Festivals & Events

1. 天穿日

   tien1 con1 ngid4

   Tianchuan Day (Hakka festival, 20th of the first lunar month)

   Usage

   A Hakka festival thanking Nüwa for mending the sky; people rest and offer sweet rice cake, and the New Year is considered over after it

   Grammar Note

   A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

2. 逐年天穿日，新竹竹東都會辦山歌比賽。

   dag4 ngien5 tien1 con1 ngid4, xin1 zug4 zug4 dung1 du1 voi3 pan3 san1 go1 bi2 soi3.

   Every year on Tianchuan Day, Zhudong in Hsinchu holds a mountain-song contest.

   Usage

   Says that a mountain-song contest is held in Zhudong on Tianchuan Day

   Grammar Note

   Taken directly from the dictionary example for 天穿日. Adapted from a dictionary example sentence.

3. 天穿日愛歇睏。

   tien1 con1 ngid4 oi3 hied4 kun3.

   You rest on Tianchuan Day.

   Usage

   Explains the custom of resting on Tianchuan Day

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words.

4. 元宵過後，客家人就會去掛紙。

   ngien5 seu1 go3 heu3, hag4 ga1 ngin5 qiu3 voi3 hi3 gua3 zii2.

   After the Lantern Festival, Hakka people go to sweep the graves.

   Usage

   Describes the custom of visiting graves after the Lantern Festival

   Grammar Note

   A shortened version of the dictionary example about visiting graves after the Lantern Festival. Adapted from a dictionary example sentence.

5. 掛紙

   gua3 zii2

   Grave sweeping (gua zii)

   Usage

   Visiting a grave and hanging paper on the tombstone to honour the ancestors

   Grammar Note

   A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

6. 清明愛轉去家鄉祭祖。

   qiang1 miang5 oi3 zon2 hi3 ga1 hiong1 ji3 zu2.

   At Qingming you go back to your hometown to honour the ancestors.

   Usage

   Talks about going home to honour the ancestors at Qingming

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words.

7. 天光日係五月節，愛去看人划龍船無？

   tien1 gong1 ngid4 he3 ng2 ngied8 jied4, oi3 hi3 kon3 ngin5 pa5 liung5 son5 mo5?

   Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. Shall we go and watch the boat races?

   Usage

   Invites someone to watch the boat races the day before the festival

   Grammar Note

   Taken directly from the dictionary example for 五月節. Adapted from a dictionary example sentence.

8. 五月節食粽仔。

   ng2 ngied8 jied4 siid8 zung3 e2.

   At the Dragon Boat Festival people eat zongzi.

   Usage

   Names the food of the Dragon Boat Festival

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words.

9. 七月半

   qid4 ngied8 ban3

   Ghost Festival (qid ngied ban, 15th of the seventh lunar month)

   Usage

   The 15th of the seventh lunar month, when offerings are made to ancestors and wandering spirits

   Grammar Note

   A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

10. 重陽

    qiung5 iong5

    Double Ninth Festival (qiung iong)

    Usage

    The ninth day of the ninth lunar month; the weather is said to turn cooler around then

    Grammar Note

    A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

11. 冬節

    dung1 jied4

    Winter solstice (dung jied)

    Usage

    The winter solstice, when cattle are rested and tangyuan are eaten

    Grammar Note

    A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

12. 年三十暗晡食團圓飯。

    ngien5 sam1 siib8 am3 bu1 siid8 ton5 ien5 fan3.

    On New Year's Eve we have the reunion dinner.

    Usage

    Talks about the New Year's Eve dinner

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words.

13. 新年去阿公阿婆屋下拜年。

    xin1 ngien5 hi3 a1 gung1 a1 po5 vug4 ka1 bai3 ngien5.

    At New Year I visit my grandparents' house to pay New Year calls.

    Usage

    Says you will visit your grandparents at New Year

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words.

14. 過年愛分細人仔紅包。

    go3 ngien5 oi3 bun1 se3 ngin5 e2 fung5 bau1.

    At New Year you give children red envelopes.

    Usage

    Describes the custom of giving red envelopes to children

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words.

15. 恭喜發財！

    giung1 hi2 fad4 coi5!

    Wishing you prosperity!

    Usage

    A New Year greeting wishing prosperity

    Grammar Note

    A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

16. 桐花

    tung5 fa1

    Tung blossom (tung fa)

    Usage

    The flower of the tung tree; when it blooms the hills turn white like snow, a spring sight of Hakka country

    Grammar Note

    A word listed as a headword in the MOE dictionary.

17. 愛摎𠊎去看鬧熱無？

    oi3 lau1 ngai5 hi3 kon3 nau3 ngied8 mo5?

    Do you want to go and see the festivities with me?

    Usage

    Invites someone to watch a festival

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words.

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