What Taiwanese do you need at a temple in Taiwan?

Expect to hear 你欲拜拜無? (Lí beh pài-pài bô?, "Would you like to pray?"). Useful things to say: 按呢喔? (Án-ne ooh?, "Like this?") and 會使翕相無? (Ē-sái hip-siōng bô?, "Can I take photos?").

Draft: First draft. A native Taiwanese speaker has not checked these lines yet, and some wording varies between north and south. Tell us if something sounds off.

The whole conversation: At the temple

Temple volunteers are often older and speak Taiwanese first. They are happy to show you what to do.

  1. You hear
    你欲拜拜無? Lí beh pài-pài bô? Would you like to pray?

    In Taiwanese 拜拜 means praying at a temple. Bye-bye is spelt 掰掰.

  2. You hear
    香愛按呢插。 Hiunn ài án-ne tshah. Put the incense in like this.
  3. You say
    按呢喔? Án-ne ooh? Like this?
  4. You hear
    這是媽祖。 Tse sī Má-tsóo. This is Mazu.

    Mazu protects fishermen and travellers, and she is the most popular goddess in Taiwan.

  5. You say
    會使翕相無? Ē-sái hip-siōng bô? Can I take photos?
  6. You hear
    內底袂使翕相。 Lāi-té bē-sái hip-siōng. No photos inside.
  7. You say
    真媠! Tsin suí! So beautiful!
  8. You say
    真有意思。 Tsin ū ì-sù. Really interesting.
  9. You hear
    免錢的。 Bián-tsînn--ê. It's free.
  10. You hear
    平安! Pîng-an! Stay safe!
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What Taiwanese do you need at a temple in Taiwan?

Expect to hear 你欲拜拜無? (Lí beh pài-pài bô?, "Would you like to pray?"). Useful things to say: 按呢喔? (Án-ne ooh?, "Like this?") and 會使翕相無? (Ē-sái hip-siōng bô?, "Can I take photos?").

What does "你欲拜拜無?" mean in Taiwanese Hokkien?

It means "Would you like to pray?". It is pronounced Lí beh pài-pài bô?. A natural reply is 按呢喔? (Án-ne ooh?), "Like this?".