Temple Mandarin Part 2: Learn Taiwanese Divination - Mandarin on the Go

Reporter/Provider - TaiwanPlus
Publish Date -

Peggy and Bertie are back at Longshan Temple in Taipei, this time to teach Bertie how to do divination. **Vocabulary list below!** In part one of this temple series, Bertie learned the basics of temple etiquette. Now, he's back with his Taiwanese Mandarin teacher Peggy to learn how temple divination works. Taiwanese temple-goers employ wooden divination blocks (also known as moon blocks) to get their questions answered by the gods. After tossing the divination blocks, if they receive a favorable answer, they can draw a lot. The number on the lot corresponds to a numbered drawer that contains the answer to their prayer. In this episode, Bertie learns how to express key spiritual concepts and grammar points in Mandarin. Mandarin on the Go teaches Taiwanese Mandarin (aka Mandarin Chinese) in easy-to-digest segments that are both practical and reflect how Taiwanese people use the Mandarin language in daily life. We incorporate real-life scenarios and elements of local culture to provide a fun learning environment while encouraging authentic connections. **Vocabulary & Phrases** 為什麼 wèi shén me Why 擲筊 puǎh pue Throw divination blocks 為什麼要擲筊 wèi shén me yào puǎh pue Why do we need to throw divination blocks? 求籤 qiú qiān Draw lots 因為要求籤 yīn wèi yào qiú qiān Because we want to draw lots, 所以要擲筊 suǒ yǐ yào puǎh pue so we need to throw divination blocks. 因為___所以___ yīn wèi ____ suǒ yǐ ____ Because ____, so ____. 請問會求得到籤嗎 qǐng wèn huì qiú dé dào qiān ma Will we always get the lots? 有時候有 有時候没有 yǒu shí hòu yǒu yǒu shí hòu méi yǒu Sometimes you do, but sometimes you don’t. 有時候有 yǒu shí hòu yǒu Sometimes you do, 有時候没有 yǒu shí hòu méi yǒu but sometimes you don’t. 有時候___有時候___ yǒu shí hòu ____ yǒu shí hòu ____ Sometimes____, sometimes___. 謝謝 xiè xie Thank you. 月老 yuè lǎo The Matchmaker God 因為Peggy很會教 yīn wèi Peggy hěn huì jiāo Because Peggy teaches well, 所以中文很好 suǒ yǐ zhōng wén hěn hǎo so my Mandarin is good.


Up Next

program cover image

Mandarin On the Go

Mandarin on the Go teaches Taiwanese Mandarin in easy-to-digest segments that are both practical and reflect how Taiwanese people use the Mandarin language in daily life. We incorporate real-life scenarios and elements of local culture to provide a fun learning environment while encouraging authent