Mandarin: the common language
Mandarin Chinese, called 國語 (guóyǔ) or 華語 (huáyǔ) in Taiwan, is the language everyone shares. Lessons at school are taught in it, the news is in it, and two strangers in Taipei will start in it. It's written with traditional characters, and it has its own accent and some of its own words: see Taiwanese Mandarin, explained.
If you learn one language for Taiwan, learn this one.
Taiwanese (台語)
Taiwanese Hokkien, or Taiwanese, is the language many families spoke at home before Mandarin became the common language, and many still do. It came with settlers from southern Fujian, across the strait, and it's a separate language: a Mandarin speaker can't follow it without learning it.
You'll hear it most in the south, in cities like Tainan and Kaohsiung, among older people, at traditional markets and temples, and in songs, dramas and political speeches. Many people switch between Taiwanese and Mandarin in the same conversation.
Hakka (客家話)
Hakka is the language of the Hakka people, who live across Taiwan with large communities in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli in the north and around Pingtung and Meinong in the south. Like Taiwanese, it's its own language, with its own TV channel and radio.
Indigenous languages
Taiwan's indigenous peoples were there long before any Chinese language arrived. The government recognises 16 indigenous peoples, among them the Amis, Atayal, Paiwan, Bunun and Truku, and their languages belong to the Austronesian family, the same family as Malay, Tagalog and Hawaiian. Many linguists think the whole family began in Taiwan. Several of these languages have few young speakers, and there's a strong effort to teach them again.
National languages
Since 2019 a national languages law has treated all of Taiwan's natural languages as national languages: Taiwanese, Hakka, the indigenous languages and Taiwan Sign Language alongside Mandarin. Mandarin stays the language government and most of daily life run in.
What about English?
Signs on Taipei's MRT, at airports and at main train stations are in English as well as Chinese, and many younger people, especially in Taipei, speak some English. Outside the big cities, at night markets, small shops and family restaurants, a few words of Mandarin make every exchange easier, and people are delighted when you try.
Ten phrases to start with
Bopomo has you say lines like these out loud from the first lesson, and Lin answers in a Taiwanese voice. Join the waitlist.
Questions
What is the official language of Taiwan?
Mandarin is the language of government and education. Since 2019 Taiwanese, Hakka, the indigenous languages and Taiwan Sign Language are also recognised as national languages.
Is Taiwanese the same as Chinese?
“Chinese” covers several languages. Mandarin is the most widely spoken; Taiwanese Hokkien is a different Chinese language that most Mandarin speakers can't understand without learning it.
Do people in Taiwan speak Cantonese?
Not commonly. Cantonese is the language of Hong Kong and Guangdong. In Taiwan you'll hear Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka.
Can I get by in Taiwan with English?
In Taipei, at hotels and on public transport, mostly yes. At night markets, small shops and outside the big cities, some Mandarin helps a lot.
Does Taiwan use traditional or simplified characters?
Traditional characters. Simplified characters are used in mainland China.