What ideas do you have for Qing Wen lessons?

This is a great idea!!!!

Hey Alexlexilu (you have one of my favorite usernames, btw!) Thanks so much for your suggestions and your enthusiasm for 成语! We did indeed see the suggestion of a 成语series...please believe me, people, we DO read the message boards! In no way do I mean to throw cold water on your idea, and I'm sure it will be discussed. That being said, I would just mention that initiating an entire new show, while it may indeed seem easy to produce, is a pretty big project. Aside from the voices we hear on the shows, the behind-the-scenes crew do a ton of work supporting production for four separate websites. The most likely scenario is that we incorporate 成语 into some Qing Wens, and if user support is overwhelming, re-consider the possibility of expanding the topic at that point. ;) Anyhoo, we're looking into high-frequency 成语 now...and no, 马马虎虎will NOT be among them1 ;)

Again thanks... we really want to add more Chengyus to our vocabulary on a more formal basis.... I know there are some included in lessons once in a while... but I think (I know I am repeating myself...) now that there no other shows than lessons & QW coming out... except for the odd dialect series... you guys could seriously consider this:

A new show about 成语. It would be so popular. A short show, one 成语 each time with explanation of each character and in what other word they are found & then explanation of the 成语 itself and sentences with it to help grasp the context when it is used. One or 2 per week... I can't see this being hard to produce and poddies would appreciate it so much!!! Don't put too many at a time together or we won't retain them all. And no need to cancel QW for it... I think it could be its own show!!! Now that there is no more Amber or other shows outside lessons & QW, I think this would be a great way to vary a bit our studies.

Thank you Jen. That is good news. Hopefully we (I) didn't seem too pushy. I just cannot help but push for something that (at least in my mind) would help clear one of those insecurities non-natives have when speaking Mandarin. Again, good to hear.

Hey guys, thanks for all the comments! I certainly don't make the decisions on QW topics, but I can confirm we have been discussing featuring 成语s on QW. Definitely an essential part of learning Chinese!!

CPod, just thought I would point out there is a lot of interest in a 成语 series here :-)

Seems like a lot of interest in a Qingwen 成语 series. Perhaps CPod is not yet functioning due to the holiday, so for sure we'll have to bump this in a week or so.

Thanks for adding to the interest in such a serie... I hope that ChinesePod staff is seeing it too... let's make some noise!!

I like the idea of a 成语 series. There are so many that one 请问 lesson couldn't possibly cover even the top ten.

It would be good to know both the most frequently used ones and also the ones that we Lao Wai 老外 might want to use like: When in Rome, Don't Expect Too Much, Sour Grapes, That's life (or S**t happens). And I know there is one about Cutting Wood in Front of the Master (like trying to explain some Chinese language thing to another Lao Wai with a Chinese person right there) that I always have to apologize for, but don't know how to say it in Chinese.

Add my vote for a cheng yu series -there are so many that they would never run out of material.

YES!!!

Or even a new series of lessons all together, a new show about 成语. It would be so popular. A short show, one 成语 each time with explanation of each character and in what other word they are found & then explanation of the 成语 itself and sentences with it to help grasp the context when it is used. One per week... I can't see this being hard to produce and poddies would appreciate it so much!!! Don't put too many at a time together or we won't retain them all. And no need to cancel QW for it... I think it could be its own show!!! Now that there is no more Amber or other shows outside lessons & QW, I think this would be a great way to vary a bit our studies.

yep, we need a "chengyu survival kit". A dozen or so of the most popular that will get you through just about any situation. Easier said than done I know, but surprise me cpod.

Ah yes, I just replied to RJ regarding a 请问 about 成语s, and here I see you made a similar comment about this earlier today. I'm feeling the momentum. I think it might actually happen. CPod?

Did you know the difficulty level (Ele, Intermediate, etc.) is indicated on the lesson page now? It's in the Lesson Information box, and it seems they've gone back and done this for all QWs from the very first one.

Got noticed, and answered! 耶~

That was quick!

令 is the right character, and yes, this is a good topic. Chinese people always say 'let this' and 'let that' blah blah in totally wrong ways when speaking English (just today a Chinese person said to me "the government will let them go to jail"), so I always default on 让 when speaking Chinese because I infer that 让 is the most common expression. But I have no idea when 使 would be the more appropriate choice. I think 令is closer to 让 than to 使, but I have no idea why I think that.

令 is the right character, and yes, this is a good topic. Chinese people always say 'let this' and 'let that' blah blah in totally wrong ways when speaking English (just today a Chinese person said to me "the government will let them go to jail"), so I always default on 让 when speaking Chinese because I infer that 让 is the most common expression. But I have no idea when 使 would be the more appropriate choice. I think 令is closer to 让 than to 使, but I have no idea why I think that.

I second this. I'm personally least confident around 使, and so practically never use it.

Yes, yes--I totally agree!