It’s always difficult to find the right words of comfort when a friend’s loved one has passed away. It’s many times more difficult when you have to do it in Mandarin. In this podcast, learn the right Chinese phrases for consoling your friend during that painful time. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0463
Jun 02, 2021•14 min
With the popularity of the previous lesson on visiting the doc (a lot more popular than actually visiting the doc), we decided that a health-laden week was in order. In this podcast, Nurse John and Candy Striper Jenny teach you words in Mandarin Chinese about First Aid. Open up and say: ‘Mandarin on your terms’. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0171
May 31, 2021•17 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to pigs. They can be directly translated to "Men are afraid of being famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat", "Disguise oneself as a pig to catch a tiger", and "Even though one has never eaten pork, at least ...
May 28, 2021•13 min
Situation: You’re working on a document at your office and your computer suddenly freezes up. What do you do? 1. Flail arms around until someone notices, make the “bbbrrrrrrrrr” sound, rub arms and then stand in a “frozen” position. 2. Listen to a lesson on telling someone your computer froze up. …never thought we’d say this, but we’re kind of hoping you opt for the first (we archive these lessons anyway). In this podcast, learn how to cry for tech help in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https:/...
May 26, 2021•12 min
You’ll get here and pay 15 yuan for a DVD and wonder why people laugh when you tell them. We don’t want people laughing at you--thus the lesson of the art of the haggle. In this podcast learn some hard-core bargaining phrases in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0166
May 24, 2021•16 min
If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, surely college made something out of you, right? In this podcast, Jenny takes the reins (with Ken there to help) talking about studies, and post-graduation plans in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0066
May 21, 2021•23 min
A few cultural tips on “personal upkeep” here: 1. Most Chinese bathe at night. 2. Chairman Mao used tea to brush his teeth. 3. Toilet paper is thrown in a wastebasket. …more, you say? More it is – listen to this podcast and learn about washing your face, brushing your teeth and more, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0227
May 19, 2021•14 min
To be honest, we have had this lesson ready to go for a month, and would like to say we timed it for the first week of Germany’s World Cup Football events--but it simply took 30-odd days to explain the sport to our North American staff. Nonetheless, for this podcast put on that foam finger and learn how to talk trash to the other countries teams’ fans in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0160
May 17, 2021•17 min
Sure, Simon pierced many a hope with his sharp Cockney tongue, but no “Pop Idol”, nor its 1000 spin-off shows grabbed a country by its (silk) lapels and held as much attention as this year’s “Supergirl”. In this podcast, Ken (“Super Host”) and Jenny (“Super Hot”, according to your emails) chat about the phenomenon. In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about movie stars, TV shows, and famous singers in Mandarin Chinese…but who needs them when you have us? Episode link: https://www.chinesepo...
May 14, 2021•14 min
How and where did “chow main” get its name? “Kung Pao” is a dish and not a (brilliant) film? Someone must have their mouth full of “kuaizi” and not the proper tones. However, not to worry…in this podcast Ken takes off the apron strings and Jenny puts down that ladle for a Mandarin Chinese lesson on cooking. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0173
May 12, 2021•20 min
In Wu Cheng’en’s novel “Journey to the West”, a hero was born…in the form of a monkey. In this podcast, Jenny and Aggie offer up Mandarin Chinese insight on the character gracing television sets, subway adverts and washing liquids…not to mention our Jenny triples her already massive fan base by singing “Only You”…gosh, we’re good. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0151
May 10, 2021•19 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to snakes. They can be directly translated to "Hit the snake 7 inches below its head", "Once got bitten by the snake, and ended up being afraid of the straw ropes for ten years", and "A greedy man is like a snake tha...
May 07, 2021•10 min
In China, having a meal with clients is not just eating. Everything is related to the business. That's why learning table manners is so important. In this lesson, we’re going to learn what we can say when we are eating. Let's get started! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4362
May 05, 2021•8 min
Backpacking, Airbnb, popular Tibet sights, Rhodiola rosea (medicine for altitude sickness) … learn them in this lesson! 西藏旅行的广告听起来那么棒,自然有背包客跃跃欲试了,来听听他出发前的这段对话吧! HSK lvl 5 发愁 年代 无奈 HSK lvl 6 海拔 当心 风光 Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4563
May 03, 2021•17 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to horses. They can be directly translated to "A good horse doesn't eat the grass behind him", "A good horse gallops without stopping", and "You meant to pat the horse's butt, but you ended up patting on its leg". Do...
Apr 30, 2021•12 min
In China, having a meal with clients is not just eating. Everything is related to the business. That's why learning table manners is so important. In this lesson, let's start with how to host clients dinner. Let's get started! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4355
Apr 28, 2021•10 min
这节语法课程,我们一起来学习“其它”、“其他”和“其余”这三个词语。下面是本节课的重点知识! -其它: 只能指事物和事情。 -其他: 适用范围广,可以指人,也可以指物。 表示“另外、额外的”。 和“其余”相比,更口语化、随意一些。 -其余: 表示“剩余” 和“其他”相比,更书面化、正式一些。 Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4431
Apr 26, 2021•5 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to chickens. They can be directly translated to "The weasel wishes the chicken a good year", "Fail to steal the chicken and lose a handful of rice", and "When one person achieves the ascension, his chickens and dogs ...
Apr 23, 2021•14 min
Think you don’t need to talk about the internet? You’re positive? Okay, tell you what, think very, very carefully about your life sans web…no email, no news, no CHINESEPOD, ye gods! In this podcast, Ken (An Irish Spicoli) and Jenny (Our Little Surfer Girl) teach you how to talk in Mandarin Chinese about surfing the internet. The Chinese love their electronics and you’ve got to fit in! Listen and this lesson will teach you how. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0135
Apr 21, 2021•16 min
这节语法课程,我们一起来学习“别人”和“人家”这两个词语。下面是本节课的重点知识! 共同点: “人家”和“别人”都可以指除了说话双方以外的其他人。 不同点: 1、“人家”有时指的是确定的某个人;“别人”指的是不确定的人。 2、“人家”可以指自己,通常是女孩子撒娇时的自称。 3、“人家”可以作名词,指住户。 Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4429
Apr 19, 2021•7 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to dogs. They can be directly translated to "A dog sees people as short as itself", "No ivory will come out of a dog's mouth", and "The gold nest and the silver nest are not better than my dog house". Do you know wha...
Apr 16, 2021•11 min
Sometimes we take a lesson from our own experience. While names have been changed to protect the innocent (until proven stingy), the account to follow dealing with the guy who always forgets his wallet is real. While we’re busy snickering at the (hot) water cooler, Ken and Jenny will teach you through a Mandarin Chinese lesson on taking turns to pay. In this podcast you’ll learn how to have a little “discussion” with a cheap pal. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0129
Apr 14, 2021•14 min
这节语法课程,我们一起来学习“即”的用法,还有和它非常相似的“既”。下面是本节课的重要知识! -即:就是 后面跟解释性的概念。让前面的词语变得更加容易理解。 立即:马上,立刻 即时:刚刚发生的 即使……也……:表示假设情况下的转折 -既 既……又……:连接两个并列的概念 Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4427
Apr 12, 2021•10 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to dragons. They can be directly translated to "When you’re out, you behave like a dragon. When you’re at home, you behave like a worm", "Hoping my son will become a dragon, hoping my daughter will become a phoenix",...
Apr 09, 2021•10 min
At ChinesePod, we’re all about putting Ken into compromising situations (see: beatings with the “Tone Stick” out back), so when a request came in for talking about the type of men one likes, we couldn’t say no. In this podcast, Jenny teaches and Ken takes on the student of Mandarin Chinese role in our production of “Brokeback 山”. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0127
Apr 07, 2021•18 min
1949 was a big year for the P.R.C., but we’d be cheating if we told you why. In this podcast, you’ll take a walk down off of The Wall for a bit and look into Chinese history as China liberates herself, and takes on a new ruling party. In this lesson, you will learn some monumental historical happenings in China, and how to talk about them in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0148
Apr 05, 2021•19 min
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverbs, you will see a lot of animal metaphors to symbolize human actions. In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to tigers. They can be directly translated to "A tiger father doesn't have a dog son", "Knowing that there are tigers in the mountain, but still insisting going to the mountain", and "Newborn calves are not afraid of...
Apr 02, 2021•10 min
So, the contract said “5000 a month” and you said “heck, yes” and at the end of that first glorious month you realized that 5000 RMB is slightly less than it sounded…not a problem, simply ask for a raise. In this podcast, you will learn how to ask for a raise from your boss in Mandarin Chinese. Tell ya what, with the month you’ve had, we’ll make this a lesson on the house. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0107
Mar 31, 2021•14 min
How did you spend New Year’s last year? Can you even remember? What do you plan to do this year? And what do you plan to never do again? Listen in on this podcast and learn about making plans for a great New Year’s party, as well as some common New Year’s resolutions. Learn how to talk about all this and more, in ChinesePod’s last lesson of 2005. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0074
Mar 29, 2021•25 min
In this lesson, you'll learn how to discuss a sudden change in the weather, how to say what your plans were, and how they will change, as well as ways of making excuses. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4067
Mar 26, 2021•10 min