The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Planning a Film Project Intermediate
So you're trying to shoot a film in China? Whether it's a short art flick or a feature-length blockbuster, you're going to need to know some basic filming terminology to get by. Get started with today's intermediate ChinesePod lesson.
film, entertainment, movies
Signing a Lease Upper Intermediate
Even if you're able to find an agent from a reliable real estate company to help you find the apartment of your dreams in China, you're still going to be confronted with a massive block of Chinese at the end of the process: the lease. Needless to say, it will probably take you a bit of time to read through the entire document, but today's upper-intermediate ChinesePod lesson should ease the pain a bit!
house, rent, contract, real estate, property, rental, renting, estate agent
Turn It Down, Please Elementary
Whether you've just gotten off a 12-hour flight or been up all night partying, sometimes you just want some peace and quiet on your taxi ride home. Unfortunately for you, the cab driver is a Beijing opera enthusiast and has different plans. Learn how to (politely) ask someone to turn down the music in today's elementary lesson.
sound, taxi, music, daily life
Making a Dinner Reservation - Part 1 Newbie
Making a dinner reservation over the phone can be a daunting prospect, especially when restaurant on the other end of the line is exceptionally noisy and hard to understand. Thankfully, the exchange is actually fairly straightforward and scripted, and with the help of today's newbie lesson to break it down piece by piece, you'll be making reservations for you and your friends in no time!
numbers, time, restaurant
Controversial Wartime Martyrs Beijing Standard Time
In honor of the martyr's park located a stone's throw from our new office, today's BST covers some of the more notable revolutionary heroes from wars past. Are their remarkable tales of heroism and valor real or just tools made up to serve the government's propaganda machine? You decide! Check out this elementary ChinesePod lesson too for more Lei Feng goodness!
martyr, war, Lei Feng
A Much-Needed Discussion of 需要 and 要 Qing Wen
Do you "need" that new [insert your favorite luxury item here] or do you "want" it? We can't decide that for you, but we can teach you how to distinguish between the two linguistically in Mandarin Chinese! Tune in to today's Qing Wen to hear all about the difference between these two words.
need, demand
Saved by the Gong: Preparing for an Exam Upper Intermediate
You haven't been paying attention in class all semester and the exam's next week; it's going to take more than some serious cramming to make up for all the slacking you've been doing. There's only one option: beg the teacher for the test questions in advance. Listen in as a group of unprepared students try to wrest useful test information from their teacher's unwilling grasp in today's upper-intermediate lesson.
university, exam, teacher, students
What's This Made of? Elementary
Whether you're shopping for furniture or buying low-quality knick-knacks at the fake market, it always helps to know what your product is made of to help determine a fair price. There's nothing worse than realizing your shiny dragon statue is made of cheap plastic! Learn how to talk about materials in today's elementary lesson.
furniture, materials, shopping
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Intermediate
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is hailed as one of China's great ancient literary works. Even if your Chinese isn't quite fluent enough to read the book in its original form, the story and characters are still integral pieces to contemporary Chinese culture and language. Gain a basic understanding of this classic novel in today's intermediate lesson.
books, literature, culture, history
Meet-Up Frenzy Qing Wen
In celebration of our upcoming ChinesePod user meet-up, today's Qing Wen discusses various gatherings and meetings in Mandarin Chinese. Learn how to distinguish between a formal meet-up event and a casual romantic date in today's lesson.
communications, meet-up, socializing
Where Did You Learn Chinese? Elementary
Once you get past the initial niceties and compliments that inevitably take place during a conversation, your newfound Chinese friend will most likely ask you where you've learned such exemplary Mandarin. Today's lesson will teach you how to respond to this question while still preserving the image of your impeccable language skills.
language, study, school, ChinesePod, introductions
我想做农民 Advanced
生活在城市的人，时常会抱怨，吃的是喷了农药的蔬菜，喝的是撒了漂白粉的水，住的是鸽子笼，吸的是汽车尾气，出了门不是挤车挤死，就是堵车堵死，这日子还让不让人活了？要不我们一起逃离大都市，向广阔的农村前进吧！
life, culture, entertainment, economy, family, countryside, farmer
Organizing a Marketing Event Upper Intermediate
Your company's brand-new kimchee-flavored chocolate has been painstakingly perfected and is ready to hit store shelves. There's just one problem: how are you going to get anyone to buy it? Tune in to today's lesson to hear how the marketing department is planning to introduce the new product to the public.
business, marketing, brand
A Complicated Cab Ride Intermediate
While simply pointing at an address and saying "take me there" is more often than not enough to get you where you want to go in China, sometimes it takes a bit more effort, especially if you have a shortcut in mind or need to travel to multiple destinations. Today's lesson will teach you how to have a slightly more complex conversation with a local cab driver in Mandarin Chinese and hopefully alleviate some potential headaches.
taxi, traffic, directions, address, transportation
ChinesePod Meetup News and Features
In today's News and Features, we're delighted to announce our upcoming ChinesePod Meetup! If you're a ChinesePod user currently in Shanghai, we would love to see you this coming weekend. The meetup will take place on April 21st from 2 to 5 PM at People Squared (not People's Square!!). It's located on Huashan road near Jing'an Temple; you can find all the details here. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible!
announcement
I Work in Shanghai Newbie
What are you doing here in Shanghai? It's what everyone wants to know. So tell them that you're here in Shanghai working, and learning Chinese in your spare time. (Convincing them that you're not all about partying and living the high life is a topic for another lesson...)
name, greetings, city, introductions
WithstAnding 和，跟，and 与 Qing Wen
Sometimes, like fifth-graders at their first dance, nouns in Mandarin Chinese just stand awkwardly on opposite sides of the room. Linking nouns together can be a challenge, but never fear, because in today's Qing Wen we'll cover the subtle but important differences between three of the most commonly-used conjunctions and prepositions in Mandarin Chinese. Tune in and have all your questions answered!
and, with
Preparing for the Ironman Race Upper Intermediate
This lesson is for our boldest, hardiest, and most probably craziest users out there. We're listening in today as one such athlete discusses ironman triathlons in Mandarin Chinese; if you're like us, you'll probably relate much more to the astonished listener than the competitor! Learn how to talk about triathlons and the intensive preparation they require in today's upper-intermediate lesson.
food, sports
Introducing One's Spouse Newbie
No, it's not cool to ignore your spouse at those social functions. (That's what those repeated pokes in the ribs are trying to tell you.) So learn how to introduce him or her with this practical Chinese lesson.
introductions, address