The Art of Address: Taiwan’s Rich Calling Culture

In Taiwan, how you address someone isn’t just a matter of names. It is a living language of warmth, respect, and connection. Every greeting carries a tiny spark of social grace that can turn a casual encounter into something human and memorable.

Shifu (師傅): Honoring the Craft

Whether it is the noodle vendor at the corner or the plumber fixing your pipes, the title Shifu, meaning “master,” says far more than “sir.” It is a mark of respect for hands-on expertise, a recognition that mastery is not only found in books or boardrooms. When you call someone Shifu, you are not just being polite. You are acknowledging skill, experience, and pride in a job well done.

If you are in Taiwan and call a plumber to fix a hose at home, remember to greet them with a friendly Shifu when they arrive. It is a small gesture, but it never fails to bring a smile and it shows genuine respect for their craft.

Ge (哥) and Jie (姊): The Sibling Shortcut

At a real estate office, with salespersons and insurance representatives, you'll often hear Ge (big brother) or Jie (big sister). It's Taiwan's go-to way to make things feel a little warmer, a little more human. Service workers use it to break the ice, and customers use it to sound friendly rather than formal.

As the youngest child in my family, I wasn't used to being called Jie. The first time a real estate agent addressed me that way, I almost turned around to see who she was talking to. I wasn't used to the word, but it made the conversation lighter, friendlier, as if we were two acquaintances instead of buyer and agent.

These terms erase the usual distance and let people slip into a more comfortable rhythm. It's not about age or status, just a quick way to make everyone feel on the same level, at least for the length of a chat or a sale.

Handsome and Beautiful: Compliment as Performance

Have you ever been to a Taiwanese breakfast shop and heard the lady behind the counter call a man who looks half-awake in slippers “handsome guy” while handing him a sandwich? Do not be surprised. That is just how mornings sound here.

Few places in the world hand out compliments as generously as Taiwan’s breakfast stalls. Everyone becomes a “handsome guy” or “beautiful lady,” and sometimes a “Didi” (younger brother) or “Meimei” (younger sister), no matter how disheveled or old they look.

Sometimes when I visit a breakfast shop, I'm greeted with, “Good morning, what would you like to eat today, meimei?” even though I’m already a mother. I know it’s just a bit of flattery, but it still brings a smile and gives me a little boost to start the day. It’s a kind of performance. Vendors play their roles, customers play along, and for a brief moment, everyone leaves with their breakfast and their mood lifted.

Classmate: Leveling the Field

In Taiwan, “classmate” isn’t just for school. It’s used in workplaces, training programs, and even government agencies to instantly flatten hierarchies. It signals, “We’re in this together,” replacing job titles with a sense of equality and shared purpose. Even managers sometimes call themselves ‘classmate’ to make things feel less formal and more collaborative. It is a charming way to erase rank and create a sense of shared learning. The word turns hierarchy on its head. Instead of boss and employee, everyone becomes a peer. In a culture that values harmony, this small linguistic shift builds unity without anyone losing face.

Uncle/Auntie: Extending Family to Everyone

If you stroll down a street in Taiwan, you might overhear kids calling every adult “uncle” or “auntie,” and wonder just how big their family really is. It’s not about blood relations. Instead of using formal titles like “sir” or “ma’am,” children use these kinship terms to express both friendliness and respect. In Taiwan, kids grow up addressing adults as uncle or auntie, and elders as grandpa or grandma, even when there is no family connection. These terms create a sense of an extended family, reflecting a unique Taiwanese interpretation of Confucian values that emphasizes community warmth and care over formal distance.

Xuezhang & Xuejie (Senior) / Xuedi & Xuemei (Junior): A Lifelong Classroom

In Taiwan, the classroom never truly ends. Titles like Xuezhang (senior male) and Xuejie (senior female) continue long after graduation, used not only in workplaces but also among alumni groups. Even if you didn’t attend the same school as your Xuezhang, the term still applies as it simply means they are more experienced, someone you respect and learn from. These titles reflect a culture of mentorship and continuity, where respect flows upward and guidance flows downward. They help keep relationships warm and collaborative, reminding everyone that learning from one another doesn’t stop at school doors.

The Social Glue of Taiwanese Society

In today’s fast-paced world, these simple words play a powerful role in keeping society close-knit and respectful. The most potent technology isn’t always digital; it can be a single word that makes you feel seen, valued, and part of a shared community.