culture

Shopping at 11 PM? Welcome to Taiwan's Late-Night Culture

This lesson explores why Taiwan’s streets remain vibrant late into the night compared to the early closing times of many Western countries. It provides learners with the vocabulary to explain Taiwan’s unique 24-hour lifestyle, from midnight drugstore runs to late-night night market cravings, to their foreign teachers.

Lesson preview

Midnight Energy Check

5 MIN
  1. What is your favorite snack to eat after 10 PM in Taiwan?
  2. Have you ever visited a country where shops close very early?
  3. How do you feel about walking on the street in Taiwan at midnight?

The 24 Hour Lifestyle

8 MIN

In many Western countries, streets become very quiet after 9 PM. Most shops and supermarkets close their doors early. For visitors in Taiwan, the difference is very big. Here, shops often stay open very late at night.

Taiwanese people love convenience. You can go to a drugstore to buy skincare or get a bowl of soup at midnight. You can even visit a bookstore that never closes. This happens because Taiwan is very safe and many people live close together.

This lifestyle gives us a lot of freedom. It shows that Taiwan is a very safe and active place. When you talk to foreign friends, you can explain that Taiwan is a city that never sleeps.

Essential Night Owl Vocabulary

8 MIN
desolateadjective/ˈdesələt/荒涼的 · 無人的
The park was desolate late at night.
a desolate street · look desolate
starkadjective/stɑːrk/鮮明的 · 強烈的
There is a stark difference between day and night in some cities.
stark difference · stark contrast
shutterverb/ˈʃʌtər/關閉 · 歇業
Many shops shutter their doors at midnight.
shutter a shop · shutter the windows

Local Cultural Concepts

5 MIN
  • 宵夜Midnight snackA meal eaten late at night.
  • 藥妝店DrugstoreA shop for beauty products and medicine.
  • 便利商店Convenience storeA shop open 24 hours a day.

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