Electronics

1. 手機仔

   Tshiú-ki-á

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   Taiwanese adds the diminutive 仔 (-á). Plain 手機 (tshiú-ki) works too

2. 平板

   Pîng-pán

   Tablet

   Usage

   Short for 平板電腦 — the shortened form is standard in Taiwan

3. 筆電

   Pit-tiān

   Laptop

   Usage

   Short for 筆記型電腦. These two characters are standard in Taiwan; the mainland says 筆記本 instead

4. 充電器

   Tshiong-tiān-khì

   Charger

   Usage

   To charge is 充電 (tshiong-tiān). Show this when you want to borrow one at your accommodation

5. 充電線

   Tshiong-tiān-suànn

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Sold even in convenience stores. Show the connector shape (Type-C or Lightning)

6. 行動電源

   Hîng-tōng tiān-guân

   Power bank

   Usage

   Taiwan says 行動電源, not the mainland's 充電寶. Convenience stores rent them out too

7. 轉接頭

   Tsuán-tsiap-thâu

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   Taiwan runs 110V at 60Hz with the same flat two-pin sockets as Japan, so Japanese devices usually just work

8. 插座

   Tshah-tsō

   Power outlet

   Usage

   The socket. "Ū tshah-tsō bô?" asks whether there is one

9. 插頭

   Tshah-thâu

   Plug

   Usage

   The plug on the device; the socket in the wall is 插座

10. 電池

    Tiān-tî

    Battery

    Usage

    Covers dry cells and built-in batteries alike. Sold in convenience stores

11. 無線網路

    Bô-suànn bāng-lōo

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Taiwan's public "iTaiwan" network covers stations and libraries. In speech people just say "WiFi"

12. 密碼

    Bi̍t-bé

    Password

    Usage

    "Wi-Fi bi̍t-bé sī siánn-mih?" asks for the Wi-Fi password. The same word covers a PIN

13. SIM卡

    SIM-khah

    SIM card

    Usage

    Sold in the arrivals hall at Taoyuan airport by Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone. Bring your passport

14. 記憶卡

    Kì-ik-khah

    Memory card

    Usage

    The camera's SD card. Taiwan says 記憶卡, not the mainland's 存儲卡

15. 耳機

    Ní-ki

    Earphones

    Usage

    Covers earphones and headphones. On the TRA and HSR it is polite to keep phone calls off the train

16. 相機

    Siòng-ki

    Camera

    Usage

    The camera. To ask someone to take your photo: "Tshiánn kā guá hip-siòng"

17. 手電筒

    Tshiú-tiān-tâng

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Needed if a mountain descent runs late, or during a power cut

18. 冷氣

    Líng-khì

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Taiwan calls air conditioning 冷氣 — indispensable in summer. "Líng-khì siunn líng" means the AC is too cold

19. 遙控器

    Iâu-khòng-khì

    Remote control

    Usage

    For the AC or TV — show it when you cannot find one in your room

20. 電風

    Tiān-hong

    Electric fan

    Usage

    Taiwanese says 電風, one character shorter than Mandarin 電風扇

21. 冰箱

    Ping-siunn

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    The fridge. To ask if the room has one: "Pâng-king ū ping-siunn bô?"

22. 電視

    Tiān-sī

    Television

    Usage

    The TV. Taiwanese-language news broadcasts exist and make good listening practice

23. 微波爐

    Bî-pho-lôo

    Microwave

    Usage

    Used when asking a convenience store to heat your bento. "Tshiánn kā guá bî-pho" means "please heat it up"

24. 電鍋

    Tiān-ko

    Electric cooker

    Usage

    The steamer-cum-rice-cooker in every Taiwanese kitchen. The TATUNG model is the classic, and a popular souvenir

25. 洗衫機

    Sé-sann-ki

    Washing machine

    Usage

    Taiwanese writes 洗衫機 where Mandarin writes 洗衣機. A laundrette is a 自助洗衣店

26. 吹風機

    Tshue-hong-ki

    Hair dryer

    Usage

    Budget rooms may not have one — ask at the front desk whether you can borrow it

27. 停電

    Thîng-tiān

    Power outage

    Usage

    Happens after typhoons — use it to report one at your accommodation

28. 悠遊卡

    Iu-iû-khah

    EasyCard

    Usage

    Taiwan's stored-value travel card, good on the metro, buses, the TRA and in convenience stores. Buy and top up at any station or 7-Eleven

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