Festivals & Events

1. 今仔日有廟會無？

   Kin-á-ji̍t ū biō-huē bô?

   Is there a temple festival today?

   Usage

   Asking if a temple festival is happening today

   Grammar Note

   ū...bô forms a yes/no question meaning "is there...?"

2. 媽祖遶境是台灣上大的宗教活動。

   Má-tsóo se̍h-kíng sī Tâi-uân siōng tuā ê tsong-kàu ua̍h-tōng.

   The Mazu procession is Taiwan's largest religious event.

   Usage

   Describing the significance of the Mazu pilgrimage

   Grammar Note

   siōng tuā (上大) means "the largest" as a superlative in Taiwanese

3. 中元普渡是佗一工？

   Tiong-guân phóo-tōo sī tó tsi̍t kang?

   What day is the Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan)?

   Usage

   Asking about the date of the Ghost Festival

   Grammar Note

   tó tsi̍t kang (佗一工) asks "which day/when" in Taiwanese Min Nan

4. 元宵節燈火燦爛。

   Guân-siau-tseh ting-hué tshàn-lān.

   Lanterns shine brilliantly during the Lantern Festival.

   Usage

   Describing the brilliant lights at the Lantern Festival

   Grammar Note

   tshàn-lān (燦爛) is an adjective meaning "brilliant/resplendent" and can follow the noun directly as the predicate

5. 過年時欲按怎過？

   Kuè-nî sî beh án-tsuánn kuè?

   How do you spend the Lunar New Year?

   Usage

   Asking how someone celebrates Lunar New Year

   Grammar Note

   kuè (過) means "to spend (time)/to pass" as a verb

6. 清明節愛去掃墓。

   Tshing-bîng-tseh ài khì sàu-bōng.

   During Qingming Festival, we visit and clean the graves.

   Usage

   Explaining the tradition of grave sweeping during Qingming

   Grammar Note

   ài (愛) is a modal verb meaning "must/should/need to"

7. 這个慶典的煙火真媠。

   Tsit-ê khìng-tián ê ian-hué tsin suí.

   The fireworks at this festival are very beautiful.

   Usage

   Complimenting the fireworks at a festival

   Grammar Note

   suí (媠) means "beautiful/pretty" as an adjective in Taiwanese Min Nan

8. 鹽水蜂炮有危險無？

   Iâm-tsuí-phang-phàu ū guî-hiám bô?

   Is the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival dangerous?

   Usage

   Asking about safety at the famous Yanshui Fireworks Festival

   Grammar Note

   ū...bô is the yes/no question pattern "is there...?" in Taiwanese

9. 端午節愛食粽。

   Tuann-ngóo-tseh ài tsia̍h tsàng.

   During the Dragon Boat Festival, we eat rice dumplings.

   Usage

   Describing the tradition of eating zongzi during Dragon Boat Festival

   Grammar Note

   ài (愛) here expresses customary obligation meaning "we eat/must eat"

10. 恭喜發財，紅包提來！

    Kiong-hí huat-tsâi, âng-pau the̍h--lâi!

    Congratulations and prosperity! Give me a red envelope!

    Usage

    Said by children to adults asking for red envelopes at Lunar New Year

    Grammar Note

    the̍h--lâi (提來) is a colloquial imperative meaning "bring it here/give it!"

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