Earthquakes are a fact of life in both Taiwan and China. Here are the sentences you’d actually use to check on someone (or reassure them), followed by the vocabulary that comes up in the news, in disaster-relief coverage, and in getting prepared beforehand — every word with its own example sentence. Tap the speaker icon to hear anything read aloud.
01
Expressing Your Concern
我聽到了地震的消息，你們還好嗎？我听到了地震的消息，你们还好吗？
I heard the news of the earthquake, are you guys okay?
需要我提供什麼幫助嗎？需要我提供什么帮助吗？
Can I help you with anything?
希望你的家人和朋友都平安無事希望你的家人和朋友都平安无事
I hope your family and friends are safe and sound.
I am praying for you here and hope you will soon recover from this earthquake.
02
Responding
謝謝你的關心，我和我的家人都還好谢谢你的关心，我和我的家人都还好
Thank you for asking. My family and I are fine.
我相信我們會度過這個難關，一切都會好起來的我相信我们会度过这个难关，一切都会好起来的
I’m sure we’ll get through this and everything will be fine.
真的嚇死我了真的吓死我了
It really scared me.
我想要搬家了我想要搬家了
I want to move now.
剛剛搖得超級大刚刚摇得超级大
The earthquake was shaking really hard just now.
我沒事，你呢我没事，你呢
I am ok. How about you?
03
地震地震
Earthquake
昨晚台灣發生了一場強烈地震昨晚台湾发生了一场强烈地震
A strong earthquake struck Taiwan last night.
04
規模规模
Magnitude
今早發生了一場規模6.3的地震今早发生了一场规模6.3的地震
An earthquake of 6.3 magnitude occurred this morning.
05
餘震余震
Aftershock
主震過後，這幾天陸續出現多次餘震主震过后，这几天陆续出现多次余震
After the main quake, several aftershocks have occurred over the past few days.
06
震央震央
Epicenter
這次地震的震央靠近花蓮外海这次地震的震央靠近花莲外海
The epicenter of this earthquake was near the waters off Hualien.
07
震度震度
Intensity
本次地震的震央位於台灣東部，震度達6級本次地震的震央位于台湾东部，震度达6级
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the eastern part of Taiwan, with a magnitude of 6.
08
傷亡伤亡
Casualty
本次的地震已造成嚴重的傷亡本次的地震已造成严重的伤亡
The earthquake has caused serious injuries and deaths.
09
死亡死亡
Fatality
這場地震已造成至少十人死亡这场地震已造成至少十人死亡
This earthquake has caused at least ten deaths.
10
海嘯海啸
Tsunami
沿海地區請小心提防海嘯來臨沿海地区请小心提防海啸来临
Beware of tsunamis in coastal areas.
11
倒塌倒塌
Collapse
強震導致多棟老舊房屋倒塌强震导致多栋老旧房屋倒塌
The strong earthquake caused many old buildings to collapse.
12
受傷受伤
Injuries
這起意外已造成數十人受傷这起意外已造成数十人受伤
This accident has caused dozens of injuries.
13
停水停水
Water outage
部分地區因管線受損而停水部分地区因管线受损而停水
Some areas have lost water due to damaged pipelines.
14
停電停电
Power outage
地震導致整個城鎮停電地震导致整个城镇停电
The earthquake caused the entire town to lose power.
15
災區灾区
Disaster area
因受地震影響，災區已經停水停電三天了因受地震影响，灾区已经停水停电三天了
Due to the earthquake, water and electricity have been cut off for three days in the disaster area.
16
斷層断层
Fault
這條斷層過去曾引發多次強震这条断层过去曾引发多次强震
This fault has triggered several strong earthquakes in the past.
17
土石流土石流
Debris flow
豪雨過後，山區容易發生土石流豪雨过后，山区容易发生土石流
After heavy rain, debris flows can easily occur in mountainous areas.
18
山崩山崩
Landslide
山區可能會有土石流及山崩，還請避免前往山区可能会有土石流及山崩，还请避免前往
Please avoid the mountainous areas because of the possibility of mudslides and landslides.
19
失蹤失踪
Missing
目前仍有數名民眾失蹤目前仍有数名民众失踪
Several people are still missing at this time.
20
列車停駛列车停驶
Train stoppage
為了安全起見，東部幹線列車暫時停駛为了安全起见，东部干线列车暂时停驶
For safety reasons, trains on the eastern main line have been temporarily suspended.
21
避難避难
Evacuation
政府已在學校設立臨時避難所政府已在学校设立临时避难所
The government has set up temporary evacuation shelters in schools.
22
深度深度
Depth
這次地震的震源深度約十公里这次地震的震源深度约十公里
The focal depth of this earthquake was about ten kilometers.
23
捐款捐款
Donation
歡迎大家踴躍捐款欢迎大家踊跃捐款
All donations are welcome!
24
救災救灾
Disaster relief
軍方已投入大批人力協助救災军方已投入大批人力协助救灾
The military has deployed a large workforce to assist with disaster relief.
25
地震預警地震预警
Earthquake early warning
地震預警系統能提早幾秒發出警報地震预警系统能提早几秒发出警报
Earthquake early-warning systems can issue alerts several seconds in advance.
26
緊急聯絡人紧急联络人
Emergency contact
請務必登記一位緊急聯絡人请务必登记一位紧急联络人
Please be sure to register an emergency contact.
27
逃生路線逃生路线
Escape route
請熟記大樓的逃生路線请熟记大楼的逃生路线
Please memorize the building’s escape route.
28
防災包应急包
Emergency go-bag
家裡最好準備一個防災包家里最好准备一个应急包
It is best to prepare an emergency go-bag at home.
29
國家級警報国家级警报
National alert
手機突然收到國家級警報的通知手机突然收到国家级警报的通知
My phone suddenly received a national alert notification.
BACKGROUND
Why Taiwan & China Get Earthquakes
Both Taiwan and China are located in seismically active regions and experience earthquakes frequently. Taiwan sits on the boundary of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, making it prone to earthquakes caused by the Philippine Sea Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. China also straddles the boundary of several tectonic plates, and experiences earthquakes caused by the collision and movement of these plates.
In recent years, both Taiwan and China have experienced several major earthquakes. In Taiwan, the most destructive in recent history was the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, which caused widespread damage and loss of life. In China, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was devastating, claiming over 80,000 lives and causing extensive damage.
Both Taiwan and China have implemented measures to improve earthquake preparedness and response, including building earthquake-resistant structures, conducting earthquake drills, and improving earthquake monitoring and early-warning systems.
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