Learn real life Mandarin through authentic Taiwanese conversations. In this article, you’ll pick up 4 phrases native speakers actually use — pulled straight from a real podcast where a former TSMC engineer talks about leaving his TSMC job to start over.
In this Taiwanese podcast, two hosts talk about what it really takes to become a corporate trainer — the dream, the grind, and the moments they almost gave up. They use plenty of workplace vocabulary, but speak naturally and at a comfortable pace. A great listen for anyone learning Taiwan Mandarin.
A man named Peng Jianwen spent over a decade at TSMC — Taiwan’s most prestigious tech company. Good salary. Awards. Respect.
Then he quit to become a corporate trainer.
This is how he talked about it.
Going door to door
那時候我還記得我騎摩托車，想要賣掉課程，然後挨家挨戶去拜訪一些管顧或企業。 Nà shíhou wǒ hái jìde wǒ qí mótuōchē, xiǎng yào mài diào kèchéng, ránhòu āijiā āihù qù bàifǎng yīxiē guǎngù huò qǐyè.
He had just left one of the most prestigious companies in Taiwan. And there he was — riding a beat-up scooter in the summer heat, wearing a shirt and tie, going door to door trying to sell his courses to anyone who would listen.
挨家挨戶 — āijiā āihù Door to door. Every single one. The repetition in the phrase itself feels exhausting.
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His dad handed him an envelope
隔年的除夕，我爸爸就說：「建文，你現在離開台積電了，爸爸給你十萬塊。」當場快掉眼淚了。 Gé nián de Chúxī, wǒ bàba jiù shuō: “Jiànwén, nǐ xiànzài líkāi Táijīdiàn le, bàba gěi nǐ shí wàn kuài.” Dāngchǎng kuài diào yǎnlèi le.
It was Lunar New Year’s Eve. His dad — who used to receive money from him — handed him an envelope with 100,000 NT dollars.
He almost cried. Then he said no.
當場 — dāngchǎng Right then and there. That exact moment.
快掉眼淚了 — kuài diào yǎnlèi le Almost cried. 快 here means “on the verge of.” Not quite — but close.
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When the stock hit 1,000
當股價到了一千的時候，確實有點後悔了。 Dāng gǔjià dào le yīqiān de shíhou, quèshí yǒudiǎn hòuhuǐ le.
Stock price at 300? No regrets. 600? Still fine. But when TSMC crossed 1,000 NT per share — that’s when it hit him.
確實 — quèshí Honestly. Truthfully. He’s not hiding it.
有點後悔 — yǒudiǎn hòuhuǐ A little regret. Just a little — but he’s saying it out loud.
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The colleagues who stayed
所以現在很多台積退休的同事看到我，他反而會羨慕我。 Suǒyǐ xiànzài hěn duō Táijī tuìxiū de tóngshì kàn dào wǒ, tā fǎnér huì xiànmù wǒ.
The colleagues who stayed at TSMC — the ones with the stock options, the retirement packages, the hiking clubs — they see him now and say: “Wow, Jianwen, you’re doing great.”
反而 — fǎnér “Instead” or “on the contrary.” The surprise is built into the word itself.
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The only path that’s yours
人生一定要走一條只有你可以走的路。 Rénshēng yīdìng yào zǒu yītiáo zhǐyǒu nǐ kěyǐ zǒu de lù.
This is the line he gives to every instructor he mentors. Not “follow your passion.” Not “work hard.” Just this — find the path that only you can walk.
一定要 — yīdìng yào You must. Not “you should,” not “it would be nice.” A definite, non-negotiable must.
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Take this with you
| 中文 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 挨家挨戶 | āijiā āihù | door to door |
| 當場 | dāngchǎng | right then and there |
| 有點後悔 | yǒudiǎn hòuhuǐ | a little regret |
| 夢想很性感，現實很骨感 | mèngxiǎng hěn xìnggǎn, xiànshí hěn gǔgǎn | the dream looked great, reality was a different story |
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