Understand the culture, not just the language

Direct translation means phrases or sentences translated directly from Chinese to English, like ‘Wait me a second’.

Abrupt replies are responses that can sound direct or dismissive of what the person is saying, like ‘No no no!’

Exclamation means using strong emphasis or sounding surprised. We want to avoid using this when responding to things that are actually quite normal, like using chopsticks.

Etiquette means rules about what to say or what to do in certain situations. For example, in English speaking culture, it might be considered impolite to ask a stranger their age.

Style and collocation is a more advanced part of learning another language and means speaking in a way that is, culturally, similar to how native speakers currently use the language.

The culture, vocabulary and grammar of Chinese and English are quite different. So translating sentences or words directly doesn’t sound very natural. Here’s a guide to some common examples.

When we learn English, our grammar is sometimes incorrect because of the rules of our first language. Here are some common grammar mistakes amongst Taiwanese learners.

In the UK, there are quite a few social customs that Taiwanese people might not be familiar with. This list of cultural etiquette tips will help you avoid any cultural faux pas.