七月半鴨仔——毋知死活

Chinese
Ghost Festival duckling; duck to act recklessly; to do something regardless of danger
trad. (七月半鴨仔——毋知死活) 七月半 鴨仔 —— 毋知死活
simp. (七月半鸭仔——毋知死活) 七月半 鸭仔 —— 毋知死活
Literally: “ducks on Ghost Festival - don't know whether they can live”.

Etymology

According to customs in Southern China, chicken is used as sacrifice for gods, while ducks are used as sacrifice for ghosts. Therefore, ducks are likely to be slaughtered at the Ghost Festival.

Pronunciation

  • Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): chhit-ge̍h-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̄-chai sí-oa̍h / chhit-goe̍h-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̄-chai sí-oa̍h / chhit-ge̍rh-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̌-chai sí-oa̍h
  • Southern Min
    • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Taipei)
      • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhit-ge̍h-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̄-chai sí-oa̍h
      • Tâi-lô: tshit-ge̍h-puànn ah-á, m̄-tsai sí-ua̍h
      • IPA (Xiamen): /t͡ɕʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ puã²¹ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻²² ɕi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/
      • IPA (Taipei): /t͡ɕʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡe(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ puã¹¹ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁴⁴ a⁵³ m̩³³⁻¹¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ ɕi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/
    • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung)
      • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhit-goe̍h-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̄-chai sí-oa̍h
      • Tâi-lô: tshit-gue̍h-puànn ah-á, m̄-tsai sí-ua̍h
      • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡ɕʰit̚³²⁻⁴ ɡue(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ puã²¹ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁴⁴ a⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻³³ ɕi⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ⁴/
      • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡ɕʰit̚³²⁻⁵ ɡue(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ puã²¹ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁴⁴ a⁵³ m̩²²⁻²¹ t͡sai⁴⁴⁻²² ɕi⁵³⁻⁴⁴ uaʔ¹²¹/
    • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
      • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhit-ge̍rh-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̌-chai sí-oa̍h
      • Tâi-lô: tshit-ge̍rh-puànn ah-á, m̌-tsai sí-ua̍h
      • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡ɕʰit̚⁵⁻²⁴ ɡə(ʔ)²⁴⁻² puã⁴¹ a(ʔ)⁵ a⁵⁵⁴ m̩²² t͡sai³³ ɕi⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ uaʔ²⁴/

Idiom

七月半鴨仔——毋知死活

  1. (Hokkien) to act recklessly; to do something regardless of danger

Synonyms
  • 七月半鴨仔——毋知死／七月半鸭仔——毋知死
  • (Teochew) 七月半鴨——唔知死活／七月半鸭——唔知死活
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