Ep18: It's cold outside! | Guā-kháu tsin kuânn 外口真寒!

Bite-size Taiwanese | Newbie
Bite-size Taiwanese | Newbie
Ep18: It's cold outside! | Guā-kháu tsin kuânn 外口真寒!
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In this episode, we’ve talked about how to express the four seasons and common weather conditions in Taiwanese. Also, we learned some names of seasonal fruits.

(These show notes use tables and rich formatting. Please visit the episode webpage for an optimal viewing experience.)

SENTENCES AND VOCABULARY
TAIWANESE ENGLISH
sù-kuì the four seasons
tshun-hā-tshiu-tang a common expression for the four seasons. (literally: “spring-summer-fall-winter”)
tshun-thinn spring, springtime
jua̍h-thinn / jua̍h--lâng / hā-thinn summer, summertime
jua̍h hot or warm

Usage note:jua̍h” is used when talking about the weather, environment, or one’s own feeling of body temperature.

Guā-kháu tsin jua̍h. It is hot outside.
Guá tsin jua̍h! I’m really hot! (the sun is shining, and you’re starting to sweat and feel hot)
sio hot or warm

Usage note:sio” is used to describe things or body parts, usually something that makes you feel warm or hot when you touch it.

Thng tsin sio. The soup is hot.
tshiu-thinn fall, autumn
Tiong-tshiu-tseh Mid-Autumn Festival
liâng cool
kuânn-thinn / kuânn--lâng / tang-thinn winter, wintertime
kuânn cold

Usage note:kuânn” is used when talking about the weather, environment, or one’s own feeling of body temperature.

Guā-kháu tsin kuânn. Outside it’s really cold.
líng cold

Usage note:líng” is used to describe things or body parts, usually something that makes you feel cold when you touch it. It can also be used to talk about weather or environment.

Tsuí tsin líng. The water is cold.
I ê tshiú tsin líng. Her hands are cold.
hó-thinn nice weather; sunny, clear weather
Kin-á-ji̍t hó-thinn. Today is a nice day, or a sunny, clear day.
pháinn-thinn bad weather
oo-im-thinn cloudy weather
lo̍h-seh to snow
lo̍h to fall; to come down
Guā-kháu teh lo̍h-seh. It’s snowing outside.

Grammar note: teh + verb” is similar to “be + v-ing” in English. It’s a way to mark that the action is continuous or ongoing.

lo̍h-hōo to rain
sai-pak-hōo a natural phenomenon of sudden afternoon thunderstorms during the summer
Hōo tsin tuā. The rain is heavy.
Hong tsin thàu. The wind is strong.
luî-kong thunder
tân-luî-kong to thunder
sih-nah lightning
luî-kong-hōo thunderstorm
sip humid
La̍k--gue̍h kàu tsa̍p--gue̍h ū tsin tsē hong-thai. From June until October, there are many typhoons.
hong-thai typhoon; hurricane
kué-tsí / tsuí- fruit
“Strawberry“ Tâi-án-tsuánn kóng? How do you say “strawberry” in Taiwanese?
tsháu-m̂ / tshì-pho strawberry
kiat-á kumquat
sik-khia custard apple, sugar apple, or sweetsop
ông-lâi pineapple
tshiū- bayberry
muê-á plum
suāinn-á mango
lāi-tsi lychee
thô-á peach
hué-liông- dragonfruit
khī / khī-á persimmon
iū-á pomelo

*Syllables that have been greyed out require tone changes.

For more about seasons, weather and fruits, go check out our downloadable workbook! You’ll also find additional vocabulary with characters, pronunciation notes, grammar explanations, culture tips, and fun exercises to help your practice.


Music Credit: TeknoAXE

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