常春藤生活英语【98】台湾民间禁忌

Seeing Taiwan for the first time can be a great experience for travelers. But it can sometimes also cause trouble for visitors who are only used to the customs and manners of their home country. Taiwan has some taboos1, which are things that should not be talked about or done because they might offend people.



Using a red pen to write someone's name is considered a taboo 1 in Taiwan. The color red represents blood. Writing another person's name with a red pen may suggest that the person will get into a serious accident.



Another way to make a Taiwanese person uneasy 3 would be to stick chopsticks upright2 into a bowl of rice. This would resemble incense 4 sticks3 that are placed into food that is left for spirits. This is done at a funeral or during Ghost Month. In other words, a person who did this would be worshipping4 the people who made the food as if they were dead. This faux pas5 would make the hosts of the dinner unhappy.



Many taboos 2 in Taiwan have something to do with similar Chinese sounding words. Around Chinese New Year, it is inappropriate6 to say the Chinese word for four. Foreign visitors find that strange. But the word four in Chinese sounds a lot like the word for death. Some people actually take this even further. In fact, most hospitals and hotels don't have a fourth floor.

初次来台湾观光对旅客来说可以是个很棒的经验。但对于只习惯自己家乡习俗礼节的观光客而言，有时候也会造成一些麻烦。台湾存在一些禁忌，也就是一些不该说或不该做的事，因为这些事可能会冒犯到他人。



用红笔写他人的名字在台湾被视为是禁忌。红色代表血。用红笔书写别人名字有可能暗示对方将会卷入严重的意外中。



另一件会让台湾人感到不舒服的事，便是将筷子直直插在一碗白饭中。这好比是将香柱插在祭拜鬼魂的供品上。只有在葬礼或是鬼月时才会这么做。换言之，有此动作的人便是在祭拜做饭的人，好像他们已经过世了一样。如此失礼的举动可会让请客的东道主心情不悦。

台湾诸多禁忌和中文字的谐音都有关连。在农历新年期间，提到中文的『四』并不妥当。外国观光客或许会觉得奇怪。不过中文的『四』发音与『死亡』非常相近。有些人其实还做得更绝。事实上，大多数的医院和旅馆都不会有四楼。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. offend　vt. 冒犯；使反感

Rick's bad attitude offended his boss.

瑞克的不良态度冒犯了他的老板。

2. resemble　vt. 与……相似，像……

Gloria's soft voice resembled her mother's.

葛罗莉亚轻柔的声音很像她母亲。

Phrases for Learning

1. be/get used to + 名词∕动名词　　习惯于……

I'm getting used to living in Japan now.

我现在已经慢慢习惯在日本生活了。

2. in other words...　　换句话说……

Ben said he will be very busy tonight. In other words, he won't come to the party.

阿班说他晚上会很忙。换言之，他不会来派对了。

3. have something/nothing to do with...　　与……有关∕无关

That crime had nothing to do with money.

那起犯罪案与金钱无关。

4. take...further　　进一步地做……

Kevin took his interest in food further and became a chef.

凯文进一步发展他对美食的兴趣，成为了一名厨师。

Extra Words

1. taboo　n. 禁忌，忌讳

2. upright　adv. 竖直地

3. incense stick　n.（祭拜用）香柱

4. worship　vt. 祭祀；敬奉

5. faux pas　n. 失礼；失言

6. inappropriate　a. 不恰当的

Tips In Use

...may suggest that the person will get into a serious accident.

（……有可能暗示对方将会卷入严重的意外中。）

suggest + that 子句　　暗示∕建议……

1. suggest 后常接 that 子句作受词，suggest 若表『暗示』，其后 that 子句中的动词用一般时态。

Diana suggested that she would have to leave in advance.

（黛安娜暗示她必须提早离开。）

2. suggest 作『建议』时为意志动词，其后的 that 子句中须用助动词 should，但 should 可予以省略，而直接接原形动词。

The waiter suggested that we (should) order today's special.

（服务生建议我们点当日的特餐。）