The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons

最后一杯热拿铁 Part 3 Advanced

Chengyu Series - Nine Buffaloes and One Hair Elementary

Chengyu are Chinese idioms that consist of four characters. Although they originate from classical Chinese, Chengyu remain as an important aspect in both spoken and written language. They may seem erratic and confusing to you at first since they don’t follow the usual sentence order and their meanings depend heavily on context. But don’t worry, in this Chengyu series, we will introduce simple Chengyu made up with all the characters that you already knew, and you can infer the actual meaning by looking at the separate characters! In this lesson, let’s take a look at three Chengyu with numbers 九 (nine) and 十 (ten) in them!

Coffee Break Series: Business Dinner, Part 1 Pre Intermediate

In China, having a meal with clients is not just eating. Everything is related to the business. That's why learning table manners is so important. In this lesson, let's start with how to host clients dinner. Let's get started!

职场抱怨王 Part 3 Upper Intermediate

这是我们抱怨王小麦的第三集了，他在公司受了这么多气，这次终于受不了了！你们觉得他会怎么做呢？让我们一起来看看吧！

1920-40s Jazzy Songs in Shanghai Intermediate

Chi delves into the mother of all Mandopop songs — the very jazzy-sounding 时代曲 (songs of the era) in 1920-40s Shanghai, which was the city in China for cultural amalgamation. During that time, 夜来香, 何日君再来, 夜上海, 卖杂货 and 明月千里寄相思 are all quite famous. After listening to a brief history lesson, we’ll take a deeper look at 如果没有你 sung by 白光 to learn some Chinese!

Can I Drink Water Here? Newbie

There're always people breaking rules, such as eating in a library or taking pictures in a museum. Do you want to stop them but don't know how? In this lesson, we are going to learn how to ask people not to do something and ask whether can we do something. Let's get started!

科普小知识：为什么看到酸的食物就会流口水？ Advanced

今天我们要跟大家介绍一个关于人体的有趣科普小知识。有时候当我们看到柠檬或想到酸酸的食物时，会忍不住流口水，你知道这是为什么吗？其实这个道理叫做条件反射，快来听听这堂课吧！

Character Mind Map: 蛋 egg Elementary

In Chinese, you often encounter single characters that have multiple related meanings. This has the potential to confuse learners because sometimes it is hard to make connections between component characters and their meanings within multiple-character words. That's why we created this Character Mind Map series, where we focus on characters and the words they make up.Today, we're talking about 蛋 and all the interesting words using this character. Let's check them out!

How to Use Past Experience Marker 过 (guò) Pre Intermediate

In this lesson, we are going to show you how to describe past experiences with 过. It's a useful word to tell people what you have or have not done before. And, you can also use this structure to play "Never Have I Ever". Let's check it out!

诚实 vs. 老实 vs. 坦白 Upper Intermediate

你听过诚实，老实，坦白这三个词吗？它们都有"honest"的意思，但是他们的意思有点差别。你知道他们差在哪儿吗？快来听听今天的课程吧！

Coffee Break Series #4 - The Exhibition Intermediate

In the intermediate coffee break series, we will follow the footsteps of Nick through his adventure in China. Along the way, you will learn important terms and phrases used in business settings, as well as some tips and tricks on dealing with Chinese businessmen. In this episode, our main character Nick meets a customer in the exhibition and introduces his company's products. Will the customer pay? If you want to know what happens in today’s episode, watch the video and get down to business!

Very Cool, Very Ok Newbie

In this episode, Chi introduces how the words "cool", "low", and "ok" are used in Western and Eastern contexts. Spoiler alert: They might not mean what you think they mean!

最后一杯热拿铁 Part 2 Advanced

上一集课程里，秦宇遇见了一个神秘的女孩，他非常喜欢她，正想着要约她出去的时候，她却不光顾他的咖啡店了。在这一集里，他们又会发展出什么样的故事呢？我们来看看吧！

Continued Tone Change Series #5 - Ordering Dumplings Elementary

In our previous newbie tone change series, we have introduced the tone change rules for 不, 一, two third tones, and three third tones. Just like many other aspects in the Chinese language, tone changes are more nuanced than the rules you see in textbooks. That's why for the elementary tone change series, we decided that we would reinforce the rules with the help of dialogues that you hear in everyday conversations. Practice and familiarize yourselves with the sounds, and you'll be a tone master in no time! In this episode, we're going to learn and practice the tone change rules for consecutive third tones through a conversation in a restaurant. Let's check it out right now!

Shipping a package Pre Intermediate

Do you go to the post office often? In this lesson, we're going to show you how to mail a package in Asia and what you can expect from the clerks. Let's check it out!

Prenatal Checkup, Part 2 Intermediate

In this episode, we will show you a dialogue between a doctor and the parent during the sonogram, and what are the things you can say during this wonderful experience. Let's check out the baby in the belly!

Come Sit Some Time Newbie

In this lesson, we are going to look at a common dialogue between a guest and a host. We will show you how to invite someone to visit next time, and how you can take your leave as a guest.

"Without you I'm so lonely" 没有你陪伴真的好孤单 Intermediate

“没有你陪伴真的好孤单” is a lengthy song title, but nothing’s too long for a stark cry about missing your lover. In this new episode of Journey into Mandopop, Chi explains this Chinese mega-hit about loneliness which, as it’s very straight-to-the-point, is great for learning Chinese!

职场抱怨王 Part 2 Upper Intermediate

爱抱怨的小麦又来了！在上一集里，我们聊到了她很讨厌她的的同事，这次她的部门又发生了什么事呢？我们一起来看看吧！

Chengyu Series - Seven Up and Eight Down Elementary

Chengyu are Chinese idioms that consist of four characters. Although they originate from classical Chinese, Chengyu remain as an important aspect in both spoken and written language. They may seem erratic and confusing to you at first since they don’t follow the usual sentence order and their meanings depend heavily on context. But don’t worry, in this Chengyu series, we will introduce simple Chengyu made up with all the characters that you already knew, and you can infer the actual meaning by looking at the separate characters! In this lesson, let’s take a look at four Chengyu with numbers 七 (seven) and 八 (eight) in them!