台湾 (Táiwān): Taiwan (island and territory in East Asia)

Meanings

1 Taiwan (island and territory in East Asia)

Characters

台

tái

platform; stage; terrace

湾

wān

bay; gulf; bend (in a river)

Literally 'terrace bay.' The name may derive from the indigenous Formosan word 'Tayouan' used by the Siraya people for the area around present-day Tainan.

Examples

台湾的夜市非常有名。

Táiwān de yèshì fēicháng yǒumíng.

Taiwan's night markets are very famous.

台湾在中国大陆的东南方。

Táiwān zài Zhōngguó dàlù de dōngnánfāng.

Taiwan is to the southeast of mainland China.

Tips

usage

Traditional Chinese characters are used in Taiwan. Many Mandarin words differ from mainland usage, e.g. 計程車 vs 出租车 (taxi), 軟體 vs 软件 (software).

Stroke Order

台 tái

湾 wān

Related Words

台湾犬 táiwānquǎn

Taiwan Dog (Formosan Mountain Dog) / native hunting dog breed indigenous to Taiwan

台湾牛 Táiwānniú

Taiwanese yellow cattle (native breed) / Taiwan cattle

台湾海峡 TáiwānHǎixiá

Taiwan Strait

中台湾 Zhōngtáiwān

central Taiwan (geographic region)

台步 táibù #4,710

stage walk / catwalk strut / gait on stage

台词 táicí #3,068

dialogue (in a script) / lines (of a play or movie)

台上 táishàng HSK 4 #2,615

on stage; on the platform

台 tái HSK 3 #866

platform / stage / measure word for machines/devices

台阶 táijiē HSK 4 #6,405

steps; stairway; flight of stairs / way out of an embarrassing situation (figurative)

后台 hòutái HSK 7 #4,537

backstage / backend (of a system); admin panel / backing; behind-the-scenes support