常春藤生活英語(yǔ)：臺(tái)灣民間禁忌

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 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 would be to stick chopsticks upright2 into a bowl of rice. This would resemble incense 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 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.

初次來(lái)臺(tái)灣觀光對(duì)旅客來(lái)說(shuō)可以是個(gè)很棒的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。但對(duì)于只習(xí)慣自己家鄉(xiāng)習(xí)俗禮節(jié)的觀光客而言，有時(shí)候也會(huì)造成一些麻煩。臺(tái)灣存在一些禁忌，也就是一些不該說(shuō)或不該做的事，因?yàn)檫@些事可能會(huì)冒犯到他人。

用紅筆寫(xiě)他人的名字在臺(tái)灣被視為是禁忌。紅色代表血。用紅筆書(shū)寫(xiě)別人名字有可能暗示對(duì)方將會(huì)卷入嚴(yán)重的意外中。

另一件會(huì)讓臺(tái)灣人感到不舒服的事，便是將筷子直直插在一碗白飯中。這好比是將香柱插在祭拜鬼魂的供品上。只有在葬禮或是鬼月時(shí)才會(huì)這么做。換言之，有此動(dòng)作的人便是在祭拜做飯的人，好像他們已經(jīng)過(guò)世了一樣。如此失禮的舉動(dòng)可會(huì)讓請(qǐng)客的東道主心情不悅。

臺(tái)灣諸多禁忌和中文字的諧音都有關(guān)連。在農(nóng)歷新年期間，提到中文的『四』并不妥當(dāng)。外國(guó)觀光客或許會(huì)覺(jué)得奇怪。不過(guò)中文的『四』發(fā)音與『死亡』非常相近。有些人其實(shí)還做得更絕。事實(shí)上，大多數(shù)的醫(yī)院和旅館都不會(huì)有四樓。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. offend　vt. 冒犯;使反感

Rick's bad attitude offended his boss.

瑞克的不良態(tài)度冒犯了他的老板。

2. resemble　vt. 與……相似，像……

Gloria's soft voice resembled her mother's.

葛羅莉亞輕柔的聲音很像她母親。

Phrases for Learning

1. be/get used to + 名詞∕動(dòng)名詞　　習(xí)慣于……

I'm getting used to living in Japan now.

我現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)慢慢習(xí)慣在日本生活了。

2. in other words...　　換句話(huà)說(shuō)……

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

阿班說(shuō)他晚上會(huì)很忙。換言之，他不會(huì)來(lái)派對(duì)了。

3. have something/nothing to do with...　　與……有關(guān)∕無(wú)關(guān)

That crime had nothing to do with money.

那起犯罪案與金錢(qián)無(wú)關(guān)。

4. take...further　　進(jìn)一步地做……

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

凱文進(jìn)一步發(fā)展他對(duì)美食的興趣，成為了一名廚師。

Extra Words

1. taboo　n. 禁忌，忌諱

2. upright　adv. 豎直地

3. incense stick　n.(祭拜用)香柱

4. worship　vt. 祭祀;敬奉

5. faux pas　n. 失禮;失言

6. inappropriate　a. 不恰當(dāng)?shù)?/p>

Tips In Use

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

(……有可能暗示對(duì)方將會(huì)卷入嚴(yán)重的意外中。)

suggest + that 子句　　暗示∕建議……

1. suggest 后常接 that 子句作受詞，suggest 若表『暗示』，其后 that 子句中的動(dòng)詞用一般時(shí)態(tài)。

Diana suggested that she would have to leave in advance.

(黛安娜暗示她必須提早離開(kāi)。)

2. suggest 作『建議』時(shí)為意志動(dòng)詞，其后的 that 子句中須用助動(dòng)詞 should，但 should 可予以省略，而直接接原形動(dòng)詞。

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

(服務(wù)生建議我們點(diǎn)當(dāng)日的特餐。)