Traditional Chinese - Everyday Taiwan Etiquette

我先排你後面

Wǒ xiān pái nǐ hòumiàn.

I’ll line up behind you for now.

Meaning: 我先排你後面。 (Wǒ xiān pái nǐ hòumiàn.) means “I’ll line up behind you for now.”

When to use: Use it when the line is a little unclear and you want to politely show where you’ll stand.

Tip: Don’t use 你後面 (nǐ hòumiàn) to mean “after you” in time here; in this phrase it means physically behind you in line.

麻煩幫我看一下東西。

Máfan bāng wǒ kàn yíxià dōngxi.

Could you keep an eye on my things?

Meaning: 麻煩幫我看一下東西。 (Máfan bāng wǒ kàn yíxià dōngxi.) means “Could you keep an eye on my things?”

When to use: Use it briefly with a friend or trusted person in a café, library, or waiting area.

Tip: Use this with people you trust. It is not a magic safety spell for leaving valuables unattended.

我去一下廁所

Wǒ qù yíxià cèsuǒ.

I’m going to the restroom for a moment.

Meaning: 我去一下廁所。 (Wǒ qù yíxià cèsuǒ.) means “I’m going to the restroom for a moment.”

When to use: Use it casually when stepping away to use the restroom.

我先離開一下

Wǒ xiān líkāi yíxià.

I’m going to step away for a moment.

Meaning: 我先離開一下。 (Wǒ xiān líkāi yíxià.) means “I’m going to step away for a moment.”

When to use: Use it in meetings, meals, classrooms, or group settings when you leave briefly.

我等一下回來

Wǒ děng yíxià huílái.

I’ll be back in a bit.

Meaning: 我等一下回來。 (Wǒ děng yíxià huílái.) means “I’ll be back in a bit.”

When to use: Use it when leaving temporarily and planning to return soon.

這裡可以拍照嗎？

Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?

Is photography allowed here?

Meaning: 這裡可以拍照嗎？ (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?) means “Is photography allowed here?”

When to use: Use it in museums, temples, stores, restaurants, or events before taking photos.

Tip: 拍照 (pāizhào) means “take photos,” not “take a picture” only once. It works generally for photography.

這裡不能拍照

Zhèlǐ bù néng pāizhào.

Photography isn’t allowed here.

Meaning: 這裡不能拍照。 (Zhèlǐ bù néng pāizhào.) means “Photography isn’t allowed here.”

When to use: Use it to understand signs or staff instructions when photos are not allowed.

要預約嗎

Yào yùyuē ma?

Do I need a reservation?

Meaning: 要預約嗎？ (Yào yùyuē ma?) means “Do I need a reservation?”

When to use: Use it for restaurants, clinics, salons, museums, and other services.

我有預約

Wǒ yǒu yùyuē.

I have a reservation / appointment.

Meaning: 我有預約。 (Wǒ yǒu yùyuē.) means “I have a reservation” or “I have an appointment.”

When to use: Use it when checking in at a restaurant, clinic, salon, office, or service counter.

預約名字是___。

Yùyuē míngzi shì ___.

The reservation is under ___.

Meaning: 預約名字是___。 (Yùyuē míngzi shì ___.) means “The reservation is under ___.”

When to use: Use it at restaurant host stands, hotels, clinics, and service counters.

現場要等多久

Xiànchǎng yào děng duōjiǔ?

How long is the wait for walk-ins?

Meaning: 現場要等多久？ (Xiànchǎng yào děng duōjiǔ?) means “How long is the wait for walk-ins?”

When to use: Use it at restaurants, clinics, salons, and events when you do not have a reservation.

可以候補嗎

Kěyǐ hòubǔ ma?

Can I be on the waitlist?

Meaning: 可以候補嗎？ (Kěyǐ hòubǔ ma?) means “Can I be on the waitlist?”

When to use: Use it for restaurants, classes, tickets, clinics, and appointments.

號碼牌要拿嗎

Hàomǎpái yào ná ma?

Do I need to take a number?

Meaning: 號碼牌要拿嗎？ (Hàomǎpái yào ná ma?) means “Do I need to take a number?”

When to use: Use it at banks, clinics, government offices, and busy shops with number tickets.