Photo by Renato Marques on Unsplash
Halloween is around the corner, so to help get you in the mood for 鬼 guǐ (ghosts) and 女巫 nǚwū (witches), let’s look at some Chinese vocabulary for Halloween.
Things that go bump in the night.
你今年会穿万圣节服装吗？ Nǐ jīnnián huì chuān Wànshèngjié fúzhuāng ma？(are you wearing a Halloween costume this year)? Kids aren’t the only ones who wear 服装 fúzhuāng (costumes). Some of the classics are 木乃伊 mùnǎiyī (a mummy), 狼人 lángrén (a werewolf), 僵尸 jiāngshī (a zombie), 怪兽 guàishòu (a monster), 恶魔 èmó (a devil), or 吸血鬼 xīxuèguǐ (a vampire). But 吓人的服装 xiàrénde fúzhuāng (a scary costume) is not your only option. You could also be 稻草人 dàocǎorén (a scarecrow), 巫师 wūshī (a sorcerer), 仙女 xiānnǚ (a fairy), 公主 gōngzhǔ (a princess), 海盗 hǎidào (a pirate), or 电影中的角色 diànyǐngzhōngde jiǎosè (a movie character).
- 今年万圣节你会穿什么？
Jīnnián Wànshèngjié nǐ huì chuān shénme？
What are you dressing as this Halloween? - 你的服装看起来很棒！
Nǐde fúzhuāng kànqǐlái hěnbàng！
Your costume looks great! - 你的服装很有创意！
Nǐde fúzhuāng hěn yǒuchuàngyì！
Your costume is very creative! - 你的服装很吓人！
Nǐde fúzhuāng hěn xiàrén！
Your costume is scary!
适合孩子 shìhé háizi (For Kids)
Kids love to go trick-or-treating. They walk around their neighborhood and 他们敲门 tāmen qiāomén (they knock on doors). When someone answers, they hold up their 袋子 dàizi (bags) and ask for 糖果 tángguǒ (candy). If the person doesn’t give the kids candy, beware of the trick! Since no one needs to give kids any more ideas about 恶作剧 èzuòjù (mischief), we’ll leave that to your imagination. 小心！Xiǎoxīn！(better safe than sorry!). Best to just make sure you have enough candy.
- 这个男孩/女孩拿着一个装满糖果的袋子。
Zhège nánhái/nǚhái názhe yíge zhuāngmǎn tángguǒ de dàizi。
The boy/girl is holding a bag full of candy. - 你最喜欢的糖果是什么？
Nǐ zuìxǐhuān de tángguǒ shì shénme？
What’s your favorite candy? - 我爱吃巧克力。
Wǒ ài chī qiǎokèlì。
I love chocolate. - 我对你恶作剧。
Wǒ duìnǐ èzuòjù。
I played a trick on you.
适合大人 shìhé dàrén (For Adults)
Halloween isn’t just for kids. Adults also like to get dressed up. Do you wear your 服装 fúzhuāng (costume) to work? Or maybe you go to 派对 pàiduì (a party) where everyone is dressed up. Even if you don’t go to any parties, you probably get 南瓜 nánguā (a pumpkin) for a jack-o-lantern. You’ll carve 脸 liǎn (a face) into it, and put 蜡烛 làzhú (candle) inside so the face glows.
- 我们要去参加化装舞会。
Women yàoqù cānjiā huàzhuāng wǔhuì。
We’re going to a costume party. - 这个周末我们去买一个南瓜吧。
Zhège zhōumò women qù mǎi yíge nánguā ba。
Let’s buy a pumpkin this weekend.
我很害怕！Wǒ hěn hàipà！ (I’m Scared!)
Halloween is a great time of year to watch 恐怖电影 kǒngbù diànyǐng (horror movies) or maybe visit鬼屋 guǐwū (a haunted house). It’s fun to 尖叫 jiānjiào (scream), as long as 噩梦 èmèng (nightmares) aren’t too bad. Now that summer is over and 夜晚 yèwǎn (the night) is longer, it’s the perfect time to visit 令人毛骨悚然的地方 lìngrén máogǔsǒngrán de dìfāng (eerie places), places for some good Halloween fun. Walk through 树林 shùlín (the woods) 在黑暗中 zài hēiàn zhōng (in the dark), take a shortcut through 墓园 mùyuán (the graveyard), visit that 废弃的房子 fèiqì de fángzi (abandoned house) where you know there are probably no 邪灵 xiélíng (evil spirits). Or at least you hope.
- 这个地方很阴森！
Zhège dìfāng hěn yīnsēn！
This place is spooky! - 一起看恐怖片吧。
Yìqǐ kàn kǒngbùpiàn ba。
Let’s watch a horror film. - 我昨晚做了一个噩梦。
Wǒ zuówǎn zuòle yíge èmèng。
I had a nightmare last night. - 我起鸡皮疙瘩了！
Wǒ qǐ jīpígēda le！
I have goosebumps! - 我听到一个怪声！
Wǒ tīngdào yíge guàishēng！
I hear a strange noise! - 你相信鬼吗？
Nǐ xiāngxìn guǐ ma？
Do you believe in ghosts? - 我们一起在黑暗中穿过树林。
Wǒmen yìqǐ zàihēiànzhōng chuānguò shùlín。
Let’s walk through the woods in the dark.
Whatever you do for Halloween, 保持安全，玩得开心！ Bǎochí ānquán，wándé kāixīn！ (Be stay safe and have fun!)
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