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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.