Top 50 phrases to get by Taiwan (Advanced): Essential communication

🇹🇼 In Taiwan, [你好] is understood but can sound a bit textbooky with strangers. In many everyday situations, people often just start with [不好意思] or go straight to the question.

🇹🇼 [嗨] is casual, like English "hi," and fits friends, younger people, or relaxed service situations. It's less natural than [你好] in more formal first-contact situations.

🇹🇼 [早安] is fine, but in everyday Taiwan you'll also hear [早] a lot in casual situations. It's a friendly morning greeting, not something saved for very formal settings.

🇹🇼 [晚安] usually means "good night" when parting or before sleep, not a general evening greeting. For greeting someone at night, Taiwanese speakers often use [你好] instead.

💬 [請] often works like "please," but it also shows up before an action as "please do...": [請坐] (please sit), [請等一下] (please wait a moment).

🇹🇼 [不客氣] is the standard reply to thanks, but in Taiwan people also often say [不會] in casual conversation. Both are polite and normal.

🇹🇼 [對不起] is a real apology and can sound heavier than English "sorry." For getting attention or lightly excusing yourself, [不好意思] is often the more natural choice in Taiwan.