<p>This is <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bopomofo</a>. Taiwanese people use it instead of pinyin for transcription. They also use a bopomofo keyboard for typing on their phones.</p>
<p>I'm travelling in Taiwan right now and I've seen it in children's books:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HDYVz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HDYVz.jpg" alt="Children's book with bopomofo" /></a></p>
<p>and in very few other places, such as the zoo:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/a0C0N.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a0C0N.jpg" alt="Zoo sign with bopomofo" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mzriC.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mzriC.jpg" alt="Another zoo sign with bopomofo" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-22T06:35:15.963Z
2024-02-22T06:35:15.963Z
escargot agile
<p>Texts written for schoolchildren will be annotated with phonetic symbols. The last sentence indicates that this poster is made for schoolchildren:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>如果發現了，趁著沒孵化之前通知老師來移除。</p>
<p><em>If any [eggs] are found, take the opportunity to let the teacher know, so that they can remove [the eggs] before they hatch.</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-27T15:13:50.737Z
Ah, yes that explains it. Thanks!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-31T00:56:43.147Z
I've cited a website written in Chinese in [this answer](https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/94951/27918) to a different species identification question in Biology SE. If you have a moment to take a look, please feel free to edit if I've misquoted the site. Thanks!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-27T15:05:40.337Z
2020-04-28T01:41:57.290Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dROOOze
<p>In my Biology SE question <a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/q/93014/27918">Identify this large, beige or pine cone-colored squareish beetle and/or the pine cone it's on?</a> I included a snapshot of a poster I saw when hiking. I was told that it advises that the beetle shown in the photo is a pest. I can at least recognize that it begins with what looks like "小心!" There's no date on the poster but I assume that it's modern and not a historical reproduction.</p>

<p>I saw this poster while hiking in Taiwan. </p>

<p>I noticed that there are (almost always) a pair of phonetic characters (注音?) next to each Chinese characters. In Taiwan I see books of sutras and other prayers written this way, but I've never seen a public announcement that looked like this.</p>

<p>Is there any particular reason why this particular public notice would require the phonetic characters? Are they there as a courtesy? Is this considered artistic or stylized in any way? Does this make it more accessible (easier to read) or look more "official"?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h1x5h.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h1x5h.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<writing><zhuyin-fuhao>
Why would this insect pest poster in Taiwan have phonetic characters (Zhuyin) on every Chinese character?
# Why would this insect pest poster in Taiwan have phonetic characters (Zhuyin) on every Chinese character?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-27)

In my Biology SE question [Identify this large, beige or pine cone-colored squareish beetle and/or the pine cone it's on?](https://biology.stackexchange.com/q/93014/27918) I included a snapshot of a poster I saw when hiking. I was told that it advises that the beetle shown in the photo is a pest. I can at least recognize that it begins with what looks like "小心!" There's no date on the poster but I assume that it's modern and not a historical reproduction.

I saw this poster while hiking in Taiwan.

I noticed that there are (almost always) a pair of phonetic characters (注音?) next to each Chinese characters. In Taiwan I see books of sutras and other prayers written this way, but I've never seen a public announcement that looked like this.

Is there any particular reason why this particular public notice would require the phonetic characters? Are they there as a courtesy? Is this considered artistic or stylized in any way? Does this make it more accessible (easier to read) or look more "official"?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/h1x5h.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h1x5h.jpg)

**Tags:** writing, zhuyin-fuhao


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-04-27. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

Texts written for schoolchildren will be annotated with phonetic symbols. The last sentence indicates that this poster is made for schoolchildren:

> 如果發現了，趁著沒孵化之前通知老師來移除。
>
> *If any [eggs] are found, take the opportunity to let the teacher know, so that they can remove [the eggs] before they hatch.*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah, yes that explains it. Thanks!  
> **username_0**: I've cited a website written in Chinese in [this answer](https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/94951/27918) to a different species identification question in Biology SE. If you have a moment to take a look, please feel free to edit if I've misquoted the site. Thanks!  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-02-22. Score: 2

This is [bopomofo](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo). Taiwanese people use it instead of pinyin for transcription. They also use a bopomofo keyboard for typing on their phones.

I'm travelling in Taiwan right now and I've seen it in children's books:

[![Children's book with bopomofo](https://i.sstatic.net/HDYVz.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/HDYVz.jpg)

and in very few other places, such as the zoo:

[![Zoo sign with bopomofo](https://i.sstatic.net/a0C0N.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/a0C0N.jpg)

[![Another zoo sign with bopomofo](https://i.sstatic.net/mzriC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/mzriC.jpg)


---

