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.
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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.
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You hear
香愛按呢插。 Hiunn ài án-ne tshah. Put the incense in like this.
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You say
按呢喔? Án-ne ooh? Like this?
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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.
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You say
會使翕相無? Ē-sái hip-siōng bô? Can I take photos?
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You hear
內底袂使翕相。 Lāi-té bē-sái hip-siōng. No photos inside.
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You say
真媠! Tsin suí! So beautiful!
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You say
真有意思。 Tsin ū ì-sù. Really interesting.
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You hear
免錢的。 Bián-tsînn--ê. It's free.
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You hear
平安! Pîng-an! Stay safe!
Thank you. Your answer is saved with this scene so we can fix lines that sound off.
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?".