避免冒犯「好兄弟」
Ken is from Canada. He is visiting Keelung with his Taiwanese friend, Julia.
肯恩是加拿大人，他跟朋友朱莉亞一起去基隆。
visit(v.)造訪
Ken: Wow, the display here is interesting. Is there an event or festival going on now?
肯恩：哇，這邊的展示品好有趣，有什麼活動或節慶嗎？
display(n.)展示品interesting(adj.)有趣的event(n.)事件、活動festival(n.)節慶
Julia: Yes, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is “ghost month.” It’s like Halloween. We call them “Good Brothers” in order not to offend them.
朱莉亞：有的，農曆的七月是台灣的鬼月，就像萬聖節。我們稱他們為「好兄弟」，避免冒犯。
lunar calendar農曆call(v.)稱呼offend(v.)冒犯
Ken: Sounds a bit terrifying. What do people do during this month?
肯恩：聽起來有點可怕，你們會在這個月做什麼呢？
terrifying(adj.)可怕的
Julia: Most Taiwanese people will prepare offerings of food, drinks and fruit for the “hungry ghosts and spirits.” It’s said that they did bad things when they were alive, so they are allowed to eat only during ghost month.
朱莉亞：多數台灣人會準備食物給「餓鬼」，據說他們都是在世時做了壞事，只能在鬼月時吃東西。
prepare(v.)準備offering(n.)供品alive(adj.)活著的、在世的allow(v.)允許
Ken: Are there any taboos during this month?
肯恩：這個月有什麼禁忌嗎？
taboo(n.)禁忌
Julia: Yes, traditionally, we can’t hang lanterns during ghost month because Good Brothers will think that they are calling for them, especially white lanterns.
朱莉亞：有喔，傳統上，我們不能掛燈籠，因為好兄弟可能會以為燈籠在呼喚他們，尤其是白色燈籠。
traditionally(adv.)傳統上hang(v.)懸掛lantern(n.)燈籠especially(adv.)特別、尤其
Ken: I have two white lanterns. I guess I’ll have to store them well this month.
肯恩：我有兩個白色燈籠，看來這個月我要好好收起來。
store(v.)儲藏
Julia: Also, we will avoid going to dangerous places like the seaside or forests, because ghosts like to find someone from the human world to replace them there. You also shouldn’t hold an umbrella indoors, because Good Brothers will be drawn to hide underneath it.
朱莉亞：再來，我們會避免去海邊、森林等危險的地方，因為鬼魂喜歡抓交替。我們也不在室內撐傘，因為好兄弟可能會被吸引過來，躲在傘下。
avoid(v.)避免dangerous(adj.)危險的replace(v.)取代indoors(ad.)室內地draw(v.)吸引hide(v.)躲藏underneath(prep.)在⋯⋯之下
Ken: It’s spooky but very interesting! Thanks for sharing with me.
肯恩：令人毛骨悚然又有趣！謝謝你跟我分享。
spooky(adj.)詭異的