In previous posts we've explored vocabulary and pronunciation differences between Mainland China and Taiwan.
Now let's zoom in on some of the most common everyday words that are spoken differently in these varieties of Mandarin!
Pronunciation differences between Taiwan Mandarin and Mainland Mandarin (Words and Example Sentences from the video above)
Mainland Mandarin | Taiwanese Mandarin |
|---|---|
hé 和 and / with wǒ hé nǐ yī qǐ chī fàn ba！ 我和你一起吃饭吧！ Let me have a meal with you! wǒ hé dì di dōu xǐ huan tán jí tā. 我和你弟弟都喜欢弹吉他。 My little brother and I both love to play guitar. | hàn 和 and / with wǒ hàn nǐ yī qǐ chī fàn ba！ 我和你一起吃饭吧！ Let me have a meal with you! wǒ hàn dì di dōu xǐ huan tán jí tā. 我和你弟弟都喜歡弹吉他。 My little brother and I both love to play guitar. |
wěi ba 尾巴 tail xiǎo gǒu yáo zhe wěi ba pǎo le. 小狗摇着尾巴跑了。 The little dog ran off wagging its tail. kǎo lā de wěi ba duō cháng？ 考拉的尾巴多长？ How long is a koala's tail? | yǐ ba 尾巴 tail xiǎo gǒu yáo zhe yǐ ba pǎo le. 小狗摇著尾巴跑了。 The little dog ran off wagging its tail. kǎo lā de yǐ ba duō cháng？ 考拉的尾巴多長？ How long is a koala's tail? |
shuō fú 说服 convince nǐ kě yǐ shuō fú wǒ bà mā ma？ 你可以说服我爸妈吗？ Can you convince my parents? hǎo ba， nǐ shuō fú wǒ le！ 好吧，你说服我了！ Okay, you convinced me! | shuì fú 說服 convince nǐ kě yǐ shuì fú wǒ bà mā ma？ 你可以說服我爸媽嗎？ Can you convince my parents? hǎo ba， nǐ shuì fú wǒ le！ 好吧，你說服我了！ Okay, you convinced me! |
bào lù 暴露 reveal tā zhōng yú bào lù le tā de shēn fèn. 他终于暴露了他的身份。 He finally revealed his identity. fàng xīn，wǒ bù huì bào lù nǐ de mì mì de. 放心，我不会暴露你的秘密的。 Don't worry, I won't reveal your secret. | pù lù 暴露 reveal tā zhōng yú pù lù le tā de shēn fèn. 他終於暴露了他的身份。 He finally revealed his identity. fàng xīn，wǒ bù huì pù lù nǐ de mì mì de. 放心，我不會暴露你的秘密的。 Don't worry, I won't reveal your secret. |
rǔ yè 乳液 lotion wǒ mǎi le yī píng rǔ yè. 我买了一瓶乳液。 I bought a bottle of lotion. nǐ yòng shén me rǔ yè? 你用什么乳液? What lotion do you use? | rǔ yì 乳液 lotion wǒ mǎi le yī píng rǔ yì. 我買了一瓶乳液。 I bought a bottle of lotion. nǐ yòng shén me rǔ yì? 你用什麽乳液? What lotion do you use? |
rǔ yè 垃圾 trash nǐ dào lā jī le ma？ 你倒垃圾了吗？ Did you take out the trash? qǐng bǎ lā jī réng zài lā jī xiāng lǐ. 请把垃圾仍在垃圾箱里。 Please leave the trash in the trash bin. | lè sè 垃圾 trash nǐ dào lè sè le ma？ 你倒垃圾了嗎？ Did you take out the trash? qǐng bǎ lè sè réng zài lè sè xiāng lǐ. 請把垃圾仍在垃圾箱裏。 Please leave the trash in the trash bin. |
qǐ é 企鹅 penguin zhè xiē qǐ é zhēn kě ài. 这些企鹅真可爱。 These penguins are so cute. nǐ yǒu jiàn guò qǐ é ma？ 你有见过企鹅吗？ Have you ever seen a penguin? | qì é 企鵝 penguin zhè xiē qì é zhēn kě ài. 這些企鵝真可愛。 These penguins are so cute. nǐ yǒu jiàn guò qì é ma？ 你有見過企鵝嗎？ Have you ever seen a penguin? |
huā yē cài 花椰菜 cauliflower nǐ xǐ huan chī huā yē cài ma？ 你喜欢吃花椰菜吗？ Do you like to eat cauliflower? wǒ jué de huā yē cài hěn hǎo chī. 我觉得花椰菜很好吃。 I think cauliflower is tasty. | huā yé cài 花椰菜 cauliflower nǐ xǐ huan chī huā yé cài ma？ 你喜歡吃花椰菜嗎？ Do you like to eat cauliflower? wǒ jué de huā yé cài hěn hǎo chī. 我覺得花椰菜很好吃。 I think cauliflower is tasty. |
xuán yá 悬崖 cliff edge wǒ hài pà zhàn zài xuán yá biān shang. 我害怕站在悬崖边上。 I am terrified of standing on a cliff edge. | xuán ái 懸崖 cliff edge wǒ hài pà zhàn zài xuán ái biān shang. 我害怕站在懸崖邊上。 I am terrified of standing on a cliff edge. |
chōu chù 抽搐 twitch tā de yǎn jīng chōu chù zhe. 她的眼睛抽搐着。 Her eyes twitched. | chōu qù 抽搐 twitch tā de yǎn jīng chōu qù zhe. 她的眼睛抽搐著。 Her eyes twitched. |
fā jiào 发酵 ferment miàn tuán xū yào fā jiào yī gè xiǎo shí. 面团需要发酵一个小时。 The dough needs to ferment for an hour. | fā xiào 發酵 ferment miàn tuán xū yào fā xiào yī gè xiǎo shí. 面團需要發酵一個小時。 The dough needs to ferment for an hour. |