常春藤生活英語：臺灣民間禁忌

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.

初次來臺灣觀光對旅客來說可以是個很棒的經驗。但對于只習慣自己家鄉(xiāng)習俗禮節(jié)的觀光客而言，有時候也會造成一些麻煩。臺灣存在一些禁忌，也就是一些不該說或不該做的事，因為這些事可能會冒犯到他人。

用紅筆寫他人的名字在臺灣被視為是禁忌。紅色代表血。用紅筆書寫別人名字有可能暗示對方將會卷入嚴重的意外中。

另一件會讓臺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才會這么做。換言之，有此動作的人便是在祭拜做飯的人，好像他們已經過世了一樣。如此失禮的舉動可會讓請客的東道主心情不悅。

臺灣諸多禁忌和中文字的諧音都有關連。在農歷新年期間，提到中文的『四』并不妥當。外國觀光客或許會覺得奇怪。不過中文的『四』發(fā)音與『死亡』非常相近。有些人其實還做得更絕。事實上，大多數的醫(yī)院和旅館都不會有四樓。

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∕動名詞　　習慣于……

I'm getting used to living in Japan now.

我現在已經慢慢習慣在日本生活了。

2. in other words...　　換句話說……

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

阿班說他晚上會很忙。換言之，他不會來派對了。

3. have something/nothing to do with...　　與……有關∕無關

That crime had nothing to do with money.

那起犯罪案與金錢無關。

4. take...further　　進一步地做……

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

凱文進一步發(fā)展他對美食的興趣，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. 不恰當的

Tips In Use

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

(……有可能暗示對方將會卷入嚴重的意外中。)

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 子句中的動詞用一般時態(tài)。

Diana suggested that she would have to leave in advance.

(黛安娜暗示她必須提早離開。)

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

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

(服務生建議我們點當日的特餐。)