Say It Right Series

The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons


Latest Lessons


Please speak slowly Newbie

As mentioned previously, uttering “xiexie” and “nihao” seem to automatically put you in the bracket of “fluent”, meaning they’re going to speak to you in a normal (read: fast) speed. So learning how to tell someone in Mandarin Chinese to “slow it down a bit” in this podcast just might save you from having to admit that you’re actually not quite that fluent yet.

language, communications, food

老外批评中国 Advanced

近年来,越来越多的老外来到中国,也有越来越多的中国人跨出国门。对于那些来到中国的老外,我们是主人,要热情接待,要体现出中国人的友好热情。对于跨出国门的中国人,代表的是我们的国际形象,要特别注意自己的言行。但是,我们总会有一些做得不够好的地方需要改善。

conflict, foreigners, blog, opinion

Lili and Zhang Liang 5: Love Letter Intermediate

Catching back up with Zhang Liang and Chen Li, we find them in a much better position, romantic-wise… as someone wrote someone else a love letter. So good is this lesson, in fact, that we’re in talks of launching “Tian of Our Lives”. In this podcast, learn to use Mandarin Chinese to express your devotion to the one you love.

relationships, health, feelings

北大教授团购豪宅 Media

很多都认为大学教授这个职业是“金饭碗”,不仅工资高,工作压力小,还具有很高的社会地位。一提到“教授”这个字,大家都会产生一种尊敬的感觉。但是,在现在的社会中,一切都向“钱”看,一些人觉得大学教授不值钱了,只剩下一个头衔让人尊敬。现在的大学教授的收入究竟如何呢? 来源链接:北大300教授团购海景豪宅 副教授网上哭穷 | 媒体MP3文件

新闻, 社会,

Common Measure Words Elementary

While “how much” is usually reserved for all the bargaining you do here, it can also be used for “quantifying things,” meaning that you need to understand “measure words,” which means we need to make you a lesson on it… lest your retort to “how far is it” be “too expensive!” Listen in and expand your knowledge of this especially fun element of the Mandarin Chinese language.

measure words, language

庆祝生日 Advanced

过生日,乐坏了“寿星”,愁坏了宾客,忙坏了主人。没办法,年年都要过生日,而上哪儿去找一份最与众不同的礼物呢?又怎样去筹划一个人人叫好的生日会呢?还真是个难题。快给这些为此而苦恼的人出出点子吧。

中西, 文化, celebrations, birthday, customs

Happy Birthday Newbie

Quick – name things that you love! 1. ChinesePod 2. Cake That’s right! So what’s the only thing we could include to make this a very special day? How about taking advantage of the coincidence of one of your hosts being born on this day? In this podcast, learn how to wish someone a Happy Birthday!


Shanghai Expo Upper Intermediate

Granted, you’ve heard all about the impending Olympic arrival here, but what about the next big thing? The Shanghai Expo seems to be what everyone is talking about – including you, if you listen. In this podcast, learn some information about the upcoming Shanghai Expo in Mandarin Chinese.

government, culture

Fast Food Elementary

In certain groups, McDonalds has been renamed the “McEmbassy” – and no matter how much you tell yourself you won’t, you will end up caving in to that craving for something familiar. So what would a burger order sound like? A super-sized lesson, that’s what. Listen in to this podcast and learn how to use Mandarin Chinese to order food in a fast food restaurant.

greetings, food,

汉语中的外来词 Advanced

咖啡,可乐,沙发……你是否还记得用了多长时间来记住这些词?一秒钟?天才!一分钟?常人!一个小时?哎!……跟借东西一样,随着社会的发展,当汉语原有的词汇不够用的时候,它也会向其它语言借一部分词来应急。有时我们可以清楚地判断出哪个词是外来词,但有时可能只有语言学家才能知道其中的奥秘了。

language, culture, Japanese, English

This is mine! Newbie

If you were that kid in school who hated sharing, then we strongly suggest hypnotherapy before attending a meal here. Food, laughs and sometimes even a bottle of the ole’ baijiu are passed out among the present…which is fine, until Mr. Food-in-his-teeth mistakes your glass for his. Perhaps this podcast with a Mandarin Chinese lesson on getting straight whose glass is whose would be appreciated.

questions

Lili and Zhang Liang 4: Lovers' Spat Intermediate

Granted, it’s difficult (even for us) to differentiate a “normal talk” from an “upset talk,” but we can tell you that an occasional spat takes place. What over? It rhymes with “shopping”. In this lesson, Zhang Liang and Chen Li get a bit heated in a classic boy-meets-girl at the shopping mall. Just what you always wanted, to learn how to argue in Mandarin Chinese!

clothes, relationships, shopping

北大重开“平民学校” Media

现在的社会,竞争都十分激烈。为了不会落后于人,大家都去参加这样那样的培训。就连一些进城务工的农民工们,现在也知道了知识的可贵;他们也渴望着能够学习,掌握新知识。但对于他们来说,这却是比较困难的事。现在,这样的问题有了解决的办法,他们也可以实现自己的读书梦了。 来源链接:时隔88年北大"平民学校"重张 农民工免费就读 | 媒体MP3文件

新闻, 教育,

Dinner Guest Elementary

That “Cocktail Party” lesson got you an invite to dinner, and you even went as far to buy the traditional gift of “duck neck” to hand over to your guest. But what say you when the door is opened? In this podcast, learn some Chinese etiquette on being a good guest, in Mandarin Chinese.

clothes, etiquette, greetings

TV Commercials Upper Intermediate

Thanks to an “open door” policy, you can hear the neighbors’ “telly” in your own house. So why not possess the ability to stroll in, squeeze those feet into a tiny pair of their slippers and have a discussion about the new (somewhat annoying) commercials on TV these days? In this podcast, learn to discuss all you love and hate about TV commercials in Mandarin Chinese.

preferences, media

理想男人 Advanced

如果到了该结婚的年龄,却迟迟找不到结婚对象,你会怎么办呢?努力寻求还是原地等待?随便找个人结婚还是干脆过上单身生活呢?的确,一个看似简单但十分复杂的问题。而人对异性的关注也许是天生的,女人讨论男人,男人讨论女人,一个陈旧但时刻保持新鲜的话题,一个讨论了上千次但仍不自觉会掉入的话题。

爱情, 文化, love, culture, men, character

Stand Up Newbie

Even if you’re going to get by for the first while learning a new language using the universal language, charades, you’ll love to learn these initial basic actions in Mandarin Chinese, just in case they can’t guess. In this podcast, follow along with some basic action words in Mandarin Chinese.

actions

The Olympic Marathon Elementary

Oh, you’ll find yourself in that uncomfortable situation, the one where you come here to visit us, and the guy next to you starts talking (in Chinese) about the upcoming Olympic marathon. Do you really want to be that person who just ends up saying “xie xie” the whole time? No. You don’t. In this podcast, learn to talk marathons with the best of them, in Mandarin Chinese.

Olympics, sports, ability

人口老龄化 Advanced

在人的一生中,走过了青年时代,有谁不期盼在老年时轻松地享受一下儿孙满堂的幸福生活呢?而许多国家的老年节也正传达了这种思想。但近年来老年节的主题却不得不围绕一个令人担忧的问题——人口的老龄化。这一问题困扰了各国政府,大家都在如何正确看待以及解决这一问题上伤透了脑筋。

society, age, old, elderly, health

Import/Export Intermediate

Likely many a laowai has dreamed about how much dosh one could make taking chicken feet from the States and importing them to China--but just how does the whole import/export biz work? We know, and you could as well, in a matter of about 14 minutes. In this podcast, learn to talk business in Mandarin Chinese.

internet, business