The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Social Networking Upper Intermediate
The web that social networks weave is intricate. To some, an essential socializing tool. To others, perhaps, a time waster. And yet others... a stalker's haven. No matter how one rails against them, there is no doubt that that self-same person is a member of at least two of their own social networking sites. This podcast will teach you the ropes of social networking from Jiangnan to Urumuqi, in Mandarin.
internet, people
Negating Verbs: When to Use 没有 (méiyǒu), When to Use 不 (bù) Qing Wen
Now, we don't mean to be negative, but sometimes knowing when to use 没有 (méiyǒu) and when to use 不 (bù) when negating verbs can be a little bit daunting. But... no more! In this Qing Wen our special guest, grammar-expert John, comes along as we answer the oft-pondered conundrum of how to negate verbs in Chinese.
Why, why, why?? Elementary
Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why is Chinese still using hieroglyphics for its written language? While some questions are simply unanswerable, in this podcast, we will start by answering for you the question of how to say "why" in Mandarin. The answers to all the other enigmas of life, dear poddies, we'll leave for a future lesson, when Ken's in a more philosophical mood.
children, questions
#8 Movie Madness
In a surprise twist, today's movie clip was chosen by Amber. John, Dave, and Jenny vie to guess which movie it is, but they can't say it. Oh, no. That job we leave up to you, the listeners. That's right, it's a ChinesePod contest. Listen to the podcast to find out how to participate. Last week's winner claimed Dave's Love™ as his prize, along with a request for a musical response. Dave is working on a new album, and encourages everyone to give it a listen. As always, the question is… can you recognize the Hollywood movie based on the audio clip?? The hosts offer their insight in order to help listeners to try to name that movie based on the Mandarin Chinese audio and three clues.
Giving up a Seat Newbie
In a place where an empty seat on public transportation is about as uncommon as toilet paper in the bathroom, it's understandable why there is a certain "scrimmage" of sorts when the bus doors fling open to the weary throngs. In this podcast, a pleasant turn of events. Listen and learn how to be the kind soul that offers up his seat, in Mandarin Chinese. And remember, what goes around comes around--you never know... just when you're desperately in need of some TP... it just might come around your way. Or one can hope.
etiquette, transportation
Snacks Intermediate
Cultural divide is at times nowhere more evident than in matters of appetite. When it comes to cravings--you're pining for potato chips, she's fancying feet. You're itchin' for a little twinkie-binging loving, she's hankering for a little o' the necks. In this podcast, food-fusion, east-meets-west, necks-meet-pretzels... learn how to nosh in Mandarin Chinese!
food, health, preferences
卫星城管 Media
卫星定位系统，这种高科技产品通常是被用在通讯、交通等领域的。最近海口市传出了一条令人跌破眼镜的消息。海口市政府决定出巨资，花1000万元来建立卫星定位系统。而建成之后，它的唯一用途就是抓小贩。到底这些小贩有多可恶，要政府下这么大功夫来抓呢？无论怎样，这回小贩们可是成了值钱的“宝贝”了，也肯定想逃都逃不掉了。 来源链接：花千万抓小贩，海口城管是否牛过了 | 媒体MP3文件
news, government
Chinese Seasonings Elementary
The little extras you'll have to crown your food masterpiece with on this side of the world may just turn out to be a little different than the humble yet revered fixings you're accustomed to back home. Come to think of it, the foods you'll like to adorn here aren't the most ketchup-and-mustard-friendly anyway. So, get with the Chinese food condiments and find out where it's really at in Chinese food. Listen to this podcast and learn in Mandarin how to exalt your foodstuffs to the zenith of culinary perfection!
food, preferences
Introducing the Grammar Guide News and Features
Steve and John announce the launch of the long-awaited ChinesePod Grammar Guide. Find out the scope and vision of the project, and how to use it in your studies on ChinesePod.
My Cat Newbie
There are cats to love (white, fluffy kittens) and cats to hate (those gold ones waving their strange little arm at the till in the Chinese restaurant). However, love them or hate them, you probably wouldn't mind a little one to keep you company (they make patient language partners). If so, you're going to have to learn how to use your Mandarin to bond with the rice-eating cats of China. Listen to this podcast, and learn how!
animals, appearance, location
了 (le): Something's About to Happen Qing Wen
了 (le) is a many-splendored thing... and due to overwhelming demand, we, your loving hosts of Qing Wen, have decided to help crack the mystery of 了 wide open--starting in this podcast, where we go into one particularly useful 了 sentence pattern. Listen in, and find out how to use 了 to express that something is about to happen. And stay tuned to Qing Wen for future 了 lovin'.
Sudoku Upper Intermediate
There is a rage sweeping the number geeks of the nation, and it's called Sudoku. ChinesePod, confident that all Chinese-learners are mental gymnasts by nature, brings you enlightenment on this popular mind-puzzle. Now, for those amongst us who are not number-crunchers, think of this podcast as your one chance to learn how to talk about columns, grids, and rows with fluency in Mandarin. And for those amongst us that are number-crunchers, please come and do my taxes next year.
ability, hobbies
The Olympics on TV Elementary
It's not that we advocate being TV addicts, however, come 2008 we'll be glued to our screens (or fighting the crowds in Beijing) with the best of them to watch the very first Olympic games ever held in China. In this podcast, learn how to sit down, turn on the telly, and camp out for a two-week viewing extravaganza, in Mandarin Chinese. Yet another incentive to make the trip to China for the games: not having to be ripped from slumber at 3:00am to watch!
entertainment, Olympics, time
The Drug Dealer Intermediate
The Departed was a pretty good film, although we have an office-wide dispute over whether it's better than Infernal Affairs. Before you settle down to watch the Hong Kong original in its glorious Mandarin dub though, we recommend checking out this podcast to learn the Chinese of the streets. Otherwise the plot won't make much sense. Bonus points if you can spot our mole ahead of time.
preferences, questions
#7 Movie Madness
John has chosen another audio clip, and Dave has offered the world his love again as the prize for yet another ChinesePod contest. Listen to the podcast to find out how to participate. As always, the question is… can you recognize the Hollywood movie based on the audio clip?? Dave, Jenny, and Amber offer their insight in order to help listeners to try to name that movie based on the Mandarin Chinese audio and three clues.
Moving Newbie
Don't think of moving house as a pain. Think of it as an excuse for throwing a house-warming bash. Invite us! We'll bring a nice plant. In this podcast, learn how to tell someone that you are moving, using Mandarin Chinese. And, who knows... the more people you try out these phrases on, the more chance you have that someone might actually get the hint and offer to pitch in (bribing with beer and pizza helps for this aspect, of course).
accommodation, home and office, location
Interview with the Boss Upper Intermediate
The clammy handshake... the subsequent perspiring flush of sweat, the blank mind run through the wringer as the suit across the desk shoots out a machine-gun-like barrage of blank-drawing interrogations. All that's missing are the torture devices and spotlight in your face. Do job interviews terrify you at the best of times? No longer! Because job interviews in Chinese are going to be a whiz, after this lesson. Listen to this podcast, and learn how to charm the pants off of that potential employer, in Mandarin Chinese.
business, jobs, professions
I'm bored Newbie
With the onset of summer vacation, mothers everywhere are familiar with the refrain: "I'm bored!" Now, if you decide to join the kids in a two-month long loafing, better get your whining down pat. In this podcast, learn how to complain about being bored, in Mandarin Chinese. Alternatively... research shows that the cure to boredom is dusting off that enthralling 3,000 Chinese characters book you bought on an ambitious shopping trip months ago. So, there's always options.
feelings