台风

• Pinyin: tái fēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 台 = 口 (mouth) + 至 variant, platform/stage; 风 = 几 + 乂, simplified from 風 (wind)

Meaning

Typhoon. A powerful tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific Ocean.

The standard term for typhoons in East Asia. Also used metaphorically to describe someone with a powerful, commanding presence or style (especially in entertainment: 台风很好 means someone has great stage presence).

Examples

1. 气象台预报说这次台风将在明天凌晨登陆广东沿海。 The weather bureau forecasts that this typhoon will make landfall on the Guangdong coast early tomorrow morning.
2. 台风过后，很多树木被连根拔起，街道一片狼藉。 After the typhoon passed, many trees were uprooted and the streets were a mess.
3. 虽然台风天气恶劣，但救援人员依然坚持搜救工作。 Despite the harsh typhoon conditions, rescue workers continued their search and rescue efforts.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, news, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 台风要来了，大家注意安全。(A typhoon is coming — everyone stay safe.)
• 她在舞台上的台风特别稳。(Her stage presence is really solid.)

Don't Say

• 北京有台风 — typhoons hit coastal areas; Beijing is inland and doesn't get typhoons

Origin & History

Transliteration from English 'typhoon' which itself derives from Cantonese 大風 (daai6 fung1, big wind) or Greek typhon (whirlwind). Written as 台 (Taiwan/platform) + 风 (wind).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal