People and Culture in Taiwan

“With its all-around adventure landscape, heritage-rich capital, diverse folk traditions and feted night market scene, Taiwan offers a continent-sized travel list for one green island.”

Remember how your parents used to tell you to keep your elbows off the table during meals? Or that it’s rude to slurp your soup? Well there’s good news guys, these American cultures and customs don’t always translate to other countries! While the local people you meet won’t expect you to be fluent in their language, culture and customs, it is important to familiarize yourself with them.

Do you know how kissing, snoring and other things sound in other languages? That’s right, even sound effects can be translated!

The most important thing to remember while you’re abroad is that things will be different. But, different doesn’t mean wrong. Be open, be curious, and read more about the culture you will be stepping into. Get excited about LIVING the life you’ve only dreamt and read about until now!

Fast Facts

Name: Taiwan

Continent: Asia
Capital City: Tapei/Taipei City
Population: approx. 23,359,928 people
Ethnic groups: 84% Taiwanese (including Hakka), 14% mainland Chinese, 2% indigenous
Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka dialects
Religions: 93% Buddhist and Taoist mixture, Christian, others
Country code: 886
Internet Country Code: .tw

Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Useful phrases

Hello – ni hao – 你好
Hello (polite) – nin hao – 您好
Hi (while on the phone) – wei – 餵
How are you? – Ni zen me yang? – 你怎麼樣?
Good. And you? – Hao. Ni ne? – 好。你呢？
Thank you – xie xie – 謝謝
What’s your name? – Ni jiao shen me mingzi? – 你叫什麼名字？
My name is – Wo jiao ______. – 我叫 _______ 。
Where are you from? – Ni shi na li ren? – 你是哪里人？
I am American. – Wo shi mei guo ren. – 我是美國人。
I am Chinese. – Wo shi zhong guo ren. – 我是中國人。
What is this? – Zhe shi shen me? – 這是什麼？
Have you been to China before? – Ni qu guo zhong guo ma? – 你去過中國嗎？
I had never come to China before. This is my first time in China. – Wo mei qu guo zhong guo. Zhe shi wo di yi ci zai zhong guo. -我沒去過中國。這是我第一次在中國。
Do you speak English? – Ni hui shuo ying wen ma? – 你會說英文嗎？
I do not speak Chinese. – Wo bu hui shuo zhong wen. – 我不會說中文。
I study Chinese, but my Chinese is very bad. I’m sorry. – Wo xue xi zhong wen, dan shi wo de zhong wen bu hao. Dui bu qi. – 我學習中文，但是我的中文不好。對不起。

(Some pronunciation help.)

Taiwanese culture:

Many Taiwanese look towards the ground as a sign of respect when greeting someone.
The Taiwanese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their home, especially when entertaining foreigners. If you are invited to a Taiwanese home, it will happen once you have developed a relationship and should be considered a great honour.
The concept of face is extremely important to the Taiwanese. Face is difficult to translate into words but essential reflects a person’s reputation, dignity, and prestige. Face can be lost, saved or given to another person. Companies, as well as individuals, have face and this often provides the rationale behind business and personal interactions.

A few “dos and don’ts”

DON’T… give clocks, handkerchiefs, straw sandals, white flowers/chrysanthemums, gifts wrapped in white, blue, or black paper, or four of anything as these are all associated with death.

DO… present gifts with two hands, bring small gifts to hostesses, remove shoes before entering a home, arrive on time, wrap gifts elaborately, and hold the rice bowl close to your mouth when eating.