The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
The Two Child Policy Intermediate
As of January 2016, Chinese couples are officially allowed two children. The one-child policy was established in 1979 to curb a growing population and strain on the nation.Since then, several caveats have opened up allowing certain families to have more than once child. However, as of January 2016, the policy has gone nationwide.Listen to the show to hear how certain young people feel about the relaxation of this law.Will there be a population explosion? Can young people really afford to raise more children in large cities? Tune in to find out. Photo credits: Flag Children
children, childbirth, policy
Could You Pass The... Elementary
In today's lesson, we teach you three useful ways to say "pass me the...". This is great when asking friends or colleagues to hand you something out of reach or if you want to borrow something. We'll learn three different ways to say "pass" or "hand me", ranging from the most common and generalised term to more formal and specialised vocabulary. We also focus on the 把 (ba3) structure which is used to direct attention to what happens to an object in the sentence.
eating, restaurant, video
Wishing People Well at Chinese New Year Intermediate
In this lesson, we teach you how to wish someone a Happy Chinese New Year. First we teach you the most common ones like "xin nian kuai le", or "gong xi fa cai." We also teach you some Year of the Monkey specific ones that make you look super smart, as well as some really advanced phrases that will have people wowed by your linguistic genius.
video, Chinese New Year, Spring Festival
New Year's Eve Family Dinner Upper Intermediate
年夜饭 Nián yèfàn is the large family dinner that kick-starts the festive season. It happens the night before the start of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). In this lesson we learn about some of the foods eaten at this time, some traditions, and also how some people like to eat out instead of going home.
Chinese New Year, family, food, tradition, video
CNY Calligraphy Special (video) Intermediate
Today's lesson is a bit different and quite special. We have a 20 minute Chinese New Year calligraphy lesson for you all to join in with. Join newbie learner Karl and advanced learner Natasha as they learn to write some common sayings and characters to write during Spring Festival. We will learn all about why you see certain characters such as 春 and 满 everywhere during this time, and also the meaning behind the red sheets of paper on either side of a door seen during this festival. If you don't know any of this, no problem. Get your calligraphy pens at the ready, and prepare for a spot of relaxing calligraphy. Amazon link for buying a calligraphy set here. Chinese New Year Calligraphy Paper Amazon link here.
writing, calligraphy, Chinese New Year, video
Chinese New Year Market Tour (video) Elementary
It's coming up to Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival) which is the biggest event in the Chinese festive calendar. In this episode, Fiona and Constance take you on a guided tour around a vibrant and bustling Chinese New Year street market where you can find all sorts of things to buy including festive food treats and knick-knacks to decorate your house with during this time.Learn some useful words relating to food and Chinese New Year, and enjoy the atmosphere of a typical scene in the run-up to Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year, shopping, Spring Festival, video, tour
相亲 Arranged Blind Dates Advanced
找对象的方法有许多种，你知道几种？又试过几种呢？其实有种由来已久且老一辈十分相信的办法，就是相亲，有时儿女不急着结婚，倒是家里的叔伯阿姨等长辈急得要命，就会给安排相亲了，听听两代人对相亲有什么不同的看法吧。 Photo by al fernandez
date, dating
Looking After the Environment Upper Intermediate
Learn all about environmental awareness in today's lesson and listen to a dialogue about recycling and protecting the environment. After today's lesson you will be able to discuss the environment and recycling with friends, and hopefully convince those around you to do their bit for planet Earth. Photo Designed by Freepik
environment
Dad's Got a Cold Intermediate
The weather has got much colder and this father has caught a cold taking his two kids to the seaside. As any loving father would do, he has lent his jacket to them, and in the process caught the most dreadful of colds. Listen to his story and feel bad for him.
sick
Drawing the Winning Ticket Elementary
In today’s elementary video lesson we learn some very useful ways to make passive sentences using the character 被 bèi. In this dialogue we are at a prize draw where raffle tickets are being drawn out (perhaps it’s a Chinese New Year end of year party). As the good prizes slowly get awarded, two friends get more and more desperate in their hopes of winning a good present. The passive marker 被 bèi is very useful to know, especially If the outcome of the action is more important than the ‘doer’ of the action, especially if it’s a negative outcome such as someone eating your cake, or winning the iPhone 6 you wanted! Photo by Howard Lake
video, prize, presents
Madonna's Asian Tour Upper Intermediate
Today's lesson is all about trying and failing to get hold of Madona tickets in her upcoming tour of Asia. Having tried to buy tickets, one of the friends finds that they are all sold out. However, when they try purchasing the tickets from the convenience store, it turns out that there are two tickets left for a really great price. What great luck! Photo by Joel Bez
music, concert, singer, tickets
Fighting Over The Remote Intermediate
In today's lesson you'll hear an argument between a brother and sister, fighting over which television channel to watch. The brother want's to watch the semi-final of a baseball match, but the sister is already watching the "news". Who will win in this battle for the remote control? Photo by espensorvik
television, sports, siblings
Such a Cute Horse Elementary
In today's lesson we hear two friends discussing an old photograph from when they were younger. In the photograph is a picture of a horse, with a cute picture of when they were small. Learn how to discuss your childhood, as well as make fun of someone. You will also learn how to describe things as cute. Photo by Matt Ming
photography, childhood, appearance
Telling a Joke in Chinese Elementary
In today's Chinese lesson we will learn a joke. Now, we can't guarantee that you'll laugh out loud (lol), but we can guarantee that you'll learn lots of useful Chinese after learning this short and simple joke. The joke is based on the logic of family names, so you'll learn some useful language for talking about family, and the naming of children. It's a great pun to try out next time you're eating with friends, perhaps at the big Chinese New Year meal. Designed by Freepik
siblings, joke, family name, children
How to Say 'Probably' in Chinese Qing Wen
In today's Qing Wen video lesson, we teach the Mandarin Chinese for the different ways to say "probably." Much like in English, using slightly different terms can change the likelihood of something happening, and in this lesson, we show you the three most common ways of expressing this. 大概 (dàgài) has the highest likelihood of something happening, 可能 (kěnéng) is about a 50% or higher chance, and 恐怕 (kǒngpà) is also likely to happen, but the important thing is not the percentage, but rather that the outcome is an undesirable event. A top tip is that the final word in 恐怕 (kǒngpà) has the character for "scared" in it, so you don't want this thing to happen. With 大概 (dàgài), dà means big, and gài means approximation, so a "big likelihood." After today's lesson you should "probably" be a lot more confident when speaking Chinese, and you'll definitely know which one is most suitable for the situation. If you have any questions, particularly about the rather tricky 恐怕 (kǒngpà), just leave a comment and we will try and get back to you.
video, probably, maybe
How to Say 'Probably' in Chinese Qing Wen
In today's Qing Wen video lesson, we teach the Mandarin Chinese for the different ways to say "probably." Much like in English, using slightly different terms can change the likelihood of something happening, and in this lesson, we show you the three most common ways of expressing this. 大概 (dàgài) has the highest likelihood of something happening, 可能 (kěnéng) is about a 50% or higher chance, and 恐怕 (kǒngpà) is also likely to happen, but the important thing is not the percentage, but rather that the outcome is an undesirable event. A top tip is that the final word in 恐怕 (kǒngpà) has the character for "scared" in it, so you don't want this thing to happen. With 大概 (dàgài), dà means big, and gài means approximation, so a "big likelihood." After today's lesson you should "probably" be a lot more confident when speaking Chinese, and you'll definitely know which one is most suitable for the situation. If you have any questions, particularly about the rather tricky 恐怕 (kǒngpà), just leave a comment and we will try and get back to you.
白富美 Pale, Pretty and Rich Advanced
在这个网络交流蓬勃发展的时代，你还只会用“高雅大方、英俊挺拔”来形容帅哥美女的话，只能说你是远远被时代给仍在后边了，赶快来看看网络时代的人们怎么表达对一个人的外表和气质的整体印象吧。对了，这可是现在最流行的造句法，不懂可不行！ Photo by John Ragai
joke
Fix My Cold Upper Intermediate
When the seasons change, it's quite possibly that you will come down with a seasonal cold. Listen to today's dialogue between a doctor and patient as she describes her various symptoms to him. Photo by jenny cu
doctor, sick
Pulling Out Wisdom Teeth Intermediate
At some point in your life it's likely that you'll need to get your wisdom teeth extracted. This can be a frightening prospect, especially for those that already dislike sitting in the dentist's chair. Listen to today's lesson and learn useful dentistry related vocabulary including the words for anaesthetic. Photo Credit
dentist, doctor, teeth
To Think, to Recall: 想到、想出来、想起来 Qing Wen
What's the difference between all these words containing the character 想 xiǎng? In today's lesson we help you distinguish between 想到 Xiǎngdào, 想出来 xiǎng chūlái, and 想起来 xiǎng qǐlái. They can translate as "to remember", "to figure out", and "to think of." It's easy to confuse when to use which, so in today's lesson, you'll hopefully be much clearer about when to use which.
video