Directions

1. 車站佇佗位？

   Tshia-tsām tī tó-uī?

   Where is the train station?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of a train or bus station

   Grammar Note

   tī (佇) is the locative preposition; tó-uī (佗位) means "where"

2. 緊行轉倒爿。

   Kín kiânn tńg tò-pîng.

   Turn left quickly.

   Usage

   Used to urgently direct someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   tò-pîng (倒爿) means "left side" in Taiwanese; tsiànn-pîng (正爿) means "right side"

3. 轉正爿行落去。

   Tńg tsiànn-pîng kiânn lo̍h-khì.

   Turn right and keep going.

   Usage

   Instruction to turn right and continue

   Grammar Note

   lo̍h-khì (落去) is a directional complement meaning "continue downward/forward"

4. 直直行。

   Ti̍t-ti̍t kiânn.

   Go straight ahead.

   Usage

   Used to direct someone to go straight

   Grammar Note

   ti̍t-ti̍t reduplicates ti̍t (straight) for emphasis

5. 離遮有幾遠？

   Lī tsia ū kuí-hn̄g?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask about distance from the current location

   Grammar Note

   tsia (遮) means "here" in Taiwanese; hia (遐) means "there"

6. 我迷路矣，會使共我鬥相共無？

   Guá bê-lōo--ah, ē-sái kā guá tàu-sann-kāng bô?

   I am lost. Can you help me?

   Usage

   Used when lost and needing assistance

   Grammar Note

   ah (矣) is a sentence-final particle in Taiwanese indicating completion or change of state. "Kā guá tàu-sann-kāng" (共我鬥相共) has the same pattern as "lâng kā lí tàu-sann-kāng" and corresponds to Mandarin "幫我"

7. 近的，用行的就好。

   Kīn--ê, iōng kiânn--ê tō hó.

   It's close, you can just walk.

   Usage

   Used to tell someone a place is within walking distance

   Grammar Note

   tō hó (就好) means "that's enough" or "just X is fine"

8. 地圖佇佗位買？

   Tē-tôo tī tó-uī bé?

   Where can I buy a map?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to purchase a map

   Grammar Note

   In Taiwanese, the locative tī (佇) often appears before the verb in questions

9. 這條路攏無燈仔，小心咧！

   Tsit-tiâu lōo lóng bô ting-á, sió-sim--leh!

   This road has no street lights, be careful!

   Usage

   Used to warn someone about a dark road

   Grammar Note

   leh (咧) is a sentence-final particle adding mild imperative or warning nuance

10. 這个所在幾點鐘才到？

    Tsit-ê sóo-tsāi kuí-tiám-tsing tsiah kàu?

    What time will we arrive at this place?

    Usage

    Used to ask what time you will arrive at a destination

    Grammar Note

    tsiah (才) is a Taiwanese adverb meaning "only then" or "not until"

11. 正手爿

    Tsiànn-tshiú-pîng

    Right

    Usage

    Point at it inside a taxi; one word is faster than a sentence

12. 倒手爿

    Tò-tshiú-pîng

    Left

    Usage

    Point at it inside a taxi; one word is faster than a sentence

13. 倒轉

    Tò-tńg

    Go back

    Usage

    Point at it in a taxi when you have gone too far

14. 停

    Thîng

    Stop

    Usage

    Show it to a driver where you want to get out

15. 北

    Pak

    North

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

16. 南

    Lâm

    South

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

17. 東

    Tang

    East

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

18. 西

    Sai

    West

    Usage

    Use to confirm a compass direction against a map

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