Tâi-gí Made Easy

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-...

Do you have any loved one, whether it is your partner or a family member, whom you would like to spend your life with? Today, we are going to listen to a Tâi-gí song that explores this kind of deep bond: "等待雨散" (Waiting for the Rain to Stop) by Won Fu (旺福).   This warm and gentle song uses rain as a metaphor for life’s difficult moments, reminding us that love means s...

Mother’s Day is only two days away! Though not a public holiday, Taiwan celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May each year. How heartwarming it would be to express our gratitude to mothers in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some related vocabulary and an idiom in Tâi-gí. ●Words to Know: 1. 阿母 a-bú (n.) mother 2. 後生 hāu-senn (n.) son...

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Taiwan’s stock market has overtaken Canada’s to become the world’s sixth-largest. Among companies in Taiwan, TSMC accounts for nearly 45% of the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s total market capitalisation. As people in Taiwan are making a fortune with stocks, this week, we’ll learn some related terms and an idiom in Tâi-g&iacut...

As an island, Taiwan is full of endemic species that are unique and nowhere to be found in other places. This week, we’ll learn how to name some of the most frequently seen endemic animals in Taiwan in Tâi-gí.    ●Words to Know: 1. 長尾山娘 tn̂g-bué-suann-niû (n.) Taiwan Blue Magpie 2. 臺灣烏熊 Tâi-uân-oo-hîm (n.) Formosan Black Bear 3....

In Taiwan, tea is part of our everyday life. From morning oolong to late-night bubble tea, tea follows us through every part of the day. Tea is also how we treat our guests—we always make tea to show our welcome. This week, we’ll learn some Tâi-gí words and an idiom related to tea. So pour yourself a warm cup, take a deep breath, and let the fragrance guide us into today&r...

It's been raining dramatically in Taiwan! Every late spring here, the weather turns warm, humid, and rainy. Here comes the plum rain season! When cold and warm air masses meet and linger, we get weeks of steady drizzle. It’s called “plum rain” because it arrives right when plums ripen and fall. Today, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words and an idiom for this rainy ti...

5 April marks the Tomb Sweeping Day, or the Qingming Festival, in Taiwan this year! On this national holiday, families visit ancestral graves to clean tombs, offer food and incense, as well as burn joss paper to honour ancestors. This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to Tomb Sweeping Day.   ●Words to Know: 1. 清明 tshing-bîng (n.) Tomb Sweeping Day 2. 墓仔...

From 18 March till 10 April, 2014, hundreds of youngsters, mostly university students, ramped into Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. They occupy the space for one reason: to protest against the trade agreement between Taiwan and China signed in a black box. The occupation became known as the Sunflower Movement, which changed Taiwan’s political scene tremendously. The movement gave birth to a...

What is your favourite sport? Do you like watching sports? With professional leagues like baseball and basketball, Taiwan is an island that is so passionate about sports! In fact, Taiwan even participated in the World Baseball Classic, which just came to an end earlier this week, defeating Czech Republic and Korea. This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to sports. &nbs...

Are you a cinephile? As a film critic, watching films is one the things that Wanson loves to do in his free time. This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to going to the movies.   ●Words to Know: 1. 電影 tiān-iánn (n.) film 2. 戲院 hì-īnn (n.) movie theatre  3. 拍電影 phah-tiān-iánn (phr.) shoot a film 4. 主角 tsú-kak (n.) main char...

Do you know that public transportation is so important to the cities of Taiwan? We rely on buses, metro, trains, and sometimes even high speed rail to commute to work! This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to public transportation in Taiwan.   ●Words to Know: 1. 公車 kong-tshia (n.) bus 2. 捷運 tsia̍t-ūn (n.) metro  3. 火車 hué-tshia (n.) train 4. 高...

2026 marks the 79th anniversary of the February 28th incident.    In 1947, Taiwanese people stood up against the Kuomintang’s nationalist government after a murder committed by the government’s tobacco investigator. This incident led to a wide clash between the Taiwanese locals and the newcomers from China. Soldiers fired upon the protesters and civilians across the island af...

Welcome to the New Year of the Horse! If you are in Taiwan, you might still be enjoying the holidays. However, do you have any plans for the future, or any new year resolutions? Recently, I found a Tâi-gí song that is so catchy, 寫予未來的情歌 (Love song to the future), by 張語噥 Sammy. It is a letter dedicated to those still grinding through the day, and those who struggle with doubt...

Lunar New Year is just around the corner. Are you ready to meet a bunch of family and friends who reunite with you at this time of year? This week, let’s learn some useful Tâi-gí phrases for greeting people during the Lunar New Year!   ●Phrases to Know: 1. 新年快樂 sin-nî khuài-lo̍k (Happy New Year) 2. 恭喜發財 kiong-hí huat-tsâi (Wishing you prosp...

It's been so cold in Taiwan recently! Do you have a runny nose or sore throat? I hope you are well. This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to catching a cold.   ●Words to Know: 1. 感冒 kám-mōo (phr.) catch a cold 2. 頭疼 thâu-thiànn (n.) headache  3. 咳嗽 ka-sàu (v.) cough  4. 發燒 huat-sio (phr.) have a fever 5. 看醫生 khu&agr...

Wanson is in Japan right now, on vacation with his family. This week, let’s learn some related words and wait for his return next week!   ●Words to Know: 1. 歇寒 hioh-kuânn (n.) winter vacation 2. 坐飛行機 tsē-hue-lîng-ki (phr.) take a plane  3. 日本 ji̍t-pún (n.) Japan 4. 出國 tshut-kok (v.) go abroad 5. 旅行 lú-hîng (n.) travelling   ●Idiom&nb...

Last year, in January, I started my journey as an exchange student in Paris. It was the first time I left my family for such a long time. They were worried about me, and I was anxious about leaving them, too. The same thing happened to the Tâi-gí singer, Justin Su. When his daughter went to France to study there, he wrote a song to her. He expressed his best wishes and his deep l...