Keelung gives a Taiwan vocabulary lesson a strong sense of place. Harbour activity, colourful waterfront houses, coastal rock formations and the food around Miaokou all offer details worth noticing. Learn their names, then turn what you observe into clear questions and confident descriptions.
This guide offers 100 English vocabulary entries with Traditional Chinese and Hanyu Pinyin. It is useful for family travel preparation, Mandarin recognition, English composition and a travel journal. Start with one group that fits your planned activity rather than trying to memorise every entry at once.
The list includes named destinations and descriptive teaching expressions. Technical words help interpret displays, diagrams or scenery; they do not imply that equipment, working areas or every geological feature is accessible. Central Keelung, the coast and an offshore island visit require separate planning. Check current visitor guidance, conditions and transport.
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The 100 entries · Pronunciation and local names · Practical questions · Keelung learning connections · Writing model · Learning routine · FAQs · Official sources
Top 100 vocabulary for visiting and touring Taiwan: Keelung
Each ten-entry set supports one kind of observation. Read a complete expression as a unit, then use it in a sentence. Keep the Chinese destination name available when checking maps, because established English names do not always follow pinyin spelling.
1. Harbour, market and coastal landmarks — 1–10
Learn the names of the places you expect to use for directions. A port, a fishing harbour, a geopark and a museum have different functions. Chaojing and Badouzi help orient an eastern coastal outing; Miaokou belongs to a different city-centre setting. Confirm distances before combining them.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keelung City | 基隆市 | Jīlóng Shì |
| 2 | Port of Keelung | 基隆港 | Jīlóng Gǎng |
| 3 | Keelung Miaokou Night Market | 基隆廟口夜市 | Jīlóng Miàokǒu Yèshì |
| 4 | Dianji Temple | 奠濟宮 | Diànjì Gōng |
| 5 | Zhengbin Fishing Port | 正濱漁港 | Zhèngbīn Yúgǎng |
| 6 | Heping Island Geopark | 和平島地質公園 | Hépíng Dǎo Dìzhì Gōngyuán |
| 7 | Keelung Islet | 基隆嶼 | Jīlóng Yǔ |
| 8 | National Museum of Marine Science and Technology | 國立海洋科技博物館 | Guólì Hǎiyáng Kējì Bówùguǎn |
| 9 | Chaojing Park | 潮境公園 | Cháojìng Gōngyuán |
| 10 | Badouzi | 八斗子 | Bādǒuzǐ |
2. Coastal rock forms and geological processes — 11–20
Use these terms to read a landscape with greater precision. A rock form describes shape; erosion describes a process. A layer or pore concerns the rock’s structure. The geopark’s interpretation can help explain these relationships. Do not identify a process from appearance alone when a label or guide can provide evidence.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Pedestal rock | 蕈狀岩 | xùnzhuàngyán |
| 12 | Chessboard rock | 棋盤岩 | qípányán |
| 13 | Honeycomb weathering | 蜂窩狀風化 | fēngwōzhuàng fēnghuà |
| 14 | Wave-cut platform | 海蝕平臺 | hǎishí píngtái |
| 15 | Differential erosion | 差異侵蝕 | chāyì qīnshí |
| 16 | Rock porosity | 岩石孔隙率 | yánshí kǒngxìlǜ |
| 17 | Sedimentary bedding | 沉積岩層理 | chénjīyán cénglǐ |
| 18 | Bedding-plane exposure | 層面出露 | céngmiàn chūlù |
| 19 | Rock overhang | 岩石懸垂 | yánshí xuánchuí |
| 20 | Marine abrasion | 海浪磨蝕 | hǎilàng móshí |
3. Reading the surface of the shore — 21–30
These expressions help describe smaller details such as a layer’s inclination or water in a rock pool. A splash zone concerns exposure to wave spray. The list does not establish access to a rock ledge or pool; follow the park’s current boundaries and notices.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Algal film | 藻膜 | zǎomó |
| 22 | Splash zone | 浪濺帶 | làngjiàndài |
| 23 | Rock-pool water level | 岩池水位 | yánchí shuǐwèi |
| 24 | Salt crystallisation | 鹽結晶作用 | yán jiéjīng zuòyòng |
| 25 | Exposed bedrock | 出露基岩 | chūlù jīyán |
| 26 | Rock-layer inclination | 岩層傾斜 | yáncéng qīngxié |
| 27 | Geological interpretation diagram | 地質解說圖 | dìzhì jiěshuōtú |
| 28 | Erosion-resistant layer | 抗侵蝕岩層 | kàng qīnshí yáncéng |
| 29 | Coastal rock ledge | 海岸岩棚 | hǎi’àn yánpéng |
| 30 | Geopark restricted zone | 地質公園管制區 | dìzhì gōngyuán guǎnzhìqū |
4. Fortifications, temples and city viewpoints — 31–40
The names in this group introduce different parts of Keelung’s heritage and topography. Learn the specific site before discussing its history. Haimen Tianxian is a name associated with Ershawan Fort, rather than a separate distant attraction to add automatically to an itinerary.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Baimiweng Fort | 白米甕砲台 | Báimǐwèng Pàotái |
| 32 | Ershawan Fort | 二沙灣砲台 | Èrshāwān Pàotái |
| 33 | Shiqiuling Fort | 獅球嶺砲台 | Shīqiúlǐng Pàotái |
| 34 | Dawulun Fort | 大武崙砲台 | Dàwǔlún Pàotái |
| 35 | Zhongzheng Park | 中正公園 | Zhōngzhèng Gōngyuán |
| 36 | Keelung Tower | 基隆塔 | Jīlóng Tǎ |
| 37 | Haimen Tianxian | 海門天險 | Hǎimén Tiānxiǎn |
| 38 | Fairy Cave | 仙洞巖 | Xiāndòng Yán |
| 39 | Qing’an Temple | 慶安宮 | Qìng’ān Gōng |
| 40 | Nuannuan Ande Temple | 暖暖安德宮 | Nuǎnnuǎn Āndé Gōng |
5. Understanding a defensive site — 41–50
These terms support a historic-site description or a labelled plan. A magazine stores ammunition; an observation post supports watching; a firing arc concerns the area a weapon can cover. The terms explain functions, not a claim that every feature survives at every fort.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Gun emplacement | 火砲陣地 | huǒpào zhèndì |
| 42 | Defensive parapet | 防禦胸牆 | fángyù xiōngqiáng |
| 43 | Ammunition magazine | 彈藥庫 | dànyàokù |
| 44 | Coastal firing arc | 海岸射界 | hǎi’àn shèjiè |
| 45 | Fort observation post | 砲台觀測哨 | pàotái guāncèshào |
| 46 | Historic defensive position | 歷史防禦據點 | lìshǐ fángyù jùdiǎn |
| 47 | Fort approach path | 砲台聯外步道 | pàotái liánwài bùdào |
| 48 | Defensive sightline | 防禦視線 | fángyù shìxiàn |
| 49 | Fort masonry joint | 砲台砌體接縫 | pàotái qìtǐ jiēfèng |
| 50 | Heritage-site boundary marker | 古蹟範圍界標 | gǔjī fànwéi jièbiāo |
6. Miaokou food and preparation vocabulary — 51–60
Use the dish names to ask a stall what it serves, then use texture and preparation expressions to describe the result. “Nutritious sandwich” is a conventional dish name, not a health assessment. Recipes, portions and ingredients differ between stalls; ask about the exact item.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Keelung dingbiancuo | 基隆鼎邊趖 | Jīlóng dǐngbiānsuō |
| 52 | Keelung nutritious sandwich | 基隆營養三明治 | Jīlóng yíngyǎng sānmíngzhì |
| 53 | Keelung paopao ice | 基隆泡泡冰 | Jīlóng pàopàobīng |
| 54 | Crab thick soup | 螃蟹羹 | pángxiè gēng |
| 55 | Buttery crab | 奶油螃蟹 | nǎiyóu pángxiè |
| 56 | Rice batter | 米漿 | mǐjiāng |
| 57 | Pot-rim rice sheet | 鍋邊米片 | guōbiān mǐpiàn |
| 58 | Fried sandwich bun | 油炸三明治麵包 | yóuzhá sānmíngzhì miànbāo |
| 59 | Ice-dessert flavour choice | 冰品口味選擇 | bīngpǐn kǒuwèi xuǎnzé |
| 60 | Seafood stall price board | 海鮮攤價目板 | hǎixiān tān jiàmùbǎn |
7. Fishing ports and coastal destinations — 61–70
These names help distinguish the city’s waterfront settings. A scenic house frontage is different from a working fish market, and a beach is different from a harbour basin. A name on a map does not establish where visitors may enter or whether an activity is operating.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Kanziding Fish Market | 崁仔頂魚市 | Kǎnzǐdǐng Yúshì |
| 62 | Badouzi Fishing Port | 八斗子漁港 | Bādǒuzǐ Yúgǎng |
| 63 | Bisha Fishing Port | 碧砂漁港 | Bìshā Yúgǎng |
| 64 | Wanghaixiang Bay | 望海巷海灣 | Wànghǎixiàng Hǎiwān |
| 65 | Dawulun Beach | 大武崙沙灘 | Dàwǔlún Shātān |
| 66 | Waimushan Coast | 外木山海岸 | Wàimùshān Hǎi’àn |
| 67 | Waimushan Fishing Port | 外木山漁港 | Wàimùshān Yúgǎng |
| 68 | Heping Bridge | 和平橋 | Hépíng Qiáo |
| 69 | Zhengbin colourful waterfront houses | 正濱彩色街屋 | Zhèngbīn cǎisè jiēwū |
| 70 | Keelung Maritime Plaza | 基隆海洋廣場 | Jīlóng Hǎiyáng Guǎngchǎng |
8. Working-harbour and fish-market language — 71–80
Use these expressions to understand an explanation or observe permitted public activity. An auction lot groups goods for sale; an insulated crate helps manage temperature. Keep work aisles clear. An island-tour notice concerns a particular trip and should be checked with its operator.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Fish-market auction lot | 魚市拍賣批次 | yúshì pāimài pīcì |
| 72 | Insulated seafood crate | 海鮮保溫箱 | hǎixiān bǎowēnxiāng |
| 73 | Crushed ice packing | 碎冰保鮮包裝 | suìbīng bǎoxiān bāozhuāng |
| 74 | Fish landing record | 魚貨卸港紀錄 | yúhuò xiègǎng jìlù |
| 75 | Fishing vessel registration | 漁船登記 | yúchuán dēngjì |
| 76 | Seafood weighing scale | 海鮮秤 | hǎixiān chèng |
| 77 | Wet auction-floor surface | 濕滑拍賣場地面 | shīhuá pāimàichǎng dìmiàn |
| 78 | Fish-market work aisle | 魚市作業通道 | yúshì zuòyè tōngdào |
| 79 | Harbour departure restriction | 港口出航限制 | gǎngkǒu chūháng xiànzhì |
| 80 | Island-tour cancellation notice | 登島行程取消公告 | dēngdǎo xíngchéng qǔxiāo gōnggào |
9. Marine science and museum learning — 81–90
This group prepares students to ask questions about marine displays. A model represents a system; a measurement describes a quantity. A buoy can support observation, while a navigation instrument serves a different purpose. The entries are teaching vocabulary, not a promise that each exhibit is available during your visit.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Marine science exhibit | 海洋科學展品 | hǎiyáng kēxué zhǎnpǐn |
| 82 | Ocean-current model | 洋流模型 | yángliú móxíng |
| 83 | Water-column profile | 水層剖面 | shuǐcéng pōumiàn |
| 84 | Salinity measurement | 鹽度量測 | yándù liángcè |
| 85 | Underwater acoustic signal | 水下聲學訊號 | shuǐxià shēngxué xùnhào |
| 86 | Marine navigation instrument | 航海儀器 | hánghǎi yíqì |
| 87 | Ship stability model | 船舶穩定性模型 | chuánbó wěndìngxìng móxíng |
| 88 | Ocean observation buoy | 海洋觀測浮標 | hǎiyáng guāncè fúbiāo |
| 89 | Marine education worksheet | 海洋教育學習單 | hǎiyáng jiàoyù xuéxídān |
| 90 | Museum demonstration schedule | 博物館示範時段 | bówùguǎn shìfàn shíduàn |
10. Rail names and city districts — 91–100
Keelung Railway Station, Badu and Qidu are distinct rail locations. Haikeguan Station refers to the marine museum area, while the Shen’ao Branch Line names a rail route. Check current operator information for transfers and destinations rather than treating every station name as the same service.
| No. | English word or expression | Traditional Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Keelung Railway Station | 基隆火車站 | Jīlóng Huǒchē Zhàn |
| 92 | Sankeng Station | 三坑站 | Sānkēng Zhàn |
| 93 | Badu Station | 八堵站 | Bādǔ Zhàn |
| 94 | Qidu Station | 七堵站 | Qīdǔ Zhàn |
| 95 | Nuannuan Station | 暖暖站 | Nuǎnnuǎn Zhàn |
| 96 | Haikeguan Station | 海科館站 | Hǎikēguǎn Zhàn |
| 97 | Shen’ao Branch Line | 深澳支線 | Shēn’ào Zhīxiàn |
| 98 | Ren’ai District | 仁愛區 | Rén’ài Qū |
| 99 | Zhongshan District, Keelung | 基隆市中山區 | Jīlóng Shì Zhōngshān Qū |
| 100 | Nuannuan District | 暖暖區 | Nuǎnnuǎn Qū |
Pronunciation and local naming
Hanyu Pinyin represents Mandarin pronunciation. It does not represent Taiwanese Hokkien pronunciation, which is relevant to many local food names. Traditional Chinese supports recognition on signs and menus. When pronunciation becomes difficult, show the written name and ask the person to confirm it.
Keelung is the established English city name; Jīlóng is its Mandarin pinyin. Names such as Badouzi also appear without tone marks on English signs. Compare the Chinese characters and full address when checking a destination.
Dingbiancuo is a familiar romanised dish name. Written forms include 鼎邊趖 and 鼎邊銼. For the form 趖 used in this table, the Ministry of Education dictionary gives the Mandarin reading suō; 銼 has the reading cuò. The pinyin column therefore reads the characters shown rather than copying the established English food name.
Tone marks distinguish Mandarin tones. These tables show dictionary-style readings; connected speech can change how tones are realised. Apostrophes separate syllables where needed, as in Hǎi’àn, Shēn’ào and Rén’ài. Capital letters identify names and do not alter the tone.
Five practical questions for a Keelung visit
1. How do I get to Heping Island Geopark?
Traditional Chinese: 請問，怎麼去和平島地質公園？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zěnme qù Hépíng Dǎo Dìzhì Gōngyuán?
Confirm the entrance and current visitor arrangements. A destination name does not establish access to every zone inside it.
2. Is this area open today?
Traditional Chinese: 請問，這個區域今天有開放嗎？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè ge qūyù jīntiān yǒu kāifàng ma?
Point to the specific area or show it on the park map. Conditions can affect individual sections.
3. Where is the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology?
Traditional Chinese: 請問，國立海洋科技博物館在哪裡？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, Guólì Hǎiyáng Kējì Bówùguǎn zài nǎlǐ?
If attending a particular exhibition or programme, keep its building details available.
4. What ingredients are in this sandwich?
Traditional Chinese: 請問，這個三明治有哪些食材？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè ge sānmíngzhì yǒu nǎxiē shícái?
Ask about the exact item. Its conventional name does not identify every ingredient or establish dietary suitability.
5. Has today’s island tour been cancelled?
Traditional Chinese: 請問，今天的登島行程取消了嗎？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, jīntiān de dēngdǎo xíngchéng qǔxiāo le ma?
Confirm with the operator and current official information before travelling to a departure point.
Connect vocabulary to Keelung’s specialities
Heping Island: distinguish shape from process
The geopark’s official geological explanation connects its landscape with weathering, erosion and wave action, and identifies forms such as pedestal rocks and chessboard rocks. These are useful starting points for a lesson about why a coast has different shapes.
Begin with a visible detail: an overhang, a patterned surface or layers that appear to tilt. Then consult the interpretation before explaining its origin. “I noticed a patterned rock surface” is an observation; “the diagram explained the role of weathering” attributes an explanation. Keeping the two separate makes science writing clearer.
Differential erosion means that materials or parts of a surface erode at different rates. It can help explain changing shapes, but not every unusual shape has the same cause. Students should connect a term to an identified example rather than assigning it to every rock in a photograph.
Zhengbin: write about a waterfront with a clear focus
The city’s Zhengbin waterfront information identifies the colourful houses around the fishing port. Choose one detail to anchor a paragraph: repeated colours, a reflection or the relationship between buildings and water.
A strong description explains where the viewer stood and what drew attention. Add movement only if you observed it. Avoid inventing the purpose of a building from its façade or implying that a private interior is open to visitors. A public waterfront view can supply enough material for a thoughtful paragraph.
Miaokou: ask before describing a recipe
The official Miaokou introduction lists characteristic foods including dingbiancuo, nutritious sandwiches and paopao ice. Learn the name first, then ask the stall about ingredients and preparation.
A dish’s name and a personal response serve different jobs. The name identifies what you ordered; the response describes what you experienced. “The bun was crisp outside” gives a texture detail. “Every stall uses the same filling” requires evidence and should not be inferred from one meal.
Compare a rice sheet with rice batter as two stages or forms rather than two interchangeable names. Read a displayed menu before naming an ingredient, and ask about price and portion size when ordering seafood. A price board may use units that need clarification.
Fortifications: use a plan to explain a position
The city’s Baimiweng Fort information connects the site with harbour defence. That context makes observation posts, firing arcs and defensive sightlines useful learning concepts.
Use a plan or interpretation label to explain how a position related to the harbour. A parapet concerns protection, while a sightline concerns visibility. Do not identify an empty room as an ammunition magazine without evidence. The vocabulary should help you interpret a site rather than fill gaps with guesses.
Marine museum: explain what a model represents
The National Museum of Marine Science and Technology introduction describes exhibitions involving marine science, technology, ecology and culture. Select a topic that interests the learner, then check current programmes and opening information with the museum.
Ask three questions: What system does the model represent? What does it leave out? What idea does it help explain? A ship stability model and an ocean-current model represent different systems. A good learning note records the display’s explanation and one question that remains.
Salinity measurement concerns salt content, while an underwater acoustic signal concerns sound travelling through water. Learn each concept in its own context. The vocabulary set supports recognition and questions; it does not provide a technical operating manual.
Working markets and island trips: use current information
Keelung’s official travel website includes Kanziding Fish Market, while the city’s 2026 Keelung Islet information provides a reference for island-visit arrangements. Confirm a specific trip and permitted access rather than assuming that a named destination is always available.
A working market has a purpose beyond sightseeing. Keep the work aisle clear, ask before photographing people and observe from permitted areas. In writing, distinguish what you saw from what a guide explained. Terms such as a fish landing record or auction lot may be learned through interpretation without inspecting business documents.
Writing model: an imagined Keelung learning visit
This paragraph is an imagined model, not a report of a completed journey or an itinerary to follow. Replace its scenes with your own observations.
At Heping Island Geopark, a patterned rock surface caught my attention before I understood how to describe it. The interpretation helped me connect a visible shape with the processes of weathering and erosion. Later, the colourful waterfront houses at Zhengbin gave my journal a different focus: colour and reflection replaced rock and texture. During a separate museum visit, I chose one marine science model and wrote down the question it helped me answer. These experiences taught me to use a word for a reason. A precise term could identify a feature, explain a process or guide a question, making my Keelung notes clearer than a list of places alone.
The paragraph links observation, explanation and reflection. It uses a few terms purposefully and avoids claiming technical knowledge from a glance. For your own composition, choose one scene, develop its details and attribute explanations to the source that helped you understand them.
Develop a sentence in three stages
Basic: “I saw a rock.”
More precise: “I noticed layers in an exposed rock surface.”
Developed: “I noticed layers in an exposed rock surface, then used the interpretation diagram to understand how the structure related to the coast.”
Use the Fencing Method for Vocabulary to add a precise subject, an observable action and a relevant explanation. Remove additions that repeat the same idea. Longer sentences are useful when their details work together.
Before, during and after travel
Before: choose ten entries
Choose one group linked to your planned activity. Mark two destination names, three descriptive terms and one practical question. Read the Chinese with the pinyin, then cover the English and recall the meaning. Prepare the written destination on a note you can find quickly.
Check trip arrangements separately from vocabulary revision. A vocabulary table does not supply a timetable, tide forecast or opening notice. Use the venue, operator or official destination information close to your visit.
During: collect evidence
Record one place, one action and one detail at each stop. Keep notes brief enough to enjoy the visit. Read a label before naming an unfamiliar geological process or historical feature. Follow photography guidance and keep public routes clear.
Families can rotate roles: reading a name, finding a place on a map and selecting a precise expression. Ask, “Which part did you observe?” and “What helped you understand it?” These questions make vocabulary learning a conversation.
After: recall and transfer
Choose eight entries and write one sentence for each. Use four in a connected paragraph with a clear focus and a reflection. Check proper names, remove claims you cannot support and read the paragraph aloud to improve the sequence.
Review the entries the next day and later in the week. Use each difficult term in a fresh sentence. A process such as erosion can be studied elsewhere, while an auction lot can describe a different market. Transfer helps a word become useful beyond the place where you first learned it.
Frequently asked questions
Are these 100 single words?
The list contains 100 entries, including single words, multiword expressions and proper names. Learn a complete expression when its combination carries the intended meaning.
Does every technical entry describe a feature I will see?
No. The terms support observation and interpretation where relevant. Exhibitions, surviving structures and accessible areas vary; check the specific site.
Why does dingbiancuo have a different pinyin form in the table?
The English dish name and the Mandarin reading of its written characters use different conventions. The table reads 趖 as suō; the alternative character 銼 is read cuò.
Can I combine all destinations in one day?
The groups are learning topics, not one route. Select a city-centre, coastal or museum outing, then check distance and transport. Island trips require their own arrangements.
Does nutritious sandwich mean a healthy meal?
It is a conventional dish name. It does not establish nutritional suitability or the exact ingredients in a particular stall’s recipe.
What should a beginner learn first?
Choose two place names, five descriptive entries and one question relevant to an activity. Practise those confidently before adding another group.
How does this improve composition?
Use selected vocabulary to identify a feature, explain a relationship or describe an action. A coherent paragraph with a few precise terms can be stronger than a long list.
Official sources and visitor information
Use these sources for destination context and current arrangements. The questions, sentence exercises and imagined paragraph above are original teaching material.
Keelung Travel
Heping Island Geopark
Geopark geological interpretation
National Museum of Marine Science and Technology
Baimiweng Fort
Miaokou food introduction
Ministry of Education dictionary — 趖
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Continue your Taiwan vocabulary journey. Return to the Taiwan hub’s northern taiwan collection. Compare one scene with Taoyuan practice, then use five expressions to explain one similarity and one difference. For another destination, open the World City Directory’s Taiwan collection.