Ep.177 🍰 Bitesize Basics 🍰 Polite Ways to Say “Death” and “Ghost” in Mandarin

Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 · Aug 25, 2025 · 6m

Did you know saying “ghost” out loud can bring bad luck? 👻 In this episode, Mindy and Joeru show you softer ways to talk about death and ghosts in Mandarin, especially during Ghost Month (鬼月) in Taiwan. You’ll learn how to avoid sounding too direct, respect cultural taboos, and better understand the hidden meanings behind words like 走了and 不在了.

🎯 Today’s Topic: Euphemisms for “death” and “ghost” in Mandarin — and how tone and context can change everything!

🗝 Key Sentence: 我奶奶去世了。 (Wǒ nǎinai qùshì le.) – My grandma passed away.

🗣 Listener Challenge:

你聽得出來嗎？What’s the difference between 不在 and…