The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Illegal taxis Elementary
You've just gotten off your train in a strange city, and darkness is falling. You're tempted to follow the paunchy gent with the cigarette in his lips. Turning up the charm, he grunts as he gestures toward the cab with no meter. Do you dare hop in? Listen to today's Mandarin podcast and learn about illegal cabs, in Chinese!
taxi, cab, crime
Mexico City Intermediate
Question: What bustling metropolis draws people in with its fabulous food, unique architecture, and exciting atmosphere? (Besides Shanghai, of course.) Answer: Mexico City! Today's podcast will introduce this lovely little town in Mandarin Chinese.
Mexico City, Mexico, travel
A Day at the Races Upper Intermediate
If horse racing is the Sport of Kings, gambling on horses must be the Sport of Emperors! Whether you come for the geldings, or just for the gin and cigars, there's nothing like a day at the races. Today's Chinese podcast will teach you all about playing the ponies in Mandarin.
horse, race, betting, gambling, sports, race track
Thoughts on Returning Home 回乡偶书 Poems with Pete
Today's Poem with Pete is "Some thoughts on returning home-回乡偶书” by Hè Zhīzhāng （贺知章). It's about the feeling that the ever-changing world has left you behind.
中国崛起 Advanced
稳定而众多的人口，幅员辽阔的国土，快速增长的经济，现在的中国俨然是一个潜在的超级大国了！中国站起来了，我们的人民可以扬眉吐气了！对于中国的崛起，中国人自己是怎么想的？你又是怎么认为的呢？
面子, country, nationalism, economy, competition
Talking with Numbers Qing Wen
Can you tell your friends that you're angry, sad, or surprised without using a single Chinese character? Impossible, you say? Today's Qing Wen will teach you all about talking with numbers in Mandarin Chinese.
February Update News and Features
This week, we'll have lessons on signing for packages, Mexico City and illegal taxis. Plus, we have an interview with long-time Guided Plan user Tom in Ohio. And if you have suggestions for making CPod even better, please check out ChinesePod's User Voice.
New Year's Cash Upper Intermediate
For corrupt officials, cash-filled envelopes involve a wink, a nod, and an expedited liquor license. For little kids, envelopes stuffed with cash mean: Happy New Year! Today's Mandarin lesson will teach you all about how to give and receive these little bundles of joy.
New Year, celebrations, festivals, culture, money, gifts
New Clothes Elementary
You don't really need an excuse to buy new clothes. But Chinese New Year lets you rationalize buying that snazzy faux fur hat and "Guchi" sun-dress. Listen to today's podcast and learn to talk in Mandarin about your New Year's sartorial sojourn.
clothes, shopping, New Year
Making Dumplings Intermediate
Ever since Marco Polo brought ravioli to China, the Chinese have loved making dumplings. It's an essential part of celebrating the New Year. In today's podcast, learn how to talk in Chinese about wrapping, boiling and eating these magical little pockets of deliciousness.
dumplings, cooking, food, eating, New Year
Seeing off an Old Friend 渭城曲 Poems with Pete
It's never easy to say good-bye to an old friend. In today's Poems with Pete, we'll talk about "Farewell to Yuan'Er, Dispatched to Anxi 渭城曲” by the Tang poet Wáng Wéi (王维). It's a stark, haunting poem about knowing that this good-bye may be the last. Please see the map for the route described in the poem.
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Newbie
Happy Chinese New Year! Whether you plan to celebrate by dancing down the street inside a papier-maché dragon, or by giving cash-stuffed envelopes to your grandchildren, this is the biggest holiday of the year in China. Learn all about it in today's podcast!
greetings, New Year, celebrations, festivals, culture
Chinese New Year News News and Features
Here's the news: fresh, fun lessons about Chinese New Year! An interview with two of our most loyal poddies, Robin and Janice. And don't forget: we've improved the Guided Plan. Finally, there's now a dedicated area where you can give us your feedback on CPod:ChinesePod's User Voice.
Slang-ular Momentum Qing Wen
If you visit Chinese blogs or forums, you're probably used to seeing strings of letters: BF, BT , MM. What on earth do they mean? In today's Qing Wen, we'll get the real dirt about Chinese Internet slang.
Pregnancy Series 2: Pregnancy House Ar-rest Upper Intermediate
When you're pregnant, the baby isn't the only one who can't go anywhere or do anything. Many Chinese families put all kinds of restrictions on pregnant mothers in hopes of protecting Junior from the perils of lipstick and computer radiation. Today's lesson explores this subject, in Mandarin.
pregnancy, baby, family, child
Hanging Up the Phone Elementary
Hanging up the telephone can be a drawn-out affair in China. Both sides seem reluctant to end the conversation, and may linger over best wishes, warnings, and advice. All the while, they insist that they are going to hang up now. In today's podcast, learn how to terminate a call in Mandarin.
culture, daily life, cell phones
Plants Need Watering Elementary
The Chinese word for "gardener" can also mean "teacher." Extending the metaphor, we can see our poddies as beautiful flowers, ready for their daily dose of ChinesePod's water of wisdom. That is, unless you're one of those rare students who thinks our podcasts are a lot of manure! Still, even manure helps things grow...
flowers, water, plant, garden