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| Taiwan cops: friendly and helpful in many ways - sometimes for the latest on Mikado sightings! |
Chinese Phrases and Glossary for Bird-watching in Taiwan.
Prepared by Richard Foster. TaiwanBirding.com
Version 1.1
This is a selection of Chinese language phrases and terms that may be of use to foreign birders visiting Taiwan - and residents needing some more specific vocab. Note, some of the terminology, and form of characters used in China may vary slightly.
Taiwanese warmly welcome foreign visitors. Many will speak quite reasonable English, others none, or may be very hesitant. Keep in mind good English speakers may not be familiar with birding-specific terms, or the daft needs of us birders! Many of these terms are rather technical - would most average people in bird-watching Britain understand? A bit of patience, sign language, and drawing goes a long way. Speak normally. Romanization is not taught in Taiwan - if possible show Taiwanese actual Chinese characters, not romanized language.
Please note my suggestions are ‘common sense’ translations and may not alway be direct translations. I have romanized (that is - using ‘English’ letters to represent Mandarin Chinese sounds) all the phrases, use them in context and practice. Chinese is not as hard as some would suggest, have a go - you may be surprised!
Common Phrases
English
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Chinese
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Romanization
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Notes
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I’ve come to Taiwan to watch birds.
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我來台灣看鳥。
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Wǒ lái táiwān kàn niǎo.
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Bird-watching/birding
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賞鳥
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Shǎng niǎo
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The term more commonly used in China is 觀鳥 Guān niǎo. Also 看 kàn (used above) is common.
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I want to see lots of different species of birds, not just lots of the same bird.
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我希望看到很多不同種類的鳥類，而不只
是很多隻相同種類的鳥
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Wǒ xīwàng kàn dào hěnduō bùtóng zhǒnglèi de niǎolèi, ér bùzhǐ
Shì hěnduō zhī xiāngtóng zhǒnglèi de niǎo
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Remember not everyone understands the concept of birding.
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I only want to see the birds, not photograph them.
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我只希望看到鳥,而不拍照
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Wǒ zhǐ xīwàng kàn dào niǎo, ér bùshì pāizhào.
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Most birdwatchers here are photographers.
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[to] Photograph birds.
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拍鳥 or 拍攝
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Pāi niǎo, pāishè
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I need to get up very early.
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我需要很早起床.
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Wǒ xūyào hěn zǎo qǐchuáng.
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We have this in my home country.
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我的家鄉有這種鳥
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Wǒ de jiāxiāng yǒu zhè zhǒng niǎo
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I’ve seen this bird before.
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我看過這種鳥。
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Wǒ kànguò zhè zhǒng niǎo.
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Very beautiful!
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很漂亮！
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Hěn piàoliang!
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Birds also have ears. Shhh...
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鳥也有耳朵喔!
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Niǎo yěyǒu ěrduo ō!
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A polite reminder to be quiet.
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Please be quiet!
Your clothes are not suitable for bird-watching - too bright and noisy.
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請安靜！
你這個衣服不適合賞鳥 - 太明亮, 太 吵
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Qǐng ānjìng!
Nǐ zhège yīfú bùshìhé shǎng niǎo - tài míngliàng, tài chǎo
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More direct.
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I don’t need a tripod. Thanks.
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我不需要三腳架. 謝謝
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Wǒ bù xūyào sānjiǎojià. Xièxiè
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(...and leave me alone)
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Please don’t use playback (tape) so much. A little is enough.
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請不要放這麼多鳥音.
一點點就夠了
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Qǐng bùyào fàng zhème duō niǎo yīn.
Yīdiǎn diǎn jiù gòule
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Be polite - and lead by example!
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Dogs scare away birds.
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狗會把鳥嚇跑
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Gǒu huì bǎ niǎo xià pǎo
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Dogs are now not allowed in many forest reserves.
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I’m also interested in...
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我對...也有興趣.
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Wǒ duì... Yěyǒu xìngqù.
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I’m not interested in...
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我對...沒有興趣.
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Wǒ duì... Méiyǒu xìngqù
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I most want to see...
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我最希望看到...
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Wǒ zuì xīwàng kàn dào...
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Have you seen something?
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你有沒有你看到東西?
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Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu nǐ kàn dào dōngxi?
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A useful way of finding what others have found.
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Yes, I know...thanks.
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我知道...謝謝
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Wǒ zhīdào... Xièxiè
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(...and go away)
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Please don’t stand so close.
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請不要那麼靠近
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Qǐng bùyào nàme kàojìn
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Come, have a look.
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來,看看。
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Lái kàn kàn
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Spread the good news.
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New bird!
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新的鳥！
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Xīn de niǎo!
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Is this road passable?
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這條路過得去嗎?
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Zhè tiáo lù guòdeqù ma?
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I will only be parked here for 2 minutes.
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我只會停在這裡2分鐘.
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Wǒ zhǐ huì tíng zài zhèlǐ 2 fēnzhōng.
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Sorry officer, it has been my lifelong dream to see this bird. Forgive me please.
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對不起警察先生, 這是我一生最想看到的鳥種。請原諒我
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Duìbùqǐ jǐngchá xiānshēng, zhè shì wǒ yīshēng zuì xiǎng kàn dào de niǎo zhǒng. Qǐng yuánliàng wǒ
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...well worth a try. Taiwan police are very decent people.
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Do you know this bird’s call?
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你知不知道這種
鳥的叫聲?
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Nǐ zhī bù zhīdào zhè zhǒng
Niǎo de jiào shēng?
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I don’t see it!
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我看不到 (我沒看到牠)
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Wǒ kàn bù dào (wǒ méi kàn dào tā)
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It’s out! its flown!
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出來了. 牠飛走了
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Chūláile. Tafēi zǒuliǎo
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Found it!
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找到了
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Zhǎodàole
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I heard it but didn’t see it.
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我有聽到叫聲，可是沒有看到。
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Wǒ yǒu tīngdào jiào shēng, kěshì méiyǒu kàn dào.
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I saw it, need to see again.
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我看到了，還想要再看一次
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Wǒ kàn dàole, hái xiǎng yào zài kàn yīcì
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Playback (tape)
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播放鳥音 or 播音
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Bòfàng niǎo yīn, bòyīn
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Taiwanese also use the English word ‘call’.
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Is this...bird possible here?
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這種鳥...有可能出現在這裡嗎?
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Zhè zhǒng niǎo... Yǒu kěnéng chū xiànzài zhèlǐ ma?
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How many in total?
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總共幾隻?
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Zǒnggòng jǐ zhī?
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I write detailed reports when I go home.
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我回家後,我會寫詳細的報告
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Wǒ huí jiā hòu, wǒ huì xiě xiángxì de bàogào
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How many birds have you seen?
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你看過幾種鳥
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Nǐ kànguò jǐ zhǒng niǎo
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Resist bragging...
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Places
Forest, bamboo forest, virgin forest, secondary forest, broadleaf, pine.
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森林, 竹林, 原始森林,次生林，闊葉林，松樹林樹
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Sēnlín, zhúlín, yuánshǐ sēnlín, cìshēnglín, kuò yè lín, sōngshù lín shù
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Rice field, farmland, orchard, ‘empty land’, downtown.
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稻田, 農地, 果園, 空地, 市區
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Dàotián, nóngdì, guǒyuán, kòngdì, shì qū
Sēnlín, zhúlín, yuánshǐ sēnlín, cìshēnglín, kuò yè lín, sōngshù lín shù
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Mountains, reservoir, pond, marsh, lake.
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山, 水庫, 池塘, 沼澤, 湖泊
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Shān, shuǐkù, chítáng, zhǎozé, húbó
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Wetland, coast, river/stream, harbor, island
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濕地, 海岸, 河/流, 港口, 島嶼
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Shī dì, hǎi'àn, hé/liú, gǎngkǒu, dǎoyǔ
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Plains, low hills, mid-elevation, high-elevation.
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平原, 丘陵地, 中海拔, 高海拔
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Píngyuán, qiūlíng de, zhōng hǎibá, gāo hǎibá
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River mouth, beach, sandbar, walking path, forest (logging) road,
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河口, 沙灘, 沙洲, 步道, 林道
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Hékǒu, shātān, shāzhōu, bùdào, líndào
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Many ‘forest roads’ are excellent paved roads.
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Entrance, exit, end point, mid point, embankment (dyke).
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入口, 出口,
結束點, 中間點, 隄防
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Rùkǒu, chūkǒu,
Jiéshù diǎn, zhōngjiān diǎn, dīfáng
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Dasyueshan
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大雪山
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And many other spellings!
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Essentially the same place as ‘Anmashan 鞍馬山’ - often seen in birding reports.
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Aogu Wetland, Dayuan,
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鰲鼓溼地, 大園
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Áo gǔ shī dì, dàyuán dīfáng
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Hehuan Mountain, Wushe.
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合歡山, 霧社
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Héhuān shān, wù shè
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‘shan’ means mountain.
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Huajiang, Guandu, Wulai, Yehliu.
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華江, 關渡, 烏來, 野柳
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Huájiāng, guān dù, wū lái, yě liǔ
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Matsu, Kinmen, Lanyu.
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媽祖, 金門, 蘭嶼
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Māzǔ, jīnmén, lán yǔ
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Lanyu aka Orchid Island.
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Be sure to pick up the set of five excellent maps from tourist counters.
Things
Bird.
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鳥
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Niǎo
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Sometimes 小鳥 Xiǎoniǎo ‘small birds’.
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Trunk, branch, leaves, bush, grass, marshy weeds.
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樹幹, 樹枝, 葉, 灌木, 草, 草澤
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Shùgàn, shùzhī, yè, guànmù, cǎo, cǎozé
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Eye, wing, leg, foot, beak, feather, body, head.
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眼睛, 翅膀, 腿, 腳, 嘴, 羽毛, 身體, 頭
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Yǎnjīng, chìbǎng, tuǐ, jiǎo, zuǐ, yǔmáo, shēntǐ, tóu
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Waterbird, landbird, raptor, diving duck, wader, herons, seabird, gulls and terns, owls, ducks and geese, shorebirds.
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水鳥, 陸鳥
猛禽, 潛鴨, 鷺科, 海鳥, 鷗科, 貓頭鷹, 鴨雁, 鷸類
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Shuǐniǎo, lù niǎo
Měngqín, qián yā, lù kē, hǎiniǎo, ōu kē, māotóuyīng, yā yàn, yù lèi
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Insect, butterfly, dragonfly, moth, wasp.
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昆蟲, 蝴蝶, 蜻蜓, 飛蛾, 黃蜂
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Kūnchóng, húdié, qīngtíng, fēi é, huángfēng
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Mammal, monkey, bear, macaque.
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哺乳動物, 猴, 熊, 獼猴
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Bǔrǔ dòngwù, hóu, xióng, míhóu
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No need to worry about bears - they say well away from scarier humans.
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Fish, flying squirrel, tree squirrel, serow, muntjac.
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魚, 飛鼠，松鼠，長鬃山羊，山羌
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Yú, fēishǔ, sōngshǔ, zhǎng zōng shānyáng, shān qiāng
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Plants, reptile, amphibians, snakes.
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植物, 爬行動物, 兩棲動物, 蛇
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Zhíwù, páxíng dòngwù, liǎngqī dòngwù, shé
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Scenery, culture, nature in general, shopping.
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風景, 文化, 一般大自然, 購物
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Fēngjǐng, wénhuà, yībān dà zìrán, gòuwù
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Rain boots, SLR, record shot (photo).
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雨鞋, 單眼相機, 記錄照片
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Yǔxié, dānyǎn xiàngjī, jìlù zhàopiàn
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Mosquito, leech, cagebird, food, nature, banding.
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蚊子，水蛭，籠鳥, 食物, 自然, 繫放
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Wénzi, shuǐzhì, lóng niǎo, shíwù, zìrán, xì fàng
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There is no malaria in Taiwan and dengue is rare. Leeches very rare. Cagebirds rare and declining.
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Laser pointer, camera, tripod, photo, birdcall
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鐳射筆, 相機, 三腳架, 照片, 鳥音
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Léishè bǐ, xiàngjī, sānjiǎojià, zhàopiàn, niǎo yīn
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Fieldguide. Painted, photo.
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圖鑑.
手繪的，照片
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Tújiàn.
Shǒuhuì de, zhàopiàn
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Binoculars,
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望遠鏡
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Wàngyuǎnjìng
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Spotting scope (telescope), decoy bird
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單筒望遠鏡, 假鳥
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Dān tǒng wàngyuǎnjìng, jiǎ niǎo
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Long lens, bird checklist.
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大砲, 鳥類名錄 or 名單
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Dàpào, niǎolèi mínglù - míngdān
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Literally heavy artillery. May be interchangeable with spotting scope.
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Bird guide, birder friends
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鳥導, 鳥友
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Niǎo dǎo, niǎo you
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‘niao you’ is a nice term describing fellow birders.
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Bird society, Forestry Bureau, national park, TESRI, environmental protected area.
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鳥會, 林務局, 國家公園, 特生中心, 生態保育區
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Niǎo huì, lín wù jú, guójiā gōngyuán, tè shēng zhōngxīn, shēngtài bǎoyù qū
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TESRI = Taiwan Endemic Research Institute. HK and China use the term 觀鳥會 for Bird Society.
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Feeding station, bird feeder, bird fair, bird hide.
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飼餵站, 餵鳥器, 鳥博覽會, hide?
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Sì wèi zhàn, wèi niǎo qì, niǎo bólǎnhuì,
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English name, scientific name, Chinese name.
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英文名, 學名, 中文名
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Yīngwén míng, xuémíng, zhōngwén míng
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Adjectives and other terms.
‘Bird situation’
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鳥況
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Niǎo kuàng
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This is a commonly used phrase describing the overall state of birding (variety/numbers of birds etc)
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...not good, average, very good.
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...不好, 普通, 很好
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Bù hǎo, pǔtōng, hěn hǎo
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Combine with ‘niao-kuang’ above. ie ‘niao-kuang hen hao’- the birding is good.
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What’s the birding like?
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鳥況如何?
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Niǎo kuàng rúhé?
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i.e. Are there lots of good birds?
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Endemic/ Endemic subspecies, bird species.
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特有種, 特有亞種, 鳥種
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Tèyǒu zhǒng, tèyǒu yà zhǒng, niǎo zhǒng
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Resident, migratory, wintering, summering, introduced (exotic).
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留鳥, 候鳥, 越冬, 越夏, 過境, 引進
種 (外來種).
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Liúniǎo, hòuniǎo, yuèdōng, yuè xià, guòjìng, yǐnjìn
Zhǒng (wàilái zhǒng).
| |
Common/Rare/Special, near extinct.
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普通, 稀有, 特殊, 瀕臨絕種
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Pǔtōng, xīyǒu, tèshū, bīnlín juézhǒng
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Insectivorous, seed-eating, flock, mealworm.
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食蟲的, 吃種子的, 鳥群, 麵包蟲
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Shí chóng de, chī zhǒngzǐ de, niǎo qún, miànbāo chóng
| |
Female, male, adult, juvenile, chick.
Injured
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母鳥, 公鳥, 成鳥, 亞成, 雛鳥.
受傷
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Mǔ niǎo, gōng niǎo, chéngniǎo, yà chéng, chúniǎo.
Shòushāng
| |
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
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春天, 夏天 秋天，冬天
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Chūntiān, xiàtiān qiūtiān, dōngtiān
| |
Nest, fruiting tree, biodiversity, next to road.
|
鳥巢, 有果實的樹 生物多樣性, 路旁邊
|
Niǎocháo, yǒu guǒshí de shù shēngwù duōyàng xìng, lù pángbiān
| |
Tree, bushes, underbrush, drainage ditch
|
樹, 灌木, 草叢, 排水溝
|
Shù, guànmù, cǎocóng, páishuǐ gōu
| |
Forest, fishpond, dense forest, electric cables, road
|
森林, 魚塘, 密林, 電線, 馬路
|
Sēnlín, yú táng, mìlín, diànxiàn, mǎlù
| |
On, in, under, middle of.
|
上面, 裡面,下面, 中間
|
Shàngmiàn, lǐmiàn, xiàmiàn, zhōngjiān
| |
Too far, too close, to disturb.
On the water,
|
太遠, 太近, 干擾.
水面上
|
Tài yuǎn, tài jìn, gànrǎo.
Shuǐmiàn shàng
| |
Fly, swim, walk, preening, feeding, eat, hunting
|
飛, 游泳, 走路
, 理羽, 覓食, 吃, 狩獵
|
Fēi, yóuyǒng, zǒulù
, Lǐ yǔ, mì shí, chī, shòuliè
| |
To breed, to attract.
|
繁殖, 吸引
|
Fánzhí, xīyǐn
| |
‘Controlled’
|
有管制
|
Yǒu guǎnzhì
|
Re. where access is controlled - completely, or accessible by signing in or paying toll.
|
Split, lump, migration
|
裂解, lump??? 遷徙
|
Lièjiě, lump??? Qiānxǐ
| |
Research, fun, cooperation
|
研究, 好玩, 合作
|
Yánjiū, hǎowán, hézuò
|
Possible reasons for birding here.
|
Great photo!
|
拍得很好!
|
Pāi de hěn hǎo!
|
or ‘photographed very well’
|
Clear, unclear
|
清楚, 模糊
|
Qīngchu, móhú
| |
Shy, skulking, confiding
|
害羞, 躲躲閃閃, 不怕人,
|
Hàixiū, duǒduoshǎnshǎn, bùpà rén,
| |
Holiday. Too many people.
|
假日. 人太多了.
|
Jiàrì. Rén tài duōle
| |
What is the weather forecast?
|
天氣預報如何？
|
Tiānqì yùbào rúhé?
| |
Weather, rainy, cloudy, sunny, humid, hot.
|
天氣，下雨，陰天，晴天，潮濕，熱
|
Tiānqì, xià yǔ, yīn tiān, qíngtiān, cháoshī, rè
| |
Typhoon, earthquake, landslide, closed mountain
|
颱風, 地震, landslide 封山
|
Táifēng, dìzhèn, land?slide fēng shān
|
Mountain areas are sometimes closed before or after bad weather.
|
Environmental conservation, habitat
|
生態保育, 棲地
|
Shēngtài bǎoyù, qī de
| |
Sound, to listen.
The other side.
|
聲音, 聽.
另外一邊
|
Shēngyīn, tīng.
Lìngwài yībiān
|
...of a tree, trail
|
Flying back and forth
|
飛來飛去
|
Fēi lái fēi qù
| |
Bird-watching activities, eco-tour
|
賞鳥活動, 生態旅遊
|
Shǎng niǎo huódòng, shēngtài lǚyóu
|
With driver or guide maybe.
Is it convenient to go here…?
How long will it take?
|
方便去這裡嗎?
要多長時間?
|
Fāngbiàn qù zhèlǐ ma?
Yào duō cháng shíjiān?
| |
How much will this trip cost?
Let’s use the meter?
|
這趟需要多少費用?
照跳錶計價
|
Zhè tàng xūyào duōshǎo fèiyòng?
Zhào tiào biǎo jìjià
| |
I will meet you here in...minutes/hours.
|
我們...分鐘/小時後，約在這裡見面
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Wǒmen...Fēnzhōng/xiǎoshí hòu, yuē zài zhèlǐ jiànmiàn
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...depends on what birds I see. My itinerary may change.
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...要看看...我有沒有看到我想要的鳥。我的行程有可能會改變...
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... Yào kàn kàn... Wǒ yǒu méiyǒu kàn dào wǒ xiǎng yào de niǎo. Wǒ de xíngchéng yǒu kěnéng huì gǎibiàn...
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Drive. If I see anything interesting I will tell you to stop.
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先開車. 如果我看到我想要的,我會告訴你停下來。
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Xiān kāichē. Rúguǒ wǒ kàn dào wǒ xiǎng yào de, wǒ huì gàosu nǐ tíng xiàlái.
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I need... rest, beer, accommodation, coffee.
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我需要...休息, 啤酒, 住宿, 咖啡
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Wǒ xūyào... Xiūxí, píjiǔ, zhùsù, kāfēi
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I want to go here...
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我想去這裡...
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Wǒ xiǎng qù zhèlǐ...
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I need a bathroom. Sit-down toilet.
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我需要上廁所.
坐式馬桶
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Wǒ xūyào shàng cèsuǒ.
Zuò shì mǎtǒng
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Usually lots of clean facilities around. OK to use handicapped sit-down toilets
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Faster/slower/more carefully.
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快一點/慢一點/小心一點
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Kuài yīdiǎn/màn yīdiǎn/xiǎoxīn yīdiǎn
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The best time to watch birds is early morning and evening. I prefer to do the travel at night or in the middle of the day.
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最佳賞鳥的時間是清晨和傍晚. 我們最好晚上或中午開車。
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Zuì jiā shǎng niǎo de shíjiān shì qīngchén hé bàngwǎn. Wǒmen zuì hǎo wǎnshàng huò zhōngwǔ kāichē
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I don’t need to have a fancy meal, a quick snack will be enough.
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我不需要吃大餐，一些零食就夠了
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Wǒ bù xūyào chī dà cān, yīxiē língshí jiù gòule
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Taiwanese prefer to have proper meals…
Remember 7-11.
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I’m... tired/sick/satisfied.
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我...累了/生病/滿意
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Wǒ...Lèile/shēngbìng/mǎnyì
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I need… a telephone/WiFi/transport.
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我需要...電話/無線網路/交通接駁
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Wǒ xūyào... Diànhuà/wúxiàn wǎng lù/jiāotōng jiē bó
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Other common phrases.
Thank-you.
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謝謝
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Xièxiè
(shay-shay)
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Taiwanese do say thanks, you should too.
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“Add Oil”
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加油
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Jiāyóu
(Jha-yo)
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This is an excellent all-round phrase of encouragement. Something to say in just about any situation.
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Taiwan is very beautiful.
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台灣很美麗.
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Táiwān hěn měilì.
(Taiwan hen mei-li)
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To see the best birds you probably notice this. Taiwanese appreciate hearing it.
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Be careful!
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小心
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Xiǎoxīn (shao-shin)
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A couple highlight - and not highlight birds
Mikado Pheasant
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帝雉
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Dì zhì
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Swinhoe’s Pheasant
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藍腹鷴
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Lán fù xián
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Blue Magpie
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藍鵲
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Lán que
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Chinese Bulbul
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白頭翁
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Báitóuwēng
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Sparrow
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麻雀
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Máquè
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Black-faced Spoonbill
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黑面琵鷺 or shortened to 黑琵
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Hēi miàn pí lù, hēi pí
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Fairy Pitta
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八色鳥
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Bā sè niǎo
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Version 1.1 Compiled November 2013. All suggestions, corrections or additions to this should be sent to Richard at taiwanecotours@gmail.com For updated versions of this, and further information on guided tours see BirdingTaiwan.com Many thanks to friends for assistance in preparing this. Please attribute me. 請注意，本文件的目標對象使用者為外國人，有些建議的語言可能無法反向使用。
