國立教育廣播電臺

Joey:

Hope, what are you listening just now?

Hope:

Weather forecast. It says, there is a typhoon forming in the southeast of Taiwan and it is approaching Taiwan in about two days.

Joey:

Approaching? It means “coming”?

Hope:

That’s right. Approach means to come nearer gradually.

Joey:

So, there is another typhoon approaching?

Hope:

Yes. The Central Weather Bureau says it will hit Taiwan either this Sunday or Monday if it travels fast enough.

Joey:

I have a questions. There are typhoons like, 輕颱、中颱and 強烈颱風. How are they different?

Hope:

Well, according to Central Weather Bureau, a tropical storm is developed from the tropical depression (熱帶低氣壓). A tropical storm is called輕度颱風. The wind speed near the center is around 62-117 km/hour. And typhoon is中度颱風. The wind speed near the center is 118-183 km/hour. As for強烈颱風, it is sometimes called the super typhoon. The wind speed of it can reach about 184 km/hour.

Joey:

I see. So, how do we say 颱風登陸 in English?

Hope:

We say “landfall”. It is when the typhoon’s center moves ashore from the ocean, and it always causes severe disaster for the landfall area.

Joey:

Sounds scary.

Hope:

That’s why we have to stay alert whenever there is a typhoon.

Joey:

I agree. I wonder if the government will 宣布放颱風假.

Hope:

announce a typhoon day? We’ll see.