It's called a mooncake, and it's about the size and shape of a hockey puck. If you're in China during the autumn, you just may have the opportunity to partake in this quintessentially Chinese ritual. Learn not only the key vocabulary, but also some of the cultural features as well, such as what makes Taiwan's Mid-Autumn Moon Festival special. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1504
Do “boom” “wah” and “click” sound the same in every language? That’s what you thought… but onomatopoeia, like any art, has room for interpretation. In this podcast, learn how sounds sound in Mandarin Chinese! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0491
Shanxi (山西) province is a mountainous plateau region located in northern China. It is know for its yummy noodles and the ancient city of Pingyao (平遥), which has become a world heritage site. But don't be afraid to get dirty! Shanxi is the leading coal producer in China and is also frequented by yearly sand storms. In this lesson, we get a sneak peek of what Shanxi has to offer. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2036
It's been a long day for a husband and wife. Still, the floors are dirty and there's cleaning to be done. Of course, neither of them want to do it. Just when all seems to be lost... it's robots to the rescue! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2378
In this lesson, students ask Teacher Chen about how to handle some difficult questions they've encountered when trying to determine qualified leads. Tune in to hear her advice! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2071
Yes, we know you were the prom queen in school (and to be honest, you might not remember us--we were the weird ones that took drama very seriously). So what happens when you bump into someone from “back in the day?” In this podcast, we open that wound of high school days past and teach you how to catch up with someone in Mandarin Chinese. They’ll all be jealous at that next reunion. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0194
So you're planning a trip with your travel buddy, and you're talking about the places you've been and haven't been. The problem is, this guy's been everywhere! Learn these very practical Chinese sentence patterns about past experiences in this lesson. You'll have to figure out the trip destination on your own, though. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1489
On the streets of China's major cities, it's not uncommon to see Italian sports cars, luxury handbags and expensive wristwatches. China is now full of customers with big time purchasing power, but how do you know who has got the cash to pay a who doesn't? In this next lesson on sales, our instructor gives us some tips on how to determine who our potential customers are and if they have the ability to pay. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2043
Everyone has been at the mercy of indecision at one time or another. However, the task of deciding becomes even more difficult when you are being pummeled by an array of delicious dessert choices. In this lesson, we explore the challenging task of choosing a birthday cake - from black forest to mango mousse! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2032
If you're a special guest at a dinner in China, expect to eat a lot of food. But when you're full, what's the polite way to say that you can't eat any more? Find out in this lesson! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2355
The art of sales is no easy one. In this lesson, a seasoned saleswoman shares her tips on relating to customers and making a sale. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2034
With a 16-hour flight on what can only be described as an “Eastern seating design” in the cabin – and oh, by the way, those cabbies at the airport are the loudest in the mainland – you might need an adult beverage. In this podcast, you’ll learn all about ordering a nice stiff drink in Mandarin Chinese. But watch out for those ice cubes, as you will see… Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0188
Today's lesson is essential for anyone taking or planning on taking a Chinese class. Learn how to describe reviewing the material and learn how to talk about habitual actions. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1459
What’s all this talk about economic reform in China? Well, to really understand this business, you’ll need to listen in to this podcast, which discusses some of the different types of enterprises you will encounter and hear about in China. Sound like a bunch of number-crunching jargon? It is! But only John and Jenny could turn such a stuffy sounding topic into a great, and essential, Mandarin Chinese lesson for all you business types out there. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0479...
It's amazing what can be done these days with Photoshop, or Illustrator, or Final Cut Pro... but sometimes the price for that quality you love is a huge file. Transferring a large file can be a problem when you're dealing with multiple gigabytes. Explore the options in Chinese with this lesson! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2022
Chinese New Year comes again, and this year we welcome in the Year of the Horse. In this lesson, listen in as a family gets ready to gallop into the New Year! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2365
OK, so you're all set to get out of your cushy city routine, ready to brave that altitude sickness and hop on that train to Tibet you've been hearing so much about. Oops, someone forgot to mention it's booked up until 2011... oh well, that will give you lots of time to study up on your Chinese geography. In this podcast, learn the ins and outs of this vast country, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0483
Why does anyone drive an expensive car? Is it for the speed? The power? The prestige? Well, those might be factors for some, but in today's dialogue it's all to win a girl's heart (surprise, surprise). Will it be the Ferrari, the limited edition Maserati, or the lowly QQ that gets the privilege of sweeping this beauty off her feet? Tune in now to find out! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2019
While it's strictly taboo at many zoos in America, taking pictures with or feeding the animals is a common occurrence at Chinese zoos. Of course, it isn't always the safest of activities, especially where ferocious animals are concerned. In this lesson, a mother tries to prevent her son from joining in. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2309
It wouldn't be true drama if it didn't attract dramatic characters. And what higher drama is there than Shakespeare? In this Chinese lesson, you'll hear a director's take on the classic Romeo and Juliet, as his actors struggle to satisfy his demands. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2031
Back in the day it was one bus per hour, which explains the, erm, shall we say, “lack of formation” in that ticket queue. In this podcast you will obtain some cultural insight and learn a few stinging phrases in Mandarin Chinese to bring line etiquette to the attention of the offender. Would that relieve some of that stress? It’s Dr. C. Pod to the rescue. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0176
In the craziness that befalls Chinese cities at rush hour it hardly seems likely that there is any method to the madness. Yet often times when it comes to the elderly and the handicapped (and kiddos, too) people are quick to relinquish their hard-won seats. Find out more about giving up your bus seat with today's lesson! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1394
Ken: foreigner. Jenny: Chinese. Easy, right? But this game gets a little more difficult when it comes to those with Chinese heritage that were raised entirely overseas. Are they Chinese or not? Tune in to this podcast to learn how one Chinese American girl feels about her own identity crisis and how she articulates her confusion to a Chinese friend in Mandarin. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0466
Typhoons are no joking matter in China, where flooding and falling debris can wreak serious havoc in densely-packed urban areas. Learn the key words for discussing typhoons and typhoon-related issues in this Chinese lesson, as well as a fun little bit of etymology. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2016
That hair of yours is getting long and straggly, ain't it? Time for a haircut! In this lesson, you'll learn the basics for getting your hair done in Chinese, as well as a bit about barbershop culture in China. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2301
Chinese culture (and the ladies in particular) tends to prize pale skin. East Asian ladies of all nationalities, in fact, will go to great lengths to keep their skin as white as possible, employing anti-UV umbrellas and various creams. The Chinese have recently taken the obsession to new heights with the "facekini" however. Learn all about the issue in this Chinese lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2025
Combine Alicia Silverstone with Wang Faye and you will start to understand the crux of this podcast…oh yeah, and throw in a 6’4” laowai--now you understand. In this Mandarin Chinese lesson, John and Jenny dissect their Chinese sisters’ girl talk. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0169
At the end of the work week things generally wind down. But for some people, Fridays are the busiest. Check out today's lesson to learn about a person who's trying to cram everything in before the weekend. Jenny and John will also be discussing the very common practice of working overtime: 加班 (jiābān). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1374
You used our "Opening a Meeting" to wow 'em and just finished the proposal of your life. So you smile, put down your laser pointer and... sit down? That would be so anti-climatic! So, listen in to this podcast to learn how to end that meeting, in Mandarin Chinese! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0452
Sometimes getting a package in China isn't quite as simple as having it shipped to your home address. Packages can get detained by customs, in which case you should receive a written notice. In this dialogue, a girl gets just such an unpleasant surprise... Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2012
