# Taiwan Street Names Explained **URL:** \ **Category:** Learning Chinese\ **Tags:** street-names\ **Created:** [March 27, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954 "2025-03-27T22:15:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/1 "2025-03-27T22:15:08Z")
Six in the morning on a random Friday and I feel like starting a new topic… Life is good. I have a habit of looking around on my daily commute in Taipei and trying to figure out things. This can be uncommon Chinese characters I don’t know how to pronounce (see other topic), for example. I often pass Dunhua Road, and yesterday I realized that after all those years, I still don’t know what Dun-ification means. There are several others, like Siwei Road. What are the 4 Wei’s? Chongde, Chong-Virtue? So let’s unravel things here, shall we? Let’ not discuss the obvious ones, like place names (China or Taiwan), Zhongshan and Zhongzheng, the Min’s (Minsheng, Minquan…). Let’s focus on the more obscure one that most people would not know right off the bat. OK, now, let’s get Dunhua out of the way first. ## 條目 **敦化** 拼音 dūn huà 注音 ㄉㄨㄣ ㄏㄨㄚˋ Depending on the context, “敦” can be translated as: - Honest - Sincere - Kindhearted - Generous - Urge - encourage - cultivate - enrich - Thick - heavy 仁愛敦厚，化生萬物 - **仁愛 (rén ài):** - This translates to “benevolence,” “humanity,” or “compassionate love.” It emphasizes a deep sense of care and concern for others. - **敦厚 (dūn hòu):** - This means “honest,” “sincere,” “generous,” or “magnanimous.” It conveys a sense of solidity, reliability, and kindness. - **化生萬物 (huà shēng wàn wù):** So, to keep it simple I will think of 敦化路 now as “Honestification Road” 👍 Or was Dunhua chosen because it’s the name of a city in China? ![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/7/9/798f8b4e9ea1fda85598fa901f1c69c99f1925ca.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![tempogain](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/tempogain/32/264650_2.png) [@tempogain](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tempogain)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/2 "2025-03-27T22:25:29Z")
ChatGPT says “The term **敦化** (dūnhuà) can be traced back to Confucian texts, where it signifies the encouragement of ethical behavior and cultural enlightenment.” Sounds plausible ---
**Author:** ![the\_bear](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/the_bear/32/192391_2.png) [@the\_bear](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/the_bear)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/3 "2025-03-28T00:51:45Z")
I mean they’re all concepts from Sun Yat-sen’s writings no? 八德，忠孝，信義、三民，光復、復興, 羅斯福。 ---
**Author:** ![qbert](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/qbert/32/236297_2.png) [@qbert](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/qbert)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/4 "2025-03-28T01:19:19Z")
> [@hannes](#): > > 化生萬物 Or it could mean “Road of 10,000 Peanuts”. OK, that’s 花 not 化, but I like my way better. 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![foc](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@foc](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/foc)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/5 "2025-03-28T02:53:59Z")
> [@tempogain](#): > > ChatGPT says “The term **敦化** (dūnhuà) can be traced back to Confucian texts, where it signifies the encouragement of ethical behavior and cultural enlightenment.” Sounds plausible This is correct. It’s about the moral transformation of the masses and barbarians/indigenous. ---
**Author:** ![foc](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@foc](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/foc)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/6 "2025-03-28T02:55:45Z")
> [@the\_bear](#): > > I mean they’re all concepts from Sun Yat-sen’s writings no? 八德，忠孝，信義、三民，光復、復興, 羅斯福。 I strongly feel we need to add a 杜魯門. ---
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/7 "2025-04-08T05:13:16Z")
Next: Siwei Street | 四維街 What is the meaning of 維 (wéi) and what are the 4 維s? Original meaning of wei is like tying or fastening something, or the ropes that hold things together. Let’s see what Gemini has to say: > In the context of **四維 (sìwéi)**, the character **維 (wéi)** carries the meaning of **“bond,” “tie,” “link,” “connection,”** or **“that which holds things together.”** > Therefore, **四維 (sìwéi)**, often translated as the **“Four Cardinal Principles”** or the **“Four Social Bonds,”** refers to the four fundamental ethical and social pillars that were traditionally considered essential for a stable and harmonious society in Chinese culture. > These four principles are: > - **禮 (lǐ):** Propriety, rites, rituals, good manners, decorum. This emphasizes proper social conduct and respect for hierarchy and social norms. > - **義 (yì):** Righteousness, justice, morality, principle. This stresses doing what is morally right and upholding justice. > - **廉 (lián):** Integrity, honesty, incorruptibility, probity. This highlights the importance of being honest, ethical, and free from corruption. > - **恥 (chǐ):** Shame, sense of honor, integrity, self-respect. This emphasizes the importance of having a sense of shame for wrongdoing and upholding one’s honor. > So, in **四維** , each of these principles acts as a **維 (wéi)** – a fundamental bond or connection that holds society together and ensures its proper functioning. They are the essential ethical threads that weave a stable social fabric. I like the 4 wei’s. If only everyone would act accordingly when seeing that street name. :praying: ---
**Author:** ![Kalle](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kalle](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Kalle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/8 "2025-04-08T05:55:28Z")
> [@hannes](#): > > Siwei Street | 四維街 When I came to Taiwan and passing that street now and then, I always tried to remember that street as the street where the 4 Wei Brothers lived :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ---
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 5:58am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/9 "2025-04-08T05:58:26Z")
![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/c/8/c809beaee1909c35b1bd14b34b4d82f4d4ecd041.jpeg) One of them is Mark Wei-bo, right? ---
**Author:** ![Kalle](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kalle](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Kalle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:00am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/10 "2025-04-08T06:00:20Z")
A bit off topic, but when a friend moved to Germany some years ago, his colleagues asked him where he lived in the city…. He answered Einbahnstraße :rofl: ![IMG_4717](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/b/8/b80b5817983f260ba8e7da4a1fe44dce3a3bf571.jpeg) For those that don’t read German, it means One Way Street ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:16am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/11 "2025-04-08T06:16:03Z")
> [@foc](#): > > I strongly feel we need to add a 杜魯門. CKS hated Truman for sacking MacArthur who was going to take back China for him. In fact, an expressway was named after him – the MacArthur Thruway. It’s now the current day eastern section of Nanjing East Road in New Taipei. Truman Road is more apt to be in China. ---
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:17am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/12 "2025-04-08T06:17:14Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Truman Road Shouldn’t it be Tru-Way? 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:18am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/13 "2025-04-08T06:18:23Z")
That’s how the Chinese pronounce thruway. ---
**Author:** ![foc](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@foc](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/foc)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:27am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/14 "2025-04-08T06:27:08Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > CKS hated Truman for sacking MacArthur who was going to take back China for him. In fact, an expressway was named after him – the MacArthur Thruway. Yes, that’s part of the reason I want to add one. Also because Truman changed Taiwan’s fate by interposing the US Navy between the CCP and the KMT. That completely changed the course of Taiwan’s history, so I think it’s worth a street name. Plus it would drive the KMT deep blues absolutely beserk. ---
**Author:** ![hansioux](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hansioux/32/253648_2.png) [@hansioux](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hansioux)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/15 "2025-04-08T07:26:37Z")
I mean… if they gave 林森 a road, they could give Truman a road too. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/16 "2025-04-08T08:26:04Z")
In the Liuzhangli neighborhood, there is 安居 Street and 樂業 Street, and the two roads intersect. 安居樂業 literally means living in peace and working happily. The real estate at that intersection must be highly sought after. ---
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/17 "2025-04-08T08:28:01Z")
Somehow, to me that sounds like a conflict of interest. Old people seeking peace, young folks seeking pleasure. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:30am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/18 "2025-04-08T08:30:26Z")
So you should live on 樂業 when you’re young, and move down to 安居 when you retire 😎 ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:35am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/19 "2025-04-08T08:35:53Z")
> [@hansioux](#): > > I mean… if they gave 林森 a road, they could give Truman a road too. Yeah but look at how Linsen Beilu turned out. ---
**Author:** ![hannes](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/hannes/32/161150_2.png) [@hannes](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/hannes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954/20 "2025-04-08T08:40:00Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Yeah but look at how Linsen Beilu turned out. It’s Linsen-ity! [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-street-names-explained/249954.md?page=2)