對話 Dialogue
清清：華華，明天是農曆臘月23號過小年，我家晚上要吃餃子，你家呢？
Qīngqīng: Huáhua, míngtiān shì nónglì làyuè èrshísān hào guò xiǎonián, wǒ jiā wǎnshàng yào chī jiǎozi, nǐ jiā ne?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons / 照片：Wikimedia Commons提供
華華：不對吧？我家的小年夜是在除夕前一天欸！到底是哪一天過小年啊？
Huáhuá: Búduì ba? Wǒ jiā de xiǎoniányè shì zài chúxì qián yìtiān ei! Dàodǐ shì nǎyìtiān guò xiǎonián a?
清清：喔！對了，我想起來了，中國北方的習俗跟臺灣的不太一樣，我們老家以前過小年是要祭拜灶王爺，送祂回天上去跟玉皇大帝做報告的。
Qīngqīng: Ó! Duìle, wǒ xiǎngqǐlái le, Zhōngguó běifāng de xísú gēn Táiwān de bútài yíyàng, wǒmen lǎojiā yǐqián guò xiǎonián shì yào jìbài Zàowángyé, sòng tā huí tiānshàng qù gēn Yùhuángdàdì zuò bàogào de.
華華：這個我聽說過，不過我家的傳統是在臘月24號，要清理家裡拜神明和祖先的供桌，我們叫「清爐」。
Huáhua: Zhège wǒ tīngshuō guò, búguò wǒ jiā de chuántǒng shì zài làyuè èrshísì hào, yào qīnglǐ jiālǐ bài shénmíng hàn zǔxiān de gòngzhuō, wǒmen jiào “Qīnglú”
清清：哇！聽起來好有意義喔！神明和祖先也需要乾乾淨淨地準備過新年。
Qīngqing: Wa! Tīngqǐlái hǎo yǒu yìyì o! Shénmíng hàn zǔxiān yě xūyào gāngānjìngjìng de zhǔnbèi guò xīnnián.
華華：其實我覺得拜拜很麻煩，要準備好多東西，拜完了又吃不完，不知道該怎麼辦。
Huáhua: Qíshí wǒ juéde bàibai hěn máfán, yào zhǔnbèi hǎoduō dōngxi, bàiwánle yòu chībùwán, bùzhīdào gāi zěnmebàn.
清清：是沒錯，但如果這些文化都沒有了，好像也就沒有過年的氣氛了。
Qīngqing: Shì méicuò, dàn rúguǒ zhèxiē wénhuà dōu méiyǒule, hǎoxiàng yě jiù méiyǒu guònián de qìfēn le.
華華：說得也是，好吧！臺語說：「有拜有保佑。」那我還是認真拜一下好了。
Huáhua: Shuō de yěshì, hǎo ba! Táiyǔ shuō: “Yǒu bài yǒu bǎoyòu.” Nà wǒ háishì rènzhēn bài yíxià hǎole.
翻譯 Translation
Qingqing: Huahua, tomorrow is the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, celebrating the Minor Spring Festival. We’re having dumplings at my place in the evening. How about your family?
Huahua: That doesn’t sound right. In my family, Minor Spring Festival’s Eve is the day before New Year’s Eve! What day exactly is the Minor Spring Festival celebrated?
Qingqing: Oh, I remember now. The customs in northern China are different from in Taiwan. In our hometown, we used to worship the Kitchen God on the Minor Spring Festival and send him back to report to the Jade Emperor in Heaven.
Huahua: I’ve heard about that, but in my family, the tradition is to clean the house and worship the deities and ancestors at the altar on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month. We call it “Qinglu.”
Qingqing: Wow! It sounds so meaningful! Deities and ancestors also need a clean and tidy preparation for the New Year.
Huahua: Actually, I find the worship rituals a bit of a hassle. There’s a lot to prepare, and after the ceremony, there’s so much food that we can’t finish it. I don’t know what to do.
Qingqing: That’s true, but without these traditions, the festive atmosphere of the New Year wouldn’t be there.
Huahua: You’re right. Well then, as they say in Taiwanese: “有拜有保佑” (Worship brings blessings). I guess I’ll go ahead and worship sincerely.
生詞 Vocabulary
1. 過小年 (Guo Xi?onian) Minor Spring Festival or the day before New Year’s Eve
2. 除夕 (chuxi) New Year’s Eve
3. 到底 (daod?) after all; how on Earth…?
4. 祭拜 (jibai) worship
5. 灶王爺 (Zaowangye) The Kitchen God
6. 玉皇大帝 (Yuhuangdadi) Jade Emperor
7. 神明 (shenming) gods; deities
8. 供桌 (gongzhu?) altar
教材音檔 Audio Files
國立清華大學華語中心提供
By National Tsing Hua University Chinese Language Center:
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Every February, the small town of Ptuj in Slovenia comes alive with the vibrant celebration of its famous carnival. This festival, with its deep historical roots, is a cherished tradition where local residents come together to ward off the winter cold and embrace the arrival of spring. Participants dress up in furry costumes, transforming into kurenti, mythical monsters believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune for the new year. Although the exact origins of the Ptuj carnival remain a mystery, it is firmly rooted in ancient Slavic and Illyrian cultures. The modern form of the carnival
A: What’s the theme of the 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival’s main lantern? B: The theme is “Paradise,” and the main lantern is a snake-shaped “infinity” symbol that features a lighting show every half an hour. A: Cool, I heard that there are over 300 lanterns. B: There are even giant lanterns in the shape of Pikachu and some other popular Pokemon characters. A: Let’s go now. A: 2025台灣燈會主燈的主題是什麼？ B: 主題是「無限樂園」！主燈的造型則是蛇形的數學「無限號」，主燈每半小時還有一次燈光秀。 A: 酷喔，聽說總共有300多件花燈作品。 B: 甚至還有皮卡丘和其他熱門寶可夢角色的巨型花燈呢。 A: 哇我們現在就出發吧！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
本文由生成式AI協作，本刊編輯編修。 Tucked away in southwestern Taiwan, Yunlin County is a treasure trove of cultural heritage, rich history, and natural beauty. From its stunning temples and glove puppetry to historical architecture and picturesque landscapes, Yunlin rewards those who venture off the beaten path. Yunlin is renowned for its flourishing temple culture. Temples in this region are not merely places of worship but also communal centers where people gather for festivals, rituals, and social functions. One of the most notable temples here is the Beigang Chaotian Temple, which was built more than 300 years ago and is dedicated to Matsu, the sea
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