Taliban

Sîn-ha̍k-sū (cho͘-chit)

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Thàu-koè ko kái-sek-tō͘ siòng-ki, cheng-chhat-ki ē-tàng cheng-chhat kàu A-hù-hān ta-sò nî-thô͘ lō͘-bīn ê soè-bî piàn-hoà, in-ūi Sîn-ha̍k-sū cho͘-chit sî-siông tī tē-bīn-hā tâi kán-ī chà-toâⁿ.

Using high-resolution cameras, reconnaissance planes can discern minute changes in the dried-mud roads of Afghanistan that come about because the Taliban often bury improvised explosives under the ground.

Virtue is its own reward; good will be rewarded (and evil punished)

Siān iú siān pò

Literally: Good has good’s payback

Not know what’s good for oneself

M̄ chai hó pháiⁿ

Literally: not know good (or) bad

Make a sudden change for the better; do an about face; have an epiphany; find Jesus

Pàng hā tô͘-to, li̍p tē sêng hu̍t

Literally: Put down the butcher knife, (and) immediately become a buddha

(Buddhism–like Stoicism and, when you get down to brass tacks, Christianity–rejects the Aristotelian concept of virtue .)

Set a good example for

Ū iūⁿ, khoàⁿ iūⁿ (; bô iūⁿ, ka-tī siūⁿ)

Literally: Have a model/form, refer to the model/form; not have a model/form, think for yourself

Kut

Kut, which means ‘bone,’ is added to words when describing someone’s innate character. Usually negative.  Examples include:

Pîn-toāⁿ-kut (lazybones)

Khit-chia̍h-kut (moocher; beggar)

Chha̍t-á-kut (thief)

Commit harakiri; kill oneself

Chhiat pak chū-sat

Literally: cut belly self kill

Extramarital affair; have an affair

Goā-gū

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Í-keng kiat-hun ê lú-chú kap chi̍t-ūi  iù-tī-hn̂g hū-chek-jîn goā-gū hoâi-īn, khì hō͘ sian-siⁿ iau-kiû poê-siông Tâi-phiò 400-bān kho͘.

A married woman had an affair with the head of a pre-school and got pregnant, and was sued by her husband for four million NTD in compensation.

Old folks’ home; old-age home

Lāu-lâng-īⁿ

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Chū i tiòng-hong lâi toà lāu-lâng-īⁿ í-āu, in chhù-ni̍h ê lâng lóng m̄ bat lâi khoàⁿ i.

From the time he had the stroke and moved to the old-age home, his family has never come to see him.

Sleep with a clear conscience; have a clean conscience

Sim lāi bô siâ, put phàⁿ kúi

Literally: “If there’s no evil in your heart, you don’t fear ghosts”