Tool Names in Traditional Chinese

工具名稱（繁體中文）

Learn real-life tool words with Traditional characters, pinyin (tone marks), and short example sentences. Tap the audio buttons to hear Taiwan Mandarin (no awkward robot vibes… hopefully).

This list gives you the Traditional Chinese tool name, pīnyīn (with tone marks), the English meaning, and a quick sentence you can actually use.

Use the “quick cards” first (the stuff you’ll reach for every week), then grab the shop phrases so you can ask for what you need without doing interpretive dance in the hardware aisle.

Yak Snark: If your current tool vocabulary is “this thingy” and “the spinny one,” you’re not alone. Let’s upgrade you to “competent adult who can buy screws.” Gently. With snacks.

Quick Visual Tool Cards

most useful first

錘子

chuízi

hammer

我用錘子敲釘子。

Wǒ yòng chuízi qiāo dīngzi.

I use a hammer to hit a nail.

螺絲起子

luósī qǐzi

screwdriver

用螺絲起子把螺絲轉開。

Yòng luósī qǐzi bǎ luósī zhuǎn kāi.

Use a screwdriver to loosen the screw.

扳手

bānshǒu

wrench

扳手要對準螺帽。

Bānshǒu yào duìzhǔn luómào.

The wrench should fit the nut properly.

鉗子

qiánzi

pliers

鉗子可以夾住零件。

Qiánzi kěyǐ jiāzhù língjiàn.

Pliers can grip small parts.

電鑽

diànzuàn

power drill

我用電鑽鑽一個洞。

Wǒ yòng diànzuàn zuàn yí gè dòng.

I use a drill to make a hole.

捲尺

juǎnchǐ

tape measure

用捲尺量長度。

Yòng juǎnchǐ liáng chángdù.

Use a tape measure to measure length.

鋸子

jùzi

saw

鋸子用來切木頭。

Jùzi yònglái qiē mùtou.

A saw is used to cut wood.

水平尺

shuǐpíngchǐ

level

用水平尺看看有沒有歪。

Yòng shuǐpíngchǐ kànkan yǒu méiyǒu wāi.

Use a level to check if it’s crooked.

Handy Hardware-Store Phrases

copy & say

請問螺絲起子在哪裡？

Qǐngwèn luósī qǐzi zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the screwdriver?

你有十字起子頭嗎？

Nǐ yǒu shízì qǐzitóu ma?

Do you have Phillips bits?

我需要一把活動扳手。

Wǒ xūyào yì bǎ huódòng bānshǒu.

I need an adjustable wrench.

這個尺寸有大一點的嗎？

Zhège chǐcùn yǒu dà yìdiǎn de ma?

Do you have a bigger size?

這個可以切金屬嗎？

Zhège kěyǐ qiē jīnshǔ ma?

Can this cut metal?

這個適合木頭還是水泥？

Zhège shìhé mùtou háishi shuǐní?

Is this for wood or concrete?

可以借我一下鉗子嗎？

Kěyǐ jiè wǒ yíxià qiánzi ma?

Can I borrow the pliers for a moment?

請幫我把這顆螺絲鎖緊。

Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè kē luósī suǒ jǐn.

Please tighten this screw for me.

我想買耐熱的絕緣膠帶。

Wǒ xiǎng mǎi nàirè de juéyuán jiāodài.

I want heat-resistant electrical tape.

這個要怎麼安裝？

Zhège yào zěnme ānzhuāng?

How do you install this?

你們有沒有壁虎？

Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu bìhǔ?

Do you have wall anchors?

可以幫我裁一段延長線嗎？

Kěyǐ bāng wǒ cái yí duàn yánchángxiàn ma?

Can you cut me a length of extension cord?

我只是看看，謝謝。

Wǒ zhǐshì kànkan, xièxie.

Just looking, thanks.

這個可以退換嗎？

Zhège kěyǐ tuìhuàn ma?

Can I return or exchange this?

有沒有比較便宜的選擇？

Yǒu méiyǒu bǐjiào piányí de xuǎnzé?

Any cheaper option?

Measure Words You’ll Hear a Lot

small but mighty

In Taiwan, tool shopping often uses these “counters.” You don’t need to memorize them all today—just recognize them so the conversation stops sounding like speed-running Mandarin.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
一把	yì bǎ	one (handheld tool)	我買了一把螺絲起子。 Wǒ mǎi le yì bǎ luósī qǐzi.	I bought a screwdriver.
一支	yì zhī	one (stick-like tool/pen)	這裡有一支記號筆。 Zhèlǐ yǒu yì zhī jìhàobǐ.	There’s a marker here.
一臺	yì tái	one (machine)	我借你一臺電鑽。 Wǒ jiè nǐ yì tái diànzuàn.	I’ll lend you a drill.
一卷	yì juǎn	one roll	我需要一卷遮蔽膠帶。 Wǒ xūyào yì juǎn zhēbì jiāodài.	I need a roll of masking tape.
一盒	yì hé	one box	我買了一盒螺絲。 Wǒ mǎi le yì hé luósī.	I bought a box of screws.
一副	yí fù	one pair (gloves, goggles)	我戴了一副手套。 Wǒ dài le yí fù shǒutào.	I put on a pair of gloves.

Table of Words

clear + practical

Hand Tools

manual power

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
活動扳手	huódòng bānshǒu	adjustable wrench	我用活動扳手轉開螺帽。 Wǒ yòng huódòng bānshǒu zhuǎn kāi luómào.	I use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nut.
套筒扳手	tàotǒng bānshǒu	socket wrench	套筒扳手比較省力。 Tàotǒng bānshǒu bǐjiào shěnglì.	A socket wrench takes less effort.
六角扳手	liùjiǎo bānshǒu	Allen key (hex wrench)	這顆螺絲要用六角扳手。 Zhè kē luósī yào yòng liùjiǎo bānshǒu.	This screw needs an Allen key.
尖嘴鉗	jiānzuǐ qián	needle-nose pliers	用尖嘴鉗夾住細線。 Yòng jiānzuǐ qián jiāzhù xìxiàn.	Use needle-nose pliers to grip the thin wire.
斜口鉗	xiékǒu qián	diagonal cutters	斜口鉗可以剪鐵絲。 Xiékǒu qián kěyǐ jiǎn tiěsī.	Diagonal cutters can cut wire.
虎鉗	hǔqián	bench vise	把木板固定在虎鉗上。 Bǎ mùbǎn gùdìng zài hǔqián shàng.	Clamp the wood board in the vise.
C型夾	C xíng jiā	C-clamp	用C型夾先夾緊。 Yòng C xíng jiā xiān jiā jǐn.	Use a C-clamp to tighten it first.
管鉗	guǎnqián	pipe wrench	管鉗專門夾水管。 Guǎnqián zhuānmén jiā shuǐguǎn.	A pipe wrench is made for gripping pipes.

Measuring & Marking

make it straight

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
直尺	zhíchǐ	ruler	用直尺畫一條直線。 Yòng zhíchǐ huà yì tiáo zhíxiàn.	Use a ruler to draw a straight line.
角尺	jiǎochǐ	square (right angle tool)	角尺可以量九十度。 Jiǎochǐ kěyǐ liáng jiǔshí dù.	A square can measure a 90-degree angle.
游標卡尺	yóubiāo kǎchǐ	vernier caliper	用游標卡尺量直徑。 Yòng yóubiāo kǎchǐ liáng zhíjìng.	Use a vernier caliper to measure the diameter.
鉛筆	qiānbǐ	pencil	先用鉛筆做記號。 Xiān yòng qiānbǐ zuò jìhào.	Make a mark with a pencil first.
記號筆	jìhàobǐ	marker	記號筆寫在金屬上也清楚。 Jìhàobǐ xiě zài jīnshǔ shàng yě qīngchǔ.	A marker is clear even on metal.
墨斗	mòdǒu	chalk line / marking line tool	墨斗一彈就有直線。 Mòdǒu yí tán jiù yǒu zhíxiàn.	Snap a chalk line and you get a straight line.

Cutting & Finishing

clean edges

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
美工刀	měigōngdāo	utility knife	小心，美工刀很利。 Xiǎoxīn, měigōngdāo hěn lì.	Careful—the utility knife is sharp.
剪刀	jiǎndāo	scissors	用剪刀剪膠帶。 Yòng jiǎndāo jiǎn jiāodài.	Use scissors to cut the tape.
鑿子	záozi	chisel	用鑿子把洞修平。 Yòng záozi bǎ dòng xiū píng.	Use a chisel to smooth out the hole.
砂紙	shāzhǐ	sandpaper	用砂紙磨光表面。 Yòng shāzhǐ mó guāng biǎomiàn.	Use sandpaper to smooth the surface.
銼刀	cuòdāo	file	邊緣用銼刀修一下。 Biānyuán yòng cuòdāo xiū yíxià.	File the edge a bit.
油漆刷	yóuqīshuā	paintbrush	用油漆刷刷底漆。 Yòng yóuqīshuā shuā dǐqī.	Use a paintbrush to apply primer.
遮蔽膠帶	zhēbì jiāodài	masking tape	先貼遮蔽膠帶才不會沾到。 Xiān tiē zhēbì jiāodài cái bú huì zhān dào.	Put masking tape on first so it won’t get paint on it.

Fasteners & Bits

tiny troublemakers

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
釘子	dīngzi	nail	這顆釘子太長了。 Zhè kē dīngzi tài cháng le.	This nail is too long.
螺絲	luósī	screw	把螺絲鎖緊。 Bǎ luósī suǒ jǐn.	Tighten the screw.
螺帽	luómào	nut	螺帽要對準螺栓。 Luómào yào duìzhǔn luóshuān.	The nut should align with the bolt.
螺栓	luóshuān	bolt	這支螺栓生鏽了。 Zhè zhī luóshuān shēngxiù le.	This bolt is rusty.
墊圈	diànquān	washer	加一個墊圈比較穩。 Jiā yí gè diànquān bǐjiào wěn.	Add a washer—it’s more stable.
鑽頭	zuàntóu	drill bit	換小一點的鑽頭。 Huàn xiǎo yìdiǎn de zuàntóu.	Switch to a smaller drill bit.
起子頭	qǐzitóu	screwdriver bit	這個起子頭是十字的。 Zhège qǐzitóu shì shízì de.	This bit is Phillips.

Power Tools & Machines

zoom zoom

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
衝擊起子	chōngjí qǐzi	impact driver	衝擊起子鎖螺絲很快。 Chōngjí qǐzi suǒ luósī hěn kuài.	An impact driver tightens screws fast.
電動螺絲起子	diàndòng luósī qǐzi	electric screwdriver	我用電動螺絲起子拆螺絲。 Wǒ yòng diàndòng luósī qǐzi chāi luósī.	I use an electric screwdriver to remove screws.
角磨機	jiǎomójī	angle grinder	角磨機火花很多，小心。 Jiǎomójī huǒhuā hěn duō, xiǎoxīn.	Angle grinders throw lots of sparks—careful.
電動砂磨機	diàndòng shāmójī	power sander	用電動砂磨機更省時間。 Yòng diàndòng shāmójī gèng shěng shíjiān.	A power sander saves time.
熱風槍	rèfēngqiāng	heat gun	熱風槍可以收縮熱縮管。 Rèfēngqiāng kěyǐ shōusuō rè suō guǎn.	A heat gun can shrink heat-shrink tubing.
曲線鋸	qūxiànjù	jigsaw	曲線鋸適合切弧形。 Qūxiànjù shìhé qiē húxíng.	A jigsaw is good for curved cuts.
吸塵器	xīchénqì	vacuum (shop vac)	切完木頭記得用吸塵器。 Qiē wán mùtou jìde yòng xīchénqì.	After cutting wood, remember to vacuum.

Electrical & Wiring

don’t get zapped

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
三用電錶	sānyòng diànbiǎo	multimeter	用三用電錶量電壓。 Yòng sānyòng diànbiǎo liáng diànyā.	Use a multimeter to measure voltage.
剝線鉗	bōxiànqián	wire stripper	剝線鉗不會傷到銅線。 Bōxiànqián bú huì shāng dào tóngxiàn.	A wire stripper won’t damage the copper wire.
壓接鉗	yājiēqián	crimping tool	用壓接鉗把端子壓緊。 Yòng yājiēqián bǎ duānzǐ yā jǐn.	Use a crimping tool to crimp the terminal tight.
絕緣膠帶	juéyuán jiāodài	electrical tape	接好後再纏絕緣膠帶。 Jiē hǎo hòu zài chán juéyuán jiāodài.	After connecting it, wrap it with electrical tape.

Safety & Setup

protect your face

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
護目鏡	hùmùjìng	safety goggles	先戴護目鏡。 Xiān dài hùmùjìng.	Put on goggles first.
手套	shǒutào	gloves	這個工作要戴手套。 Zhège gōngzuò yào dài shǒutào.	You should wear gloves for this job.
防塵面罩	fángchén miànzhào	dust mask / respirator	打磨時戴防塵面罩。 Dǎmó shí dài fángchén miànzhào.	Wear a dust mask when sanding.
耳塞	ěrsāi	earplugs	用角磨機最好戴耳塞。 Yòng jiǎomójī zuìhǎo dài ěrsāi.	With an angle grinder, earplugs are best.

Storage & Basics

keep it together

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
工具箱	gōngjùxiāng	toolbox	我的工具箱很重。 Wǒ de gōngjùxiāng hěn zhòng.	My toolbox is heavy.
工具袋	gōngjùdài	tool bag	小工具放工具袋就好。 Xiǎo gōngjù fàng gōngjùdài jiù hǎo.	Small tools can go in a tool bag.
工作台	gōngzuòtái	workbench	把零件放在工作台上。 Bǎ língjiàn fàng zài gōngzuòtái shàng.	Put the parts on the workbench.
延長線	yánchángxiàn	extension cord	這裡需要一條延長線。 Zhèlǐ xūyào yì tiáo yánchángxiàn.	We need an extension cord here.

Useful Variants

you may hear these

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
榔頭	lángtóu	hammer (common variant)	這把榔頭握起來很順手。 Zhè bǎ lángtóu wò qǐlái hěn shùnshǒu.	This hammer feels good in the hand.
螺絲刀	luósīdāo	screwdriver (also heard, esp. non-Taiwan usage)	他說「螺絲刀」，我說「螺絲起子」。 Tā shuō “luósīdāo”, wǒ shuō “luósī qǐzi”.	He says “luósīdāo,” I say “luósī qǐzi.”
砂光機	shāguāngjī	sander (another name)	砂光機跟砂磨機意思差不多。 Shāguāngjī gēn shāmójī yìsi chà bù duō.	“Sander” can be called either one; they mean nearly the same.
十字	shízì	Phillips / cross-head	這是十字螺絲，不是平頭。 Zhè shì shízì luósī, bú shì píngtóu.	This is a Phillips screw, not a flat-head.
平頭	píngtóu	flat-head (screw/bit)	平頭起子頭比較不容易咬住。 Píngtóu qǐzitóu bǐjiào bù róngyì yǎozhù.	Flat-head bits are easier to slip.

Yak Snark: Congrats—now you can say more than “that metal thing.” Next step: pretend you’ve always known what a 墊圈 is. Confidence is half the repair.

Quick practice tip: Pick 5 words, say them out loud (use the audio), then make one sentence with “我需要…” (Wǒ xūyào… / I need…). Your brain likes patterns. Yours especially.