Taishang
/ˈtaɪ.ʃɑːŋ/noun
A Taiwanese businessperson, especially one operating or investing in mainland China.
Did you know?In Chinese characters, Taishang is 台商, but the identical romanized syllable “Taishang” can also represent 太上, a Daoist phrase meaning “the Supreme Highest,” showing how tones and characters carry hidden meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
商
“A merchant or commercial trader; the character also named the ancient Shang dynasty, though those senses are historically distinct.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
商 /ʃɨɐŋ/
“Merchant, commerce, or trade.”
20th Century
Mandarin Chinese
台商 (Táishāng)
“A businessperson or commercial enterprise from Taiwan; literally, “Taiwan merchant.””
Late 20th Century
English
Taishang
“An English-language term used in scholarship, journalism, and business writing for Taiwanese investors and entrepreneurs, particularly in mainland China.”