Signs and Signage in Traditional Chinese
標誌與告示（繁體中文） — read what’s around you, without squinting at Google Translate in public.
This is your “I can actually function outside” list for signs in Taiwan-style Traditional Chinese. You’ll get the characters, pinyin with tone marks, plain-English meanings, and real example sentences.
Tap the speaker buttons to hear the sign text out loud. Because yes, your brain deserves shortcuts.
Yak Snark
Most signs are basically: “go here,” “don’t do that,” or “if you do that, it becomes an incident report.” Let’s learn the useful ones first.
Quick “I need this right now” signs high-utility classics
出口
chūkǒu
exit
入口
rùkǒu
entrance
洗手間
xǐshǒujiān
restroom / bathroom
禁止
jìnzhǐ
prohibited / forbidden
注意
zhùyì
attention / notice
小心地滑
xiǎoxīn dì huá
caution: slippery floor
請勿吸菸
qǐng wù xīyān
please don’t smoke / no smoking
緊急出口
jǐnjí chūkǒu
emergency exit
Mini tip: signs love short, bossy language. If it feels blunt, that’s normal. The sign isn’t mad at you personally… probably.
Common sign phrases you’ll see everywhere copy-paste life skills
請勿吸菸
qǐng wù xīyān
No smoking (polite “please don’t”)
這裡請勿吸菸。
Zhèlǐ qǐng wù xīyān.
Please don’t smoke here.
請勿停車
qǐng wù tíngchē
No parking (polite)
門口請勿停車。
Ménkǒu qǐng wù tíngchē.
Please don’t park at the entrance.
請勿觸摸
qǐng wù chùmō
Do not touch
展品請勿觸摸。
Zhǎnpǐn qǐng wù chùmō.
Please do not touch the exhibits.
請排隊
qǐng páiduì
Please line up
請在此排隊等候。
Qǐng zài cǐ páiduì děnghòu.
Please line up here and wait.
請保持安靜
qǐng bǎochí ānjìng
Please keep quiet
圖書館內請保持安靜。
Túshūguǎn nèi qǐng bǎochí ānjìng.
Please keep quiet in the library.
小心地滑
xiǎoxīn dì huá
Caution: slippery floor
下雨天門口常常小心地滑。
Xiàyǔ tiān ménkǒu chángcháng xiǎoxīn dì huá.
On rainy days, the entrance is often slippery—be careful.
注意台階
zhùyì táijiē
Watch your step (literally: “stairs/step”)
出口旁邊有台階，請注意台階。
Chūkǒu pángbiān yǒu táijiē, qǐng zhùyì táijiē.
There’s a step by the exit—watch your step.
當心夾手
dāngxīn jiā shǒu
Mind your fingers (pinch hazard)
電梯門口請當心夾手。
Diàntī ménkǒu qǐng dāngxīn jiā shǒu.
At the elevator doors, mind your fingers.
僅限員工
jǐnxiàn yuángōng
Staff only
這扇門僅限員工進入。
Zhè shàn mén jǐnxiàn yuángōng jìnrù.
This door is for staff only.
非工作人員請勿進入
fēi gōngzuò rényuán qǐng wù jìnrù
No entry for non-staff
後台區域非工作人員請勿進入。
Hòutái qūyù fēi gōngzuò rényuán qǐng wù jìnrù.
Backstage area: non-staff, please do not enter.
暫停使用
zàntíng shǐyòng
Temporarily out of service
這台電梯暫停使用，請走樓梯。
Zhè tái diàntī zàntíng shǐyòng, qǐng zǒu lóutī.
This elevator is temporarily out of service—please use the stairs.
施工中
shīgōng zhōng
Under construction
前方施工中，請繞道。
Qiánfāng shīgōng zhōng, qǐng ràodào.
Construction ahead—please detour.
A tiny sign-reading cheat sheet so the wording makes sense
禁止 (jìnzhǐ) is the hard “forbidden” vibe. 請勿 (qǐng wù) is the polite “please don’t.” Both mean “don’t,” but one sounds like a rule and the other sounds like a gentle warning before the rule arrives.
注意 (zhùyì) is “attention / notice.” 小心 (xiǎoxīn) and 當心 (dāngxīn) are “be careful.” Signs use these when they’d rather not pay for your hospital bill.
Table of signs the ones you’ll actually see
Places, facilities, and where humans are allowed to exist
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 廁所 | cèsuǒ | restroom / toilet | 廁所在二樓。Cèsuǒ zài èrlóu. | The restroom is on the second floor. | |
| 化妝室 | huàzhuāngshì | restroom (common on signs, especially malls) | 請問化妝室在哪裡？Qǐngwèn huàzhuāngshì zài nǎlǐ? | Excuse me, where is the restroom? | |
| 男廁 | náncè | men’s restroom | 男廁在左邊。Náncè zài zuǒbiān. | The men’s restroom is on the left. | |
| 女廁 | nǚcè | women’s restroom | 女廁在右邊。Nǚcè zài yòubiān. | The women’s restroom is on the right. | |
| 無障礙廁所 | wú zhàng’ài cèsuǒ | accessible restroom | 無障礙廁所在一樓。Wú zhàng’ài cèsuǒ zài yīlóu. | The accessible restroom is on the first floor. | |
| 哺乳室 | bǔrǔshì | nursing room | 哺乳室在服務台旁邊。Bǔrǔshì zài fúwùtái pángbiān. | The nursing room is next to the service desk. | |
| 電梯 | diàntī | elevator | 電梯在前面。Diàntī zài qiánmiàn. | The elevator is ahead. | |
| 樓梯 | lóutī | stairs | 請走樓梯到三樓。Qǐng zǒu lóutī dào sānlóu. | Please take the stairs to the third floor. | |
| 手扶梯 | shǒufútī | escalator | 手扶梯在中間。Shǒufútī zài zhōngjiān. | The escalator is in the middle. | |
| 服務台 | fúwùtái | service desk | 有問題請到服務台。Yǒu wèntí qǐng dào fúwùtái. | If you have questions, please go to the service desk. | |
| 資訊台 | zīxùntái | information desk | 請到資訊台詢問。Qǐng dào zīxùntái xúnwèn. | Please ask at the information desk. | |
| 售票處 | shòupiàochù | ticket office | 售票處在入口旁。Shòupiàochù zài rùkǒu páng. | The ticket office is next to the entrance. | |
| 等候區 | děnghòu qū | waiting area | 請在等候區稍候。Qǐng zài děnghòu qū shāohòu. | Please wait in the waiting area. | |
| 停車場 | tíngchēchǎng | parking lot | 停車場在地下二樓。Tíngchēchǎng zài dìxià èrlóu. | The parking lot is on B2. | |
| 失物招領 | shīwù zhāolǐng | lost and found | 失物招領在服務台。Shīwù zhāolǐng zài fúwùtái. | The lost and found is at the service desk. |
Directions and navigation (aka “please don’t get lost”)
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 往前 | wǎng qián | forward | 出口往前走。Chūkǒu wǎng qián zǒu. | Go forward to the exit. | |
| 往左 | wǎng zuǒ | to the left | 洗手間往左。Xǐshǒujiān wǎng zuǒ. | The restroom is to the left. | |
| 往右 | wǎng yòu | to the right | 服務台往右。Fúwùtái wǎng yòu. | The service desk is to the right. | |
| 直走 | zhí zǒu | go straight | 直走就到了。Zhí zǒu jiù dào le. | Go straight and you’ll arrive. | |
| 左轉 | zuǒ zhuǎn | turn left | 到走廊盡頭左轉。Dào zǒuláng jìntóu zuǒ zhuǎn. | Turn left at the end of the hallway. | |
| 右轉 | yòu zhuǎn | turn right | 出去後右轉。Chūqù hòu yòu zhuǎn. | After you go out, turn right. | |
| 此路不通 | cǐ lù bù tōng | no through road / dead end | 前面此路不通。Qiánmiàn cǐ lù bù tōng. | There’s no through road ahead. | |
| 請走這邊 | qǐng zǒu zhèbiān | please go this way | 請走這邊到出口。Qǐng zǒu zhèbiān dào chūkǒu. | Please go this way to the exit. |
Rules, polite “don’t,” and the art of being told what to do
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 請勿飲食 | qǐng wù yǐnshí | no eating or drinking | 車廂內請勿飲食。Chēxiāng nèi qǐng wù yǐnshí. | Please don’t eat or drink inside the carriage. | |
| 請勿喧嘩 | qǐng wù xuānhuá | no loud noise | 醫院內請勿喧嘩。Yīyuàn nèi qǐng wù xuānhuá. | Please don’t be loud in the hospital. | |
| 請勿拍照 | qǐng wù pāizhào | no photos | 展場內請勿拍照。Zhǎnchǎng nèi qǐng wù pāizhào. | No photos inside the exhibition area. | |
| 請勿錄影 | qǐng wù lùyǐng | no video recording | 演出期間請勿錄影。Yǎnchū qījiān qǐng wù lùyǐng. | Please don’t record video during the performance. | |
| 請勿奔跑 | qǐng wù bēnpǎo | no running | 走廊內請勿奔跑。Zǒuláng nèi qǐng wù bēnpǎo. | Please don’t run in the hallway. | |
| 請勿亂丟垃圾 | qǐng wù luàn diū lājī | do not litter | 公園內請勿亂丟垃圾。Gōngyuán nèi qǐng wù luàn diū lājī. | Please don’t litter in the park. | |
| 僅限員工 | jǐnxiàn yuángōng | staff only | 此區僅限員工。Cǐ qū jǐnxiàn yuángōng. | This area is staff only. | |
| 僅限會員 | jǐnxiàn huìyuán | members only | 休息室僅限會員使用。Xiūxíshì jǐnxiàn huìyuán shǐyòng. | The lounge is for members only. | |
| 請出示證件 | qǐng chūshì zhèngjiàn | please show ID | 進場請出示證件。Jìnchǎng qǐng chūshì zhèngjiàn. | Please show your ID to enter. | |
| 請先取號 | qǐng xiān qǔ hào | please take a number first | 看診請先取號。Kànzhěn qǐng xiān qǔ hào. | Please take a number before your appointment. | |
| 需戴口罩 | xū dài kǒuzhào | mask required | 進入診所需戴口罩。Jìnrù zhěnsuǒ xū dài kǒuzhào. | A mask is required to enter the clinic. | |
| 禁止攜帶外食 | jìnzhǐ xiédài wàishí | no outside food | 本區禁止攜帶外食。Běn qū jìnzhǐ xiédài wàishí. | Outside food is not allowed in this area. |
Warnings, safety, and “please don’t become a headline”
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 小心 | xiǎoxīn | be careful | 轉角處請小心。Zhuǎnjiǎo chù qǐng xiǎoxīn. | Please be careful at the corner. | |
| 當心 | dāngxīn | watch out | 當心玻璃。Dāngxīn bōlí. | Watch out for glass. | |
| 危險 | wēixiǎn | danger | 此區域危險，勿靠近。Cǐ qūyù wēixiǎn, wù kàojìn. | This area is dangerous—do not approach. | |
| 高壓電 | gāoyā diàn | high voltage | 高壓電設備，請勿靠近。Gāoyā diàn shèbèi, qǐng wù kàojìn. | High-voltage equipment—please do not approach. | |
| 禁止煙火 | jìnzhǐ yānhuǒ | no open flames / fireworks prohibited | 加油站內禁止煙火。Jiāyóuzhàn nèi jìnzhǐ yānhuǒ. | No flames inside the gas station. | |
| 小心落差 | xiǎoxīn luòchā | mind the step/drop | 月台邊緣小心落差。Yuètái biānyuán xiǎoxīn luòchā. | Mind the gap at the platform edge. | |
| 火警 | huǒjǐng | fire alarm / fire emergency | 火警發生時請走樓梯。Huǒjǐng fāshēng shí qǐng zǒu lóutī. | In case of fire, please use the stairs. | |
| 滅火器 | mièhuǒqì | fire extinguisher | 滅火器在門旁邊。Mièhuǒqì zài mén pángbiān. | The fire extinguisher is by the door. | |
| 急救箱 | jíjiùxiāng | first aid kit | 急救箱放在櫃檯後面。Jíjiùxiāng fàng zài guìtái hòumiàn. | The first aid kit is behind the counter. | |
| 集合點 | jíhé diǎn | assembly point | 緊急疏散後到集合點。Jǐnjí shūsàn hòu dào jíhé diǎn. | After evacuation, go to the assembly point. | |
| 逃生路線 | táoshēng lùxiàn | evacuation route | 請依逃生路線指示離開。Qǐng yī táoshēng lùxiàn zhǐshì líkāi. | Please leave following the evacuation route signs. | |
| 監視器錄影中 | jiānshìqì lùyǐng zhōng | CCTV recording | 本區監視器錄影中。Běn qū jiānshìqì lùyǐng zhōng. | This area is under CCTV recording. |
Transportation, traffic, and daily-life signs
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 停 | tíng | stop | 看到「停」要先停下來。Kàndào “tíng” yào xiān tíng xiàlái. | When you see “STOP,” you should stop first. | |
| 讓 | ràng | yield / give way | 路口看到「讓」要禮讓。Lùkǒu kàndào “ràng” yào lǐràng. | At an intersection, “YIELD” means give way. | |
| 慢 | màn | slow | 巷子裡常看到「慢」。Xiàngzi lǐ cháng kàndào “màn”. | You often see “SLOW” in small lanes. | |
| 行人 | xíngrén | pedestrians | 請注意行人安全。Qǐng zhùyì xíngrén ānquán. | Please watch out for pedestrians. | |
| 斑馬線 | bānmǎxiàn | crosswalk | 請走斑馬線過馬路。Qǐng zǒu bānmǎxiàn guò mǎlù. | Please use the crosswalk to cross the street. | |
| 單行道 | dānxíngdào | one-way street | 這條路是單行道。Zhè tiáo lù shì dānxíngdào. | This road is one-way. | |
| 禁止停車 | jìnzhǐ tíngchē | no parking | 紅線區禁止停車。Hóngxiàn qū jìnzhǐ tíngchē. | No parking in red-line areas. | |
| 限速 | xiànsù | speed limit | 這段路限速四十。Zhè duàn lù xiànsù sìshí. | The speed limit on this stretch is 40. |
Shops and services (the signs that decide your wallet’s fate)
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 營業中 | yíngyè zhōng | open (in business) | 這家店現在營業中。Zhè jiā diàn xiànzài yíngyè zhōng. | This shop is open right now. | |
| 休息中 | xiūxí zhōng | closed / on break | 老闆寫著「休息中」。Lǎobǎn xiězhe “xiūxí zhōng”. | The owner has a “Closed/On break” sign up. | |
| 打烊 | dǎyáng | closed for the day | 我們到的時候店已經打烊了。Wǒmen dào de shíhòu diàn yǐjīng dǎyáng le. | When we arrived, the shop was already closed. | |
| 收銀台 | shōuyíntái | cashier counter | 請到收銀台結帳。Qǐng dào shōuyíntái jiézhàng. | Please go to the cashier to pay. | |
| 結帳 | jiézhàng | checkout / pay | 買完請到這裡結帳。Mǎi wán qǐng dào zhèlǐ jiézhàng. | After shopping, please check out here. | |
| 試衣間 | shìyījiān | fitting room | 試衣間在店裡後面。Shìyījiān zài diàn lǐ hòumiàn. | The fitting rooms are in the back of the store. |
Temporary notices (the signs that ruin your plan)
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 清潔中 | qīngjié zhōng | being cleaned | 洗手間清潔中，請稍候。Xǐshǒujiān qīngjié zhōng, qǐng shāohòu. | The restroom is being cleaned—please wait. | |
| 故障中 | gùzhàng zhōng | out of order (broken) | 這台機器故障中。Zhè tái jīqì gùzhàng zhōng. | This machine is out of order. | |
| 暫停使用 | zàntíng shǐyòng | temporarily not in use | 飲水機暫停使用。Yǐnshuǐjī zàntíng shǐyòng. | The water dispenser is temporarily unavailable. | |
| 請稍候 | qǐng shāohòu | please wait a moment | 系統更新中，請稍候。Xìtǒng gēngxīn zhōng, qǐng shāohòu. | System updating—please wait. | |
| 請關門 | qǐng guān mén | please close the door | 冷氣開放中，請關門。Lěngqì kāifàng zhōng, qǐng guān mén. | Air conditioning is on—please close the door. | |
| 施工中 | shīgōng zhōng | under construction | 這段路施工中，請改道。Zhè duàn lù shīgōng zhōng, qǐng gǎidào. | This road is under construction—please take another route. |
Useful variants and “same thing, different sign” spot them faster
Synonyms and style differences
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH + Pinyin) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洗手間／廁所／化妝室 | xǐshǒujiān / cèsuǒ / huàzhuāngshì | all mean “restroom” (sign choice varies) | 這裡寫「化妝室」，就是廁所。Zhèlǐ xiě “huàzhuāngshì”, jiùshì cèsuǒ. | If it says “化妝室,” it means the restroom. | |
| 禁止／不得 | jìnzhǐ / bùdé | both mean “must not” (不得 feels extra formal) | 標示「不得吸菸」就是禁止吸菸。Biāoshì “bùdé xīyān” jiùshì jìnzhǐ xīyān. | “不得吸菸” means smoking is prohibited. | |
| 請勿／請勿… | qǐng wù / qǐng wù… | polite “please don’t …” | 「請勿飲食」比「禁止飲食」更客氣。“Qǐng wù yǐnshí” bǐ “jìnzhǐ yǐnshí” gèng kèqì. | “請勿飲食” is politer than “禁止飲食.” | |
| 出口／緊急出口 | chūkǒu / jǐnjí chūkǒu | exit vs emergency exit | 火警時請走緊急出口。Huǒjǐng shí qǐng zǒu jǐnjí chūkǒu. | In a fire, use the emergency exit. | |
| 注意／小心／當心 | zhùyì / xiǎoxīn / dāngxīn | attention vs be careful (often interchangeable) | 看到這三個字，重點都是：別受傷。Kàndào zhè sān gè zì, zhòngdiǎn dōu shì: bié shòushāng. | When you see these, the point is: don’t get hurt. |
Yak Snark
If you can read 出口, 洗手間, and anything starting with 請勿, you’re already in the top tier of “not confused in public.” A low bar, but we take wins.
