Mandarin for banking in Taiwan
Open an account, use the ATM, transfer or send money abroad, and handle the chop and paperwork a foreign resident gets handed — Taiwanese Mandarin banking phrases with pinyin.
Opening an account as a foreign resident is a paperwork exercise, and the two words that decide how it goes are jūliúzhèng (your ARC) and yìnzhāng (your personal chop). Many banks still want a carved name chop rather than a signature for account opening and later transactions; requirements vary by bank and branch, so it's worth asking before you queue. Take a number at the door — hàomǎpái — and expect to be at the counter for a while.
Day to day it's simpler. ATMs are everywhere and open around the clock, lǐng qián is withdrawing and cún qián is depositing, and the machine will tell you to qǐng shūrù mìmǎ — enter your PIN. Moving money to another domestic account is zhuǎnzhàng; sending it overseas is huìkuǎn, which is a counter job with forms, fees and a passport.
25 phrases for bank & money
| What you say | Pinyin | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Bank. | yínháng | 銀行 |
| ATM / cash machine. | tíkuǎnjī | 提款機 |
| Withdraw cash. | lǐng qián | 領錢 |
| Deposit money. | cún qián | 存錢 |
| I'd like to open an account. | wǒ yào kāihù. | 我要開戶。 |
| Personal seal / chop. | yìnzhāng | 印章 |
| PIN / password. | mìmǎ | 密碼 |
| Bank transfer / remittance. | huìkuǎn | 匯款 |
| Transfer between accounts. | zhuǎnzhàng | 轉帳 |
| I want to send money overseas. | wǒ yào huì qián dào guówài. | 我要匯錢到國外。 |
| Service fee. | shǒuxùfèi | 手續費 |
| Account. | zhànghù | 帳戶 |
| Passbook. | cúnzhé | 存摺 |
| Update the passbook. | bǔ zhé | 補摺 |
| Change money. | huàn qián | 換錢 |
| Exchange rate. | huìlǜ | 匯率 |
| NT dollars. | táibì | 台幣 |
| US dollars. | měijīn | 美金 |
| Online banking. | wǎnglù yínháng | 網路銀行 |
| Pay in instalments. | fēnqí fùkuǎn | 分期付款 |
| The machine swallowed my card. | wǒ de kǎ bèi tūn le. | 我的卡被吞了。 |
| Queue ticket. (take one at the door) | hàomǎpái | 號碼牌 |
What you'll hear back
The other half of the conversation — what the vendor, clerk or nurse says to you. Understanding these is usually harder than speaking.
| What they say | Pinyin | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Please bring your ARC and your chop. | qǐng dài jūliúzhèng gēn yìnzhāng. | 請帶居留證跟印章。 |
| Please enter your PIN. | qǐng shūrù mìmǎ. | 請輸入密碼。 |
| Please sign here. | qǐng qiānmíng. | 請簽名。 |
Questions people ask
Do I need a chop to open a bank account?
Often, yes. Many banks ask foreign residents for a carved yìnzhāng and use it on the account paperwork; some accept a signature instead. Policies differ between banks and even branches, so phone ahead or ask at the counter first.
What should I bring?
Your ARC and passport at minimum, your chop if you have one, and cash for the opening deposit. Some banks ask for a second form of ID or proof of employment or study.
Can I use my foreign card in Taiwanese ATMs?
Many ATMs accept international cards and offer an English menu — look for the network logos on the machine. Your home bank's fees and daily limits still apply.
What's the difference between 轉帳 and 匯款?
zhuǎnzhàng is a transfer between accounts, typically done yourself at an ATM or in online banking. huìkuǎn is a remittance, including overseas, and usually means a counter, a form and a fee.