What is Taiwanese Mandarin?
Taiwanese Mandarin usually means Mandarin Chinese as it is used in Taiwan.
This blog mainly teaches Chinese based on Taiwan usage, Taiwan pronunciation, and traditional Chinese characters.
Mandarin in Taiwan and Mandarin in Mainland China are very similar. Most speakers can understand each other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and daily expressions.
For beginners, remember these three main features first:
- Some words have different common pronunciations.
- Taiwanese Mandarin usually does not use much 兒化音 érhuà.
- Some daily vocabulary is different in Taiwan and Mainland China.
1. Some words have different pronunciations
Some words are pronounced differently in Taiwan and Mainland China. This does not always mean one side is wrong. It often means that the local standard or common usage is different.
For learners using this blog, you can first learn the Taiwan pronunciation. Later, when you watch videos, listen to podcasts, or talk with people from different regions, you may hear the other pronunciation too.
| English | Chinese | Taiwan Mandarin | Mainland Mandarin |
|---|---|---|---|
| hair | 頭髮 / 头发 ♬ | tóu fǎ | tóu fa / tóu fà |
| week | 星期 ♬ | xīngqí | xīngqī |
| pity; what a pity | 可惜 ♬ | kěxí | kěxī |
| to expose | 暴露 ♬ | pùlù | bàolù |
In real life, you may hear different speakers use different pronunciations. For beginners, the most important thing is to know which variety you are learning.
2. Taiwan Mandarin usually does not use much 兒化音 érhuà
「兒化音 érhuà」means adding an “-r” sound at the end of some words. It is common in some varieties of Mainland Mandarin, especially in Beijing-style speech.
In Taiwan, people usually do not use much 兒化音 in daily Mandarin.
| English | Taiwan Mandarin | Mainland Mandarin with erhua |
|---|---|---|
| where | 哪裡 / 哪里 ♬ nǎlǐ |
哪兒 ♬ nǎr |
| fun; fun to play with | 好玩 ♬ hǎowán |
好玩兒 ♬ hǎowánr |
If your goal is to speak Taiwan Mandarin, you can say「哪裡」and「好玩」without adding the final “r” sound.
3. Taiwan and Mainland China may use different words
Some things are called by different names in Taiwan and Mainland China. This is similar to how English speakers may say “chips” in one place and “crisps” in another place.
Most Mandarin speakers can still understand many of these words, especially from context. However, some words may sound more natural in Taiwan, while others sound more natural in Mainland China.
4. 國語 guóyǔ and 普通話 pǔtōnghuà
In Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is often called「國語 guóyǔ」. In Mainland China, it is usually called「普通話 pǔtōnghuà」.
| English | Taiwan | Mainland China |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin | 國語 / 国语 ♬ guóyǔ |
普通話 / 普通话 ♬ pǔtōnghuà |
Both words can refer to Mandarin, but they are used in different social and regional contexts.
5. Daily vocabulary differences
Here are some common vocabulary differences between Taiwan Mandarin and Mainland Mandarin.
| English | Taiwan Mandarin | Mainland Mandarin |
|---|---|---|
| computer | 電腦 / 电脑 ♬ diànnǎo |
計算機 / 计算机 ♬ jìsuànjī |
| laser | 雷射 ♬ léishè |
激光 ♬ jīguāng |
| police | 警察 ♬ jǐngchá |
公安 ♬ gōng'ān |
| taxi | 計程車 / 计程车 ♬ jìchéngchē |
出租車 / 出租车 ♬ chūzūchē |
| instant noodles | 泡麵 / 泡面 ♬ pàomiàn |
方便麵 / 方便面 ♬ fāngbiànmiàn |
Note: In Hong Kong, taxi is often called「的士 díshì」. This is not the usual Taiwan Mandarin word.
6. Be careful with 土豆 tǔdòu
「土豆」is a useful example because it can mean different foods in different places.
| Region | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 土豆 ♬ tǔdòu |
peanut, especially in Taiwanese-influenced usage |
| Mainland China | 土豆 ♬ tǔdòu |
potato |
For beginner learners, use these safer words:
| English | Taiwan Mandarin | Mainland Mandarin |
|---|---|---|
| peanut | 花生 / 土豆 ♬ huāshēng / tǔdòu |
花生 ♬ huāshēng |
| potato | 馬鈴薯 / 马铃薯 ♬ mǎlíngshǔ |
土豆 ♬ tǔdòu |
If you are in Taiwan and want to say “potato,”「馬鈴薯」is the safer choice.
7. Traditional and simplified characters
This blog mainly uses traditional Chinese characters because they are used in Taiwan.
Mainland China mainly uses simplified Chinese characters. Many words are pronounced the same but written differently.
| Traditional | Simplified | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 國語 ♬ | 国语 | guóyǔ | Mandarin; national language |
| 電腦 ♬ | 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer |
| 計程車 ♬ | 计程车 | jìchéngchē | taxi |
| 泡麵 ♬ | 泡面 | pàomiàn | instant noodles |
If your goal is to read Taiwan materials, learn traditional characters first. If your goal is to read Mainland China materials, learn simplified characters too.
8. Which Mandarin should beginners learn?
If you are learning with this blog, you can focus on Taiwan Mandarin first.
This means:
- Learn traditional Chinese characters.
- Learn Taiwan pronunciation and common Taiwan vocabulary.
- Understand that Mainland Mandarin may use some different words or pronunciations.
You do not need to memorize every regional difference at the beginning. Learn the common Taiwan forms first, then gradually recognize other forms when you meet them.
Quick review
| Feature | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Different pronunciation | Some words are read differently in Taiwan and Mainland China. | 星期：xīngqí / xīngqī ♬ |
| Less 兒化音 in Taiwan | Taiwan Mandarin usually does not add the final “r” sound. | 哪裡 / 哪兒 ♬ |
| Different vocabulary | Some daily words are different. | 計程車 / 出租車 ♬ |
| Different word for Mandarin | Taiwan often says 國語; Mainland China often says 普通話. | 國語 / 普通話 ♬ |
| Traditional characters | Taiwan mainly uses traditional Chinese characters. | 電腦 / 电脑 ♬ |
| 土豆 | Can mean different things in different places. | 台灣：peanut / 中國：potato ♬ |
Useful vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 台灣華語 ♬ | Táiwān Huáyǔ | Taiwan Mandarin |
| 國語 ♬ | guóyǔ | Mandarin; national language |
| 普通話 ♬ | pǔtōnghuà | Mandarin; Putonghua |
| 發音 ♬ | fāyīn | pronunciation |
| 聲調 ♬ | shēngdiào | tone |
| 兒化音 ♬ | érhuàyīn | erhua; final r-sound |
| 詞彙 ♬ | cíhuì | vocabulary |
| 頭髮 ♬ | tóu fǎ | hair |
| 星期 ♬ | xīngqí / xīngqī | week |
| 可惜 ♬ | kěxí / kěxī | what a pity |
| 暴露 ♬ | pùlù / bàolù | to expose |
| 哪裡 ♬ | nǎlǐ | where |
| 哪兒 ♬ | nǎr | where, with erhua |
| 好玩 ♬ | hǎowán | fun; fun to play with |
| 電腦 ♬ | diànnǎo | computer |
| 計算機 ♬ | jìsuànjī | computer; calculator depending on region |
| 雷射 ♬ | léishè | laser, Taiwan usage |
| 激光 ♬ | jīguāng | laser, Mainland usage |
| 警察 ♬ | jǐngchá | police |
| 公安 ♬ | gōng'ān | public security; police in Mainland China |
| 計程車 ♬ | jìchéngchē | taxi, Taiwan usage |
| 出租車 ♬ | chūzūchē | taxi, Mainland usage |
| 泡麵 ♬ | pàomiàn | instant noodles, Taiwan usage |
| 方便麵 ♬ | fāngbiànmiàn | instant noodles, Mainland usage |
| 花生 ♬ | huāshēng | peanut |
| 馬鈴薯 ♬ | mǎlíngshǔ | potato, Taiwan usage |
| 土豆 ♬ | tǔdòu | peanut in some Taiwan usage; potato in Mainland usage |
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