How to Say ‘How come the meter says 420?’ in Traditional Chinese
跳表怎麼是四百二？
tiào biǎo zěn me shì sì bǎi èr
[tiàobiǎo dzun-muh shir sìbǎi èr]
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Opening with 怎麼 "how come" sounds like a puzzled question rather than an accusation. That keeps the driver from getting defensive while you still question the fare.
Phrase Breakdown
跳表
tiào biǎo
[tiàobiǎo]
meter reading (taxi fare)
The fare shown on a taxi meter; also the meter ticking up.
計程車跳表很快。
The taxi meter runs fast.
怎麼是四百二？
zěn me shì sì bǎi èr
how is it 420?
This questions the amount. 四百二 means 420.
車資怎麼是四百二？
How is the fare 420?
Words in this phrase
怎麼
zěn me
[dzun-muh]
how come; why
Often used to express mild surprise, especially in friendly situations.
你怎麼還帶水果來？
How come you still brought fruit?
是
shì
[shir]
to be; is; are
The basic verb 'to be' used in identification or judgment.
這不是客套話，我是真的這樣想。
This isn’t just politeness; I really think that way.
四百二
sì bǎi èr
[sìbǎi èr]
four hundred twenty
Short spoken form of 四百二十, i.e., 420.
車資是四百二。
The fare is 420.
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