Diary - We are entering Chinese ghost month.

[Maybo]

This is an entry from my diary. Please check it and correct any mistakes.

We are entering Chinese ghost month. I usually ignore it but every year, everywhere will keep mentioning about the taboos. I'm afraid of ghosts, especially at night, I don't dare to go to the bathroom if I think of them. Now, I'm reminded of them again. Although I'm afraid of them, I like to watch ghost movies, but since it's very scary so I prefer reading English books now in most of time. When I read books and come across new words, I skip them, which makes me less frightened.

 

[emsr2d2]

We are entering Chinese Ghost Month. I usually ignore it but every year, I see it mentioned everywhere. will keep mentioning about the taboos. I'm afraid of ghosts, especially at night; I don't dare to go to the bathroom if I think of them. Now no comma here I'm being reminded of them again. Although I'm afraid of them ghosts, I like to watch ghost horror movies. However, but since it's they're very scary so most of the time I prefer reading to read books in English. books now in most of time.

When I read books and come across new words, I skip them, which makes me less frightened. This sentence doesn't fit the rest of the piece. Why would you be frightened of new words if you're not reading horror stories?

The second sentence doesn't really make sense. If you usually ignore it, how do you know that it's mentioned everywhere every year? Do you mean that this year it's harder to ignore it?

 

[Maybo]

The second sentence doesn't really make sense. If you usually ignore it, how do you know that it's mentioned everywhere every year? Do you mean that this year it's harder to ignore it?

It is because every year, some online search engines will show frequent searching results in ghost month and they usually are taboos for ghosts. When I go to YouTube, the show I often watch also create a special episode for this month. Even sometimes when I go to bookstores, some of them will put ghost story books in a prominent spot.

 

[Maybo]

When I read books and come across new words, I skip them, which makes me less frightened. This sentence doesn't fit the rest of the piece. Why would you be frightened of new words if you're not reading horror stories?

It should be “I prefer to read ghost books in English”.

 

[Maybo]

Does “horror movies” include “bloody movies”? Because I want to specify about the ghost.

 

[Tarheel]

I would say I try to ignore it, but I can't because I am reminded of it regularly.

I had never heard of ghost books before.

I don't think that's a good strategy. I might write the word down and then look it up when I'm finished reading. For example, I might read a couple of chapters then look up the words I have written down.

Would you like to tell me more about what you mean by "taboos"?

I had never heard of ghost month before. Is that supposed to be taken seriously? (I imagine that the ghosts are pretty happy that they have their own month. )

 

[Maybo]

Would you like to tell me more about what you mean by "taboos"?

I had never heard of ghost month before. Is that supposed to be taken seriously? (I imagine that the ghosts are pretty happy that they have their own month. )

It is said that every year, there is a month for ghosts to be released from the hell to the human world. One of the taboos is avoiding water related activities. It’s because they will wait you in the water and take your life to let themselves to incarnate into human again.

 

[Tarheel]

Say: "It is said that every year there is a month for ghosts to be released from hell and inhabit the human world.

A taboo is something you can do but is forbidden. For example, there is the incest taboo. You can't avoid water.

I would say that during ghost month you are to avoid water (ponds, lakes, rivers) because ghosts wait in the water for people to come by. Then they take over their bodies.

I guess nobody gets on a boat during ghost month.

 

[Tarheel]

When they tell you to avoid water do they explain how you are supposed to do that?

 

[Maybo]

When they tell you to avoid water do they explain how you are supposed to do that?

Just avoid swimming in the pools, seas or rivers, especially at night. It is said that they like to drag human legs down into the water.

Some taboos: https://god.com.hk/blogs/everything/hungry-ghost-festival

 

[emsr2d2]

We don't use the terms "ghost books" or "bloody movies". You could use "supernatural genre books/movies" if you don't want to use "horror". Sometimes, movies with a lot of blood in are called "gory movies".

 

[Tarheel]

Just avoid swimming in the pools, seas or rivers, especially at night. It is said that they like to drag human legs down into the water.

Some taboos: https://god.com.hk/blogs/everything/hungry-ghost-festival

Well, if you're swimming your legs are already in the water. I think you mean "they" like to grab people by the legs and pull them under the water.

It visited that website. The writing is mostly good except for one sentence that starts off okay but then kind of loses its way.

I think they're pulling your leg.

 

[Tarheel]

@Maybo The word "taboos" is wrong. They are talking about rituals or sayings or beliefs or superstitions.

I don't think the writer of that article really believes that stuff. If you really believe something you don't call it a superstition. It's more like they're poking fun at it.

 

[dunchee]

@Maybo The word "taboos" is wrong. They are talking about rituals or sayings or beliefs or superstitions.

I must say I was surprised because I didn’t know the word “taboos” was wrong. That’s how we say it, in Chinese of course, and “taboo(s)” is the translation. Anyway, I was curious so I did some digging. Now I think it's more of a different opinion than the word itself being wrong.

Global Studies: China - Page 54
Suzanne Ogden 1997
"The influence of Ghost Month is widespread in society, with Chinese heeding a long list of taboos that have a strong impact on business activity during this cautious time. The real estate industry feels the negative forces more so ..."

Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse
Brad Steiger 2010
"Taboos during the Month of the Hungry Ghosts

Those who fervently believe in the taboos that many bad things may happen to people during the most cursed month of the year do their utmost not to give birth during this month—nor to renovate their homes, take trips, go swimming, buy real estate or get a haircut."

Oh, I didn't know about that "get a haircut" one!

 

[Tarheel]

It's a long list of superstitions.

 

[tedmc]

The Ghost Festival/Hungry Ghost Festival is observed in many Asian countries.

Ghost Festival - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org