ChinesePod

October 1st is "National Day" in the PRC, a holiday celebrating the founding of the nation. For the average Joe, this has a very important implication: vacation! In this lesson, learn how official holidays are announced, as well as some of their unfortunate drawbacks.

You've got big plans for the morning, so don't forget to set your alarm clock. But do you know how to say this in Chinese, and to ask your travel buddy if he has performed this very necessary ritual? Learn the essential alarm clock Chinese in this lesson.

It's fairly common in China for the newcomer in the office to send out a friendly introductory email to new co-workers. In this lesson we'll be taking a look at that simple email, and all its essential Chinese words and phrases.

If you're planning to spend much time in a big city like Shanghai or Beijing, you're going to want to use the subway or bus system. A commuter pass, or "transportation card," as we say in Chinese, can save you a lot of time and hassle scrambling for change. This lesson will prepare you to buy the card and put money on it. Soon you'll be commuting as effortlessly as a local.

In this practical Chinese lesson a mother is shocked to discover that her child had a rather unproductive day. Learn the specific patterns for asking and answering what you've done and haven't done (and then you can go back to being lazy for a little while).

Naturally you're going to accept every invitation to hang out with your Chinese friends and co-workers, but what do you say when you really just can't make it? In this lesson, find out how to politely decline an invitation, thereby increasing your chances of getting invited again (rather than getting blacklisted from their homes and shunned for life).

So you've gotten the invitation to the big event, and you're eager to make a good impression, but one key question lingers: what should you wear?? In today's Chinese lesson, learn how to ask this key question, as well as some of the most likely (culturally appropriate) answers.

Subways are one of the great conveniences of first-tier Chinese cities. If you're in Beijing or Shanghai, the subway is often your best transportation option. Of course, if you're not yet familiar with the subway system, you could find yourself on a train heading in the wrong direction. Learn the Chinese for how to ask if you're going the right way, and get back on the right track. (Don't worry; y...

It's summertime - the perfect season for a nice picnic in the park. Check out today's lesson to learn how to describe planning a picnic in Chinese.

In this newbie lesson, we're showing you three ways to respond to common questions like "What do you do for a living?" or "What's your job?". Let's check it out!

In today's lesson, we are showing you a conversation between a grumpy bus driver and an impatient passenger. Let's check out the dialogue!

Mobile phones can bring our significant others right into our meetings. In this lesson, you're gonna learn three sentences so that when you're about to join a meeting, or even in a meeting, you'll know what to say to your dear ones on the phone. Watch out! This lesson is designed for newbies who desire challenges!

A critical language skill for every toddler: How to gently let your parents know that it’s actually NOT time for bed yet.

Some kids are never too young to ask dad about buying a new car. But what could push him into actually doing it? Find out in this lesson.

What common Chinese word do some foreigners learn before "Hello"? McDonald's (麦当劳) of course! Come learn some other important brand names to either impress your friends - or find a Subway sandwich.

What has a pig got to do with bamboo? Learn the meaning of the word Zhu and practice your tones!

Did you know a Chinese Idiom is always just 4 characters? Regardless of your level of Chinese study, it is always fun and interesting to learn new idioms. Do you know what it means when "The horses Arrive?" Find out!

Join Grace on the farm as she counts all the animals! Learn your numbers from 1 to 10 and the names of farm animals and dragonflies. In this lesson, Grace uses measure words for the different animals. Chinese has many measure words. As we build our lessons, we will identify the various measure words and when they are used.

What are you doing here in Shanghai? It's what everyone wants to know. So tell them that you're here in Shanghai working, and learning Chinese in your spare time. (Convincing them that you're not all about partying and living the high life is a topic for another lesson...)

No, it's not cool to ignore your spouse at those social functions. (That's what those repeated pokes in the ribs are trying to tell you.) So learn how to introduce him or her with this practical Chinese lesson.

If you know "ni hao," you're ready to start networking in the Middle Kingdom. This lesson will equip you with a few more phrases to assist in Chinese introductions. But remember: you're no one if you don't have a "name card," so have yours ready!

If you come to China you're going to be getting served tea everywhere: in restaurants, homes, even offices. In today's newbie lesson, we'll be joining a young woman as she enters an office. Listen in and learn the language for basic manners and politeness in Mandarin Chinese.

It’s been established you like your city, but why exactly? In this podcast, you will learn how to compare two things using Mandarin Chinese; in this case, cities. The more comparisons you can make, the smarter you sound. And the smarter you sound, the more you like us. And the more you like us, the better the Christmas gift we get from you. See how that works?

China is a nation of early risers, so don't be too surprised when housekeeping starts pounding on your hotel room door at 8am. In this Chinese lesson, learn to kindly and clearly tell housekeeping that you're more interested in sleeping than a tidy room.

Hopefully you've bought plane tickets before and you're aware that the price can vary a bit according to when you buy. With this lesson, you can also be prepared to deal with this reality in Mandarin Chinese!