Tâi-gí Made Easy

Are you a fan of music? If you are a long-time listener of Fil Leskovsky’s show “Taiwan Grooves” on Rti, perhaps you already know a lot about the musical world! This week, we’ll learn a few words for musical instruments in Tâi-gí. Whether you are joining a band or simply appreciating the music festivals across Taiwan, these are very useful terms to be used all the time. ●Words to know: 1. 音樂 im-...

The Taipei LGBTQ+ Pride parade is coming back this weekend. The parade this year will start and end at Taipei City Hall Plaza on Saturday, October 31. This week, we’ll learn a few words about LGBTQ+ in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 同性戀 tông-sìng-luân (n.) homosexual 2. 雙性戀 siang-sìng-luân (n.) bisexual 3. 迒性別 hānn-sìng-pia̍t (n.) transgender 4. 多元性別 to-guân sìng-pia̍t (adj.) sexual and g...

Typhoon Champi is hitting Taiwan from this Friday to Saturday. A Typhoon in October is atypical and quite surprising! Therefore, this week, we’ll learn a few words about typhoons in Tâi-gí again. ●Words to know: 1. 風颱 hong-thai (n.) typhoon 2. 虹 khīng (n.) rainbow 3. 痟狗湧 siáu-káu-íng (n.) rogue waves 4. 透風 thàu-hong (adj.) windy 5. 落大雨 lo̍h-tuā-hōo (phr.) it rains heavily 6. 風颱尾 hong...

Food plays an important role in Taiwanese daily life. Therefore, it is useful to know the names of the utensils we use at the table. This week, we’ll learn a few words for cutlery in Tâi-gí. Whether you’re eating with chopsticks or a fork, these are simple words that you can use every day. ●Words to know: 1. 碗箸 uánn-tī (n.) cutlery 2. 盤仔 puânn-á (n.) plates 3. 碗 uánn (n.) bowls 4. 箸 tī (n.)...

On October 10, also known as Double Ten Day, people in Taiwan celebrate our National Day! This year, aside from the ceremony in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei, there will be a fireworks display at Taipei 101. Let’s explore some Tâi-gí words related to the National Day again, just as last year! ●Words to Know: 1. 台灣 Tâi-uân (n.) Taiwan 2. 國家 kok-ka (n.) country 3. 慶祝 khìng-tsiok (...

This week, we’re listening to “Smart Phone I” (手機仔（一）) by Taiwanese singer Crowd Lu (盧廣仲). Released in 2016, it’s a Tâi-gí track complaining about phone addiction. Join us to learn a few lines from the song! Remember, as my colleagues Amanda and Hanna usually say on their show: stop scrolling and touch grass.

Do you still remember your teachers? Teachers' Day in Taiwan is just around the corner! This day is celebrated annually on 28 September, which marks the birth anniversary of the ancient Chinese philosopher and master educator, Confucius. This week, we’ll learn a few words about teachers in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 老師 lāu-su (n.) teacher 2. 學生 ha̍k-sing (n.) student 3. 教冊 kà-tsheh (v.) to t...

Do you like cooking? When I was a child, I used to stay in the kitchen with my grandmother watching her making all the traditional Taiwanese dishes. This week, we’ll learn a few words about kitchenware in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 灶跤 tsàu-kha (n.) kitchen 2. 鼎 tiánn (n.) pot 3. 刀 to (n.) knife 4. 刀砧 to-tiam (n.) chopping board 5. 鱟𣁳仔 hāu-khat-á (n.) ladle 6. 煎匙 tsian-sî (n.) spatula ●I...

Have you ever taken a close look at your fingers? Are they beautiful or ugly? In fact, an ugly finger is the ring finger in Tâi-g. This week, we’ll learn how to name our fingers in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 大頭拇 tuā-thâu-bú (n.) thumb 2. 二指 jī-tsáinn (n.) index finger 3. 中指 tiong-tsáinn (n.) middle finger 4. 䆀指 bái-tsáinn (n.) ring finger 5. 尾指 bué-tsáinn (n.) pinky finger 6. 手指頭仔 t...

Life can be complicated, can’t it? We worry about what other people think, complain that we don’t have enough, and sometimes even turn the things we want into new stress. Today, we’re listening to an iconic Tâi-gí song Just Be Happy (歡喜就好), by Taiwanese singer Chen Lei (陳雷). Released in 1994, this popular track reminds us that life is short, and there’s no point worrying too much about thing...

As an island known for its delicious food, Taiwan believes that a great meal starts with the first meal of the day. This week, we’ll learn some Tâi-gí words related to breakfast in Taiwan. ●Words to know: 1. 早頓 tsá-tǹg (n.) breakfast 2. 卵餅 nn̄g-piánn (n.) egg pancake 3. 油炸粿 iû-tsia̍h-kué (n.) fried bread dough 4. 菜頭粿 tshài-thâu-kué (n.) turnip cake 5. 豆奶 tāu-ling (n.) soy milk 6. 米奶...

Summer is coming to an end! However, the temperature is still pretty high in Taiwan recently. Shaved ice is one of the most traditional Taiwanese snacks during hot days. This week, we will learn some words related to shaved ice and its toppings in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 礤冰 tshuah-ping (n.) shaved ice 2. 米篩目 bí-thai-ba̍k (n.) thick rice noodles 3. 粉圓 hún-înn (n.) tapioca balls 4. 綠豆仔...

How will you express your care for your homeland through music? Today, we're listening to Goodnight! Formosa! (晚安台灣) by the beloved punk rock band Fire Ex. Let's learn a few lines from the song so that you can sing along to this warm and heartfelt track.

What does your car look like? Is it a truck, or a taxi? This week, we’ll talk about how we name different cars in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 烏頭仔車 oo-thâu-á-tshia (n.) luxurious sedan 2. 計程車 kè-thîng-tshia (n.) taxi 3. 警車 kíng-tshia (n.) police car 4. 救護車 kiù-hōo-tshia (n.) ambulance 5. 水龍車 tsuí-lîng-tshia (n.) fire truck 6. 發財仔車 huat-tsâi-á-tshia (n.) light truck ●Idiom of the w...

Have you ever rented a house? With Jocelyn joining us this week, we’ll talk about the essential words for apartment hunting in Tâi-gí. ●Words to know: 1. 稅厝 suè-tshù (v.) rent a house 2. 厝稅 tshù-suè (n.) rent 3. 厝頭家 tshù-thâu-ke (n.) landlord 4. 房間 pâng-king (n.) bedroom 5. 厝邊 tshù-pinn (n.) neighbor ●Idiom of the week: 千金買厝，萬金買厝邊。 Tshian-kim bé tshù, bān kim bé tshù-pinn. (Y...

Did you know that temple visits are a significant aspect of everyday life in Taiwan? This week, Wanson is joined by Rosie to discuss the temple culture and how people pay respect to the deities in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know: 1. 廟 biō (n.) temple 2. 拜拜 pài-pài (v./n.) to pay respects to the deities 3. 香 hiunn (n.) incense 4. 擲筊 pua̍h-pue (v.) to cast the divination blocks which are in crescent-sh...

Did you know that each year in Taiwan is traditionally assigned with an animal to represent? Since we’ve learned the first six animals of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in Tâi-gí, let’s finish the rest of them on the show today. ●Words to Know: 1. 馬 bé (n.) horse 2. 羊 iûnn (n.) sheep 3. 猴 kâu (n.) monkey 4. 雞 ke (n.) chicken 5. 狗 káu (n.) dog 6. 豬 ti (n.) pig ●Idiom of the week: 歪喙雞食好米...

Did you know that each year in Taiwan is traditionally associated with an animal to represent it? This week, we’ll learn about the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know:1. 鳥鼠 niáu-tshí (n.) mouse or rat 2. 牛 gû (n.) cow or bull 3. 虎 hóo (n.) tiger 4. 兔仔 thòo-á (n.) rabbit 5. 龍 lîng (n.) dragon 6. 蛇 tsuâ (...

Summer is one of the best times to get fruits in Taiwan! In fact, between June and September, local fruits are usually juicier and sweeter. This week, we’ll learn about Taiwan's most popular local summer fruits in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know: 1. 西瓜 si-kue (n.) watermelon 2. 王梨 ông-lâi (n.) pineapple 3. 檨仔 suāinn-á (n.) mango 4. 時計果 sî-kè-k&oac...

Today, we're listening to one of the most iconic songs in Taiwanese popular music: Marching Forward (向前走) by Lim Giong (林強). Released in 1990, the song became an anthem for a new generation of Taiwanese people. At a time when many young people were leaving their hometowns to study, work, and chase their dreams in the city, its lyrics captured both their hopes and uncertainties. Let's learn a...

Body parts are one of the most frequently used words when talking to people in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the lower part of your body in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know: 1. 尻川    kha-tshng (n.) bottom 2. 腿 thuí (n.) leg 3. 跤頭趺 kha-thâu-u (n.) knee 4. 跤 kha (n.) feet 5. 跤目    kha-ba̍k (n.) ankle 6. 跤指頭仔...

Body parts are one of the most frequently used words when talking to people in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the middle part of your body in Tâi-gí, including everything above your waist. ●Words to Know: 1. 腹肚 pak-tóo (n.) stomach 2. 肚臍 tōo-tsâi (n.) belly button 3. 尻脊骿 kha-tsiah-phiann (n.) back 4. 龍骨 liông-kut (n...

Body parts are one of the most frequently used words when talking to people in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the middle part of your body in Tâi-gí, including everything above your chest. ●Words to Know: 1. 頷頸 ām-kún (n.) neck 2. 肩胛 king-kah (n.) shoulder 3. 胸坎 hing-khám (n.) chest 4. 手 tshiú (n.) hand 5. 指頭仔 ts...

Body parts are one of the most frequently used words when talking to people in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the upper part of your body in Tâi-gí, including everything above your neck. ●Words to Know: 1. 頭 thâu (n.) head 2. 面 bīn (n.) face 3. 目睭 ba̍k-tsiu (n.) eyes 4. 鼻仔 phīnn-á (n.) nose 5. 喙 tshuì (n.) mouth 6....

May 20 marked two years since Lai Ching-te took office. This week, we’ll learn some words to describe the system of the Taiwanese government in Tâi-gí, so that you can easily discuss current affairs with your friends or elders in Taiwan. ●Words to Know: 1. 總統 tsóng-thóng (n.) President 2. 行政院 Hîng-tsìng-īnn (n.) Executive Yuan 3. 立法院 Li̍p-huat-...