Tâi-gí Made Easy

Morning markets are the best places to experience Taiwan’s vibrant food culture. From meat and vegetables to seafood, these ingredients represent the flavours of Taiwan. And, people there usually speak Tâi-gí. We’ll continue learning some useful words to help you go shopping in a Taiwanese market. This week, let’s focus on fruits. ●Words to Know: 1. 果子 kué-t...

This year, I spent New Year’s Eve watching live broadcasts of celebration concerts all over Taiwan on TV with my family. There was one song that caught my attention — 台灣查某囝 (The Daughter of Taiwan) by 李竺芯 Siri Lee. The previous host of Tâi-gí Made Easy, Ching-en, has introduced this talented young singer, who performs in Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll...

Morning markets are the best places to experience Taiwan’s vibrant food culture - and people there usually speak Tâi-gí. We’ll continue learning some useful words to help you navigate the Taiwanese market. This week, we're joined by Allen to explore how to describe seafood.   ●Words to Know: 1. 海產 hái-sán (n.) seafood 2. 魚 hî (n.) fish 3. 蝦 h&e...

Are you ready for 2026? In Taiwan, people love doing the New Year countdown on December 31. The most famous countdown event takes place at Taipei 101, featuring a fireworks display and a concert. This week, we’ll learn some vocabulary about the New Year, so you can count down with your friends in Taiwan! ●Words to Know: 1. 跨年 khuà-nî (phr.) to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2....

In Taiwanese culture, Dongzhi, or the Winter Solstice, is not just the shortest day of the year. In the past, people believed that after Dongzhi, everyone officially became one year older. One of the most important Dongzhi customs in Taiwan is eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Their round shape symbolises wholeness, reunion, and harmony within the family.  This week, we'll learn some vo...

Morning markets are the best places to experience Taiwan’s vibrant food culture. From meat and vegetables to seafood, these ingredients represent the flavours of Taiwan. And, people there usually speak Tâi-gí. We’ll continue learning some useful words to help you go shopping in a Taiwanese market. This week, let’s focus on meat. ●Words to Know: 1. 豬肉 ti-bah (n.) po...

Morning markets are the best places to experience Taiwan’s vibrant food culture, where all the ingredients represent part of Taiwan's flavours. This week, we’ll continue to learn some useful words, specifically vegetables, to help you go shopping in a Taiwanese market. ●Words to Know: 1. 蔥仔 tshang-á (n.) scallion 2. 紅菜頭 âng-tshài-thâu (n.) carrots 3. 莧菜...

Morning markets are the best places to experience Taiwan’s vibrant food culture. From meat and vegetables to seafood, these ingredients represent the flavours of Taiwan. And, people there usually speak Tâi-gí. This week, we’ll learn some useful words to help you go shopping in a Taiwanese market.   ●Words to Know: 1. 菜市仔 tshài-tshī-á (n.) market 2. 頭...

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong reached southern Taiwan last week, becoming the first typhoon to make landfall in the past 58 years. With Taiwan’s weather changing so dramatically lately, let’s learn a few words to describe it. ●Words to Know: 1. 落雨 lo̍h-hōo (v.) raining 2. 好天 hó-thinn (n.) a sunny and comfortable day 3. 風真透 hong tsin thàu (phr.) really windy 4. 寒 ku&aci...

Today, we’re listening to one of the most beloved Tâi-gí songs in Taiwan of all time — Ke-āu (家後) by Jody Chiang (江蕙).  As the most popular song of the most popular modern Tâi-gí singer, this song tells the story of a woman who has spent her life caring for her husband and family with deep love and devotion.  Let’s learn a few lines from th...

As the weather turns cooler in November, Taiwan’s markets is filled with the flavours of early winter. On this week’s Tâi-gí Made Easy, we’ll learn how to say these seasonal foods in Tâi-gí. Let s explore how these foods show the rhythm of Taiwan’s vibrant food scene. ●Words to Know: 1. 菜頭 tshài-thâu (n.) radish 2. 椪柑 ph&ograv...

With the diverse cultures that have influenced Taiwan, there are many Tâi-gí words that originate from other languages! This week, we will continue to learn some new words and explore the influence of English,  Japanese, and more on the Taiwanese language. ●Words to Know: 1. ùn-tsiàng (n.) driver 2. mài-kù (n.) microphone 3. 便當 piān-tong (n.) bento /...

With the diverse cultures that have influenced Taiwan, there are many Tâi-gí words that originate from other languages! This week, let’s learn some new words and explore the influence of English,  Japanese, French, and more on the Taiwanese language. ●Words to Know: 1. oo-tóo-bái (n.) scooter / motorcycle 2. 雪文 sap-bûn (n.) soap 3. 麭 pháng (n.)...

Have you met anyone whom you’d like to spend your life with? Today, we are listening to a song in Tâi-gí that touches on the relationship between you and your significant other – 一人一半 You Complete Me by 旺福 Won Fu. This track is the theme song of the Taiwanese TV drama The Making of an Ordinary Woman . The lyrics are simple yet powerful. People follow different life p...

On 10 October, also known as Double Tenth Day, people in Taiwan celebrate our National Day! Historically, 10 October 1911 marked the day of the Xinhai Revolution, which led to the termination of the Qing Dynasty in China and ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Republic of China, the official name of the ruling government in Taiwan. As people in Taiwan celebrate our National Day, there...

The Moon Festival is one of Taiwan’s most important holidays when families gather. The festival is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest. This year, it falls on 6 October. In Taiwan, families and friends gather to watch the moon, eat mooncakes and pomelos, and enjoy outdoor barbecues. This week, we’ll explore some words and idioms related to the f...

This week, we’ll be listening to a song that brings back a lot of memories for many people in Taiwan: Bike (腳踏車) by Jason Wang (王識賢). This song is all about riding a bike and waiting for the lover. Let’s ride along together with this song.

Night markets are one of the most important parts of Taiwanese culture! Whether it is a weekday or a weekend evening, people enjoy strolling through these lively spots where so many food stalls and vendors gather. This week, we’ll learn some essential words related to the night market.   ●Words to Know: 1. 踅夜市 se̍h iā-tshī (phr.) to go to the night market 2. 鹹酥雞 kiâm-soo-ke...

If you’re a student — welcome back to school! The semester has just started in Taiwan in September. In today’s episode, we’ll get to know some fun and useful Taiwanese phrases related to campus life and learning. Whether you’re meeting new friends or talking about homework, these expressions will help you get ready for the new semester.    ●Words to Know: 1....

This week, we'll learn some poetic lines in Tâi-gí from the lyrics of The Usual (同款) by Pei-Yu Hung (洪佩瑜). The track is the theme song of the movie "Day Off," which tells the touching story of a barber and her client. Let's sing a long to the lines together!

The Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, celebrates the legend of the Weaver Girl (織女) and the Cowherd (牛郎). According to the lunar calendar, the festival falls on 29 August this year. This week, we’ll explore some words and an idiom related to the festival!   ●Words to Know: 1. 情人節 tsîng-jîn-tseh (n.) Valentine’s Day 2. 織女 Tsit-l&uacute...

We're stepping into the Ghost Month in Taiwan... According to the legend, this is a time when the gates of the underworld are open. The highlight is the Ghost Festival (中元節) on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. On the day, people hold ceremonies offering food to the spirits who don’t have a home (Pudu 普渡). You might also witness the beautiful yet solemn tradition of releasing the lan...

Summer is typhoon season in Taiwan. In fact, the island was struck by a typhoon on August 13. This week, we explore some useful typhoon-related words and phrases, which are perfectly timed for the moment.   ●Words to Know: 1. 風颱 hong-thai (n.) typhoon 2. 風颱天 hong-thai-thinn (n.) typhoon day 3. 做風颱 tsò-hong-thai (phr.) a typhoon is hitting 4. 火燒雲 hué-sio-hûn (n.)...

In this special farewell episode of Taigi Made Easy , we learn how to say goodbye and express well wishes in Taigi. Phrases like tsài-huē and tsiok-hok lí hīng-hok bí-buán offer warm, meaningful ways to part. The episode also features the classic song Tsiok-hok by Jody Chiang — a touching ballad about letting go with grace. Though this chapter closes, the journey...

In this episode of Tai-gi Made Easy , we spotlight rising Tai-gi singer Siri Lee, whose album  Suí  swept the 2024 Golden Melody Awards. Learn how she blends modern sounds with her native Taiwanese language to create fresh, meaningful music — including her viral hit “puānn puānn leh.” Discover how her work is reshaping the future of Taiwanese pop culture, one hea...