Take a deep breath. It's time to order your first meal in Chinese. Luckily, many restaurants in China have picture menus which makes ordering a matter of simply pointing to something and saying "I want this". In this lesson, learn how to do just that, as well as discuss briefly with a friend what they want. Easy enough right? But what if they don't have what you want? Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2052
It's the day before Chinese New Year and everyone is antsy to get home to have dinner with their families. Some employees are able to get off work early and head home, but not everyone is so lucky... Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2368
The tones of Mandarin Chinese are a challenge for every learner. You don't just master tones in a week; it's a lengthy process. One thing you're going to be doing for a while, then, as a dedicated learner, is clarifying the tones for the words you're learning. In this lesson, learn the crucial question for asking "what tone is that?" Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2024
In the second video starring guest host Dan, we discuss a dialogue between two co-workers. One of them is very inquisitive, asking lots of questions about what the other person likes to do in their free time. The responses are not the most polite or detailed of answers. Learn ways to ask "What do you like to do when you're working/relaxing/at the weekend. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3025
When you're first learning Chinese, it's pretty tough to express your basic opinions, needs, and desires when you don't know the names of the various objects that surround you. Today's lesson will teach you a useful phrase that will let you smoothly ask your teacher what something is called in Chinese USING Chinese! Handy! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2020
Everyone's got different preferences for living situations. Living with roommates can be vexing for those who desire personal space but a necessity for those who crave constant human interaction. Learn how to talk about your own housing situation in Mandarin Chinese in today's elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2013
No matter how linguistically well-prepared you may be when you visit China for the first time (all thanks to ChinesePod, of course!), you'll still inevitably encounter any number of awkward and embarrassing situations that will require a basic exchange of niceties in the local language. Today's newbie lesson will equip you with the most basic of phrases to both apologize for your blunder as well as thank the local who is nice enough to assist you in your time of need. Episode link: https://www.c...
In certain groups, McDonalds has been renamed the “McEmbassy” – and no matter how much you tell yourself you won’t, you will end up caving in to that craving for something familiar. So what would a burger order sound like? A super-sized lesson, that’s what. Listen in to this podcast and learn how to use Mandarin Chinese to order food in a fast food restaurant. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0330
There're always people breaking rules, such as eating in a library or taking pictures in a museum. Do you want to stop them but don't know how? In this lesson, we are going to learn how to ask people not to do something and ask whether can we do something. Let's get started! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4352
It’s hard enough explaining “biscuits and gravy” to other countries, not to mention missing mom and her kitchen. So, when that long face is chewing on something from a cow’s face, how to save face and face up to the fact that you’re homesick? Listen to ChinesePod, of course – the most nurturing of all podcasts, and learn how to talk about good old home using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0317
While “nothing is absolute”, we shudder to imagine a world without tying someone down…erm, metaphorically speaking, of course. In this podcast, Ken and Jenny unquestionably and beyond doubt teach you an indisputably certain Mandarin Chinese lesson on verbal confirmation. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0138
Staying at hostels in China are an excellent way to travel for the cash-strapped tourist and tend to be, in our experience, clean, tidy and full of friendly travellers. However, many of them will often lock up their doors as early as midnight! What's to be done if you're looking to explore a city's vibrant nightlife? Find out in today's elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2010
Anyone who has lived in China knows that you can't make any new friends without Wechat! Today, in this newbie dialogue, we're showing you how to ask people out and add them on Wechat. Make sure to watch till the end! Joe has a little surprise for all of you! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4358
Subway, taxi, or bus? This is the common commuting conundrum faced by any number of working Chinese throughout the country. Listen in as two coworkers discuss the pros and cons (well, mostly the cons) of each mode of transportation in today's elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2006
When the countdown to midnight begins, you never know who you’re going to be standing next to. In this lesson, learn how to talk about how you plan to spend New Year’s, and also how to wish someone a “Happy New Year” in Mandarin Chinese. Listen to this podcast, and we’ll help you to not be lost for words when you see in the New Year with a Chinese friend. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0073
Get ready for the countdown! The New Year is just hours away. In this lesson, two friends discuss their New Year's Eve plans. Learn the Chinese word for New Year and, of course, champagne! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2093
Let's face it, "Auld Lang Syne" is getting just a little bit stale, so we've come up with a new New Year's song. It's gonna sweep the globe. In Mandarin. What language is "Auld Lang Syne" anyway? If it can cut it for 300 years, so can a New Year's song in Chinese. Listen to this podcast, and sing loud! The tipsier you are, the better it will sound (to you, at least)! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0746
In today's ChinesePod lesson we're at the dinner table on Christmas, digging into some delicious home-cooked food. Join us and discover how to describe this special meal - in Chinese! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1321
You just got that karaoke machine you've wanted for ages. How do you express your delight in Mandarin Chinese? Listen to today's podcast! P.S. For those of you still shopping, ChinesePod makes a great gift... Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1058
“Do they know it’s Christmastime at allllllll....” - while John and Ken fight over who gets to sing the Spandau Ballet part, in this podcast we’ll unwrap a Mandarin Chinese lesson on buying Christmas presents here in China. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0375
A crazy man with a white fu manchu and white hair seems to have infiltrated your house. You get your nunchucks out from under your bed, poised to karate chop him. But wait. You've been spending a leeetle too much time studying Mandarin... keep your Chinese whipping stars in the closet--this isn't some old kung fu movie, it's Christmas... with a podcast to go with it. Listen and learn about old Santa, China-style. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0739
When living in China, going back to one's home country for Christmas can be difficult. Christmas isn't an official holiday in China and the place that many foreigners call home is far away. So if you end staying China for Christmas, how do you talk about it? Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2343
If you’ve spent any time in China, or plan to, you’ll notice a strange piece of paper being asked for at the end of meals/cab rides/etc. What is it? We’d better let Jenny explain; and if you’re lucky, she’ll include a lil’ cultural insight as well. In this podcast, learn how to ask for that precious receipt, in Mandarin Chinese. ChinesePod…the taste of fantastic. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0128
Everyone's heard the song Jingle Bells. But did you know that there's a Chinese version of this Christmas classic? We kid you not. Listen to this lesson to learn the words (that is, if you can remember past the first line). Jingle bells, jingle bells... Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1320
Nervous about how to get past that initial “good morning”? Well, nothing better than to ask a question, naturally, “how are you?” Here’s a great basic lesson that will get you through all your “good morning” greets. In this podcast you will learn how to give and respond to greetings in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0142
Time has flown by and once again it's time to deck the halls, hang the stockings, put up the Christmas tree and eagerly await Santa's arrival. Today's Qing Wen has all your favorite Christmas terminology in Mandarin Chinese. Listen in and amaze your Chinese friends with your ability to describe all your favorite Christmas traditions in detail! And finally, a happy holidays to all our beloved users from the entire ChinesePod staff! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/QW0232
In this lesson, we are going to look at a common dialogue between a guest and a host. We will show you how to invite someone to visit next time, and how you can take your leave as a guest. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4343
Picture this: it’s a dark night, and someone’s all tucked in. Alone in the house, each creak seems to come directly at her. So when the doorknob starts to rattle, what happens? A Mandarin Chinese lesson, that’s what…Listen in to this podcast and learn how to be able to discern who it really is pounding at your door. Premium subscribers will learn how to say, “The calls are coming from inside the house, mmmmwwwaaaaa haaaa haaaa.” Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0313
Greetings and farewells: the indispensable tools for striking up and ending conversations. If you don't want to appear entirely socially inept, you should probably master these phrases. Learn them in Mandarin Chinese in today's lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2007
If a good friend asks to borrow a little bit of money from us, we'll probably oblige 99% of the time without setting up any repayment parameters. But as the days turn into weeks and weeks into months, things can get a bit tricky and awkward when your "good friend" is slow in repaying his or her loan. Learn how to calmly tackle such a situation using Mandarin Chinese in today's ChinesePod lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2004
