ubiquitous in daily spoken Mandarin. Its usage can be categorized into a few key areas.
这个 (zhège) is one of the most useful words in Mandarin. It can mean:
- this
- this one
- this thing
- this person (informally)
- this matter/problem
- uh... / um... (filler word)
Its meaning depends entirely on context.
Pinyin: Zhège duōshǎo qián?
English: How much is this?
这个 + 多少钱
this + how much money
You're pointing at a specific object in a store.
Examples:
- a shirt
- a phone case
- a milk tea
- a souvenir
How much is this?
Pinyin: Zhège hànzì zěnme dú?
English: How do you read this Chinese character?
这个 + noun
Examples:
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 这个汉字 | this character |
| 这个人 | this person |
| 这个地方 | this place |
| 这个问题 | this problem |
| 这个老师 | this teacher |
这个 + Noun
This is probably the most common use.
Pinyin: Wǒ bù xǐhuān zhège.
English: I don't like this one.
Verb + 这个
The noun is omitted because everyone already knows what you're talking about.
Instead of saying:
我不喜欢这个手机。
I don't like this phone.
You simply say:
我不喜欢这个。
I don't like this one.
Pinyin: Zhège shì wǒ de péngyǒu, Lǐ Huà.
English: This is my friend, Li Hua.
这个是...
This is...
Informal introduction.
A more polite version:
这位是我的朋友。
Zhè wèi shì wǒ de péngyǒu.
This is my friend.
Use 这位 (zhèwèi) for respect.
Pinyin: Zhège hěn hǎochī!
English: This is delicious!
这个 + adjective
这个很好喝。
This is tasty to drink.
这个很漂亮。
This is beautiful.
这个很贵。
This is expensive.
At a night market:
这个很好吃！
This is delicious!
Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ zhège fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.
English: Put this on the table.
把 + 这个 + Verb
"Take this thing and do something with it."
Examples:
把这个给我。
Give this to me.
把这个打开。
Open this.
把这个关掉。
Turn this off.
Very common in daily life.
Pinyin: Zhège wèntí wǒmen míngtiān zài tǎolùn ba.
English: Let's discuss this problem tomorrow.
这个 + abstract noun
这个问题
this problem
这个计划
this plan
这个想法
this idea
这个事情
this matter
Notice that 这个 is not limited to physical objects.
It can refer to concepts.
Pinyin: Wǒ yào mǎi liǎng gè, yígè zhège, yígè nàge.
English: I want to buy two; one of this, one of that.
这个 = this one
那个 = that one
这个
this one
那个
that one
我要这个。
I want this one.
不要那个。
Not that one.
Extremely useful in Taiwan, China, and Singapore.
Pinyin: Wǒ xiàwǔ de jìhuà shì... èn... zhège... xiān qù yínháng, ránhòu qù chāoshì.
English: My plan this afternoon is... um... uh... first I'll go to the bank, then the supermarket.
Native speakers often use:
这个...
那个...
as filler words.
Just like English:
uh...
um...
well...
Examples:
这个...
我觉得...
"Umm... I think..."
Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de zhège wǒ wánquán tóngyì.
English: I completely agree with what you said.
你说的 + 这个
the thing you said
Refers to an idea or statement.
Examples:
这个我同意。
I agree with this.
这个我不明白。
I don't understand this.
这个很重要。
This is important.
No physical object is involved.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Physical object | 这个多少钱？ | How much is this? |
| This + noun | 这个汉字 | This character |
| This one | 我喜欢这个 | I like this one |
| Introduction | 这个是我朋友 | This is my friend |
| Description | 这个很好吃 | This is delicious |
| Commands | 把这个给我 | Give me this |
| Abstract concept | 这个问题 | This problem |
| Contrast | 这个，那个 | This one, that one |
| Filler word | 这个…… | Um... |
| Refer to an idea | 你说的这个 | What you said |
Pinyin: Wǒ yào zhège.
English: I want this one.
Pinyin: Zhège duōshǎo qián?
English: How much is this?
Pinyin: Zhège hěn hǎochī!
English: This is delicious!
If you memorize only these three, you'll use 这个 (zhège) dozens of times per day while traveling.