The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Using 赶得上 (gǎndéshàng) or 来得及 (láidéjí) Qing Wen
This Qing Wen was asked by our user Nicolas Smith who wants to know the difference between 赶得上 (gǎndéshàng) and 来得及 (láidéjí). These can sometimes both be translated as "to catch up" or "to make something in time" and in this Qing Wen we will discuss some common usages of both to clarify how to use these phrases.
words, questions, grammar
Abbreviations and Contractions Intermediate
When studying Chinese, you'll likely be blown away by the amount of abbreviations and contractions there are, particularly in newspapers, in which abbreviations make the sentences impossible to read without knowledge of the context. In this lesson you can get to grips with a few abbreviations, which will take away the panic when you come across something you don't understand.
language, society
Signing for Someone Else's Package Elementary
This is a really useful lesson that will provide you with the vocabulary to be able to communicate with a courier when you need to sign for a package, whether for yourself or for someone else, after a shopping spree on Singles' Day or at the office.
delivery
Dormitory Drama - Part 9 Intermediate
School is coming to an end and it's all rather bittersweet. Let's see what drama ensues in the continuation of this mini series.
love, graduate
E-commerce and Healthcare Upper Intermediate
E-commerce is big business in China and reforms are allowing internet firms increasing access to sectors that were previously barred to them, like the healthcare and medical industry. In this lesson we hear from two men who are hoping to make money out this opportunity.
medicine, finance
Borrowing Money From a Friend Pre Intermediate
You're in that awkward situation where you don't have any money and you have to ask a friend for help. Fear not. Hopefully you have as good a friend as Daisy has, and they can lend you some cash. But don't be one of those people that never returns the money...
money, borrowing
To Express: 标志 (biāozhì) and 表示 (biǎoshì) Qing Wen
A ChinesePod user called jmay asked about the difference between 标志 and 表示 and we've also included a few more terms including 指示 and 指定.
questions, grammar, words
扎克伯格清华中文演讲 Media
知名社交网站Facebook的创始人Mark Zuckerberg在上个月来到了中国，并在清华大学用中文做了一个演讲。尽管一些中国人已经开始用“小扎”来称呼他，但关于Facebook何时能在中国解禁仍是个未知数。或许小扎努力的说中文是这次我们更应该关注的地方。我们今天的材料是对于扎克伯格演讲的概括，一起来看一下。 来源链接：扎克伯格清华中文演讲 通过学中文感受中国魅力 视频链接：点这里
media, internet, speech
Awkward Colleague Intermediate
It's your first day at work and everyone in your department is really friendly. But who is that strange guy sitting behind you and what's up with him? Learn how to discuss your first day at work, and talk about an awkward colleague.
collegue, friends, mood
Customs Consultancy Upper Intermediate
If you're interested in learning Chinese for business purposes this is the lesson for you. You'll learn how to ask about customs tax and the procedures you have to go through in getting your products into the Chinese market.
customs, business, consultancy
Can you hear that? Elementary
Sensory experience is always a good place to start when learning a new language. In this dialogue we look at hearing and how to ask some short questions about sounds and listening.
pregnancy, parents, love
Official Receipt at a Work Lunch Intermediate
This is a very common situation. You’ve just finished your meal and it’s time to pay the bill. But since this is a work meal, why not bill it to the company account. Listen in as they ask for an official receipt from the waiter.
restaurant, receipt, credit cards
Outstanding: 出色 (chūsè) and 优秀 (yōuxiù) Qing Wen
ChinesePod member fabrizioItaly has asked about the difference between 出色 and 优秀, both of which can mean excellent, outstanding or remarkable, but it wouldn't be ChinesePod if we didn't throw a few more into the pot. Although you'll often be understood whichever word you use, it's always good to be aware of the subtle differences in usage and connotation, so check it out and then tell us which one would be the most appropriate to translate Bill and Ted's catchphrase in the classic 80s film.
questions, grammar, words
Put your Phone Down! Intermediate
If you've ever been the only one in the pub or at a restaurant with your face not glued to your phone, you'll want to listen to this lesson to learn how to give them a hard time about it.
cell phones, communication, family
Park your Bike Elementary
So you might question the validity of Katie Melua's survey of bike ownership, but there's still a lot of bicycles in Beijing, which leads to parking problems. Listen to this lesson for some helpful tips on how not to get shouted at when you're parking your bike.
parking, price
What are your Holiday Plans? Upper Intermediate
In this lesson, we hear two girls planning a holiday to Australia and New Zealand. Planning a holiday with someone can be stressful, as the other person can get upset that you're hijacking your holiday and throwing your weight around too much or that you're not giving enough input and leaving all the planning to them. Being equipped with the right vocabulary however, can reduce the chance of this kind of misunderstanding.
travel, country
Fall is here! Elementary
As Autumn approaches it's time to unpack some seasonal phrases along with your scarf and your heavy coat. In this lesson we learn how to say that Autumn has come and to talk about signs that the season is on the way.
animals, weather, season
Dormitory Drama - Part 8 Intermediate
Dormitory life can move fast, one day your bunk mate is annoying you by rattling their plastic bags all the time and the next they are gone. In this episode Zhou Li moves out and we find out that one of her room mates doesn't care enough to notice.
school, students
Using 过程 (Guòchéng) and 流程 (liúchéng): Process Qing Wen
In this episode we have a question from Jamsclark about the difference between the Chinese terms 过程 and 流程, which both roughly translate to "process." But we thought this was a little bit too easy, so we decided to throw in two other words, 进程 and 历程, which have similar meanings. Are you ready to start the process of differentiating them? Keep sending in your questions.
words, grammar, questions
A Salad By Any Other Name Elementary
The Chinese tend to play fast and loose with salad laws. Expect sweet sauce on your vegetables and mayonnaise on your fruit. In this lesson, there's even a salad without any fruit and vegetables in it at all. Just remember to make sure someone teaches you how to stack your salad at the Pizza Hut one-plate salad buffet.
food, restaurant