ChinesePod - Intermediate

Not that we agree with the whole “those who can’t, teach”, but it does seem odd, us giving a lesson on talking about dates--seeing as how we can’t get them (despite our “We work with Ken and Jenny” shirts). However, it’s a hot topic in conversation and we’d like to think you’re a “bit of all right” and will need to know this. If not…join us for video night, Friday and Saturday nights. Episode link...

Your mom's not here and neither is your ayi, and where is a Chinese laundry when you need one? Yes, we know it's true that shirt will get just as rumpled after your sardine subway ride to work, but hey... you never know when you'll be sandwiched up against Mrs. Right. Make a good impression--learn how to iron, and how to say it in Mandarin in this podcast. Women love a man that can pull off a grea...

With more and more people (see: our John Pasden) attending uni at a Mandarin school, we’d like to cover some basics. We’ve already taught you “keg stand” and “dodging student loans”, so the only thing left is making sure you know when an exam is coming up. In this podcast, learn to discuss exams and expectations in Mandarin Chinese. (Premium subscribers get an invite to our “ChinesePod Toga Party”...

What are your plans for the future? Think that this question ends after you walk out of your guidance counselor’s office? “Think two times” (Chinglish for “twice”). In this podcast, we offer up a monologue on business plans in Mandarin Chinese. Listen and learn…you might just get some good ideas! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0104

Dodging street debris may be good foot-dexterity training for the Chinese New Year lion dance you've been getting ready for, but a quick slip on a banana peel can end a potentially brilliant dance career faster than the crash of a gong. In this podcast, a lesson for the litterbugs, in Mandarin. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0773

For Ken, it’s those tiny little sock hangers. For Jenny it’s losing that great head of hair. We all have phobias…ours is that you won’t learn enough Mandarin (ahem - on your terms) to talk about them. Let’s fix that. In this podcast, learn about some common, and some not-so-common phobias, in Mandarin Chinese. Now, we want you to focus on that object directly in front of you. Allow your entire bod...

A foreigner in China soon gets over any initial shyness to talk price after finding out he paid fifteen times the going rate for that “waving Mao” watch. Everything is to be bargained for…everything. So, take a break from talking price to brush up on your skills in this podcast. And remember, if you can do it in Mandarin Chinese, you’ll only pay ten times too much…! Episode link: https://www.chine...

If you're creative, indoor winter sports can be so much fun in China. Warm your hands over your gas stovetop flame with your significant other, or chug baijiu in a vain attempt to warm up from the inside out. Or, steam your pores over a lip-numbing Sichuan hotpot while trying not to look at the guy eating brains beside you. All this, and more, can be yours in a China winter. Listen to today's podc...

Between 1937-39, over 20,000 Jewish families migrated to Shanghai. Today, north of the city center, there is still a flourishing Jewish community. China is also seeing more and more Christian churches popping up. So how does the average Chinese feel about others who pray to a different higher being? We’ll learn all about it in Mandarin Chinese, in a podcast on the subject. Episode link: https://ww...

So, you’re able to say “I’m fine”, but what about when you’re in that bad mood? Sure, the easy way out is to always be “fine”--even if you’re not. But wait, this isn’t Stoic-pod, ya know! In this lesson Kind Ken and Jovial Jenny offer up a lesson on “disappointment”…you robot. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0102

Oh the superlative human form. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, so please allow your eye to feast on the lesson image to the left of this very intro, and admire along with the writer that hunk of a man. Oh yes, and before you get too carried away... don't forget to push play and listen to this podcast on describing hot bods, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod....

If Pepsi’s slogan “Come Alive” can mean “Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Dead” after translation into Chinese, then there’s a good chance that you’ll find yourself lost in translation. We don’t want that to happen, so we want to help with this podcast in the form of a Mandarin Chinese lesson on translating. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0251

Taiwanese songwriters such as 罗大佑 and 李宗盛, and of course the legendary singer Teresa Teng 邓丽君 gifted us classic songs that almost every Chinese-speaking person could sing by heart. Chi explains the beautiful music and lyric-writing in these “经典中的经典” (lit. “the classics of classics”). Song in focus: 罗大佑 – 童年 (1983). Songs featured: 邓丽君 – 月亮代表我的心 (1977) 邓丽君 – 甜蜜蜜...

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, we’re going to learn what we can say after hosting a meal or being treated. Let's get started! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4366

No trip to China would be complete without a look at the (sleeps for 23.7 hours a day) panda and the (will take your mobile phone) golden-haired monkey. In this podcast, we take a trip to the erm, “exotic zoo” (Google that if you’re bored), where you will learn about some interesting animals in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0244

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 is having his first meeting in the company, and things are not going so well for him. If you wa...

When he/she walks like a woman and talks like a man, and the response that comes to your query of “Who is that?” is “It’s Pat,” you may find yourself in a quandary of gender identification. Think you can fake your way through this kind of predicament in Chinese with an evasive ‘ta’? That, and this podcast will help. And who knows, you may just find out that the elusive Lola ended up in China. Epis...

Well, to start, there’s the first 3 months plus deposit… and that’s the easy part. The “laowai” shuffle begins thereafter. If you think you can knock that price tag down all by your lonesome, then feel free – and come back to this lesson afterwards. In this podcast, take a tour of an apartment in Mandarin Chinese, then learn some effective bargaining tools to try out. Episode link: https://www.chi...

In this lesson, we're showing you three common proverbs related to ducks. They can be directly translated to "To herd the ducks onto a porch", "A cooked duck flies away", and "A dead duck's month is still hard". Do you know what they actually mean? Check out these proverbs with Joy and Joshua and learn how to apply them to daily life! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4300

"Meet the parents" takes on a whole other meaning in Chinese families. Now, if you can't keep track of which auntie is the elder, whose brother the rotund uncle is and whose sister the tall auntie is... or for that matter--which side is this grandpa is on, and how that lady over in the corner fits in to the whole scenario... the safest bet is to give lots of compliments about how young they all lo...

You sure are clever, and we sure are too. So let’s do what clever people do and talk about clever things… I don’t know, say…anthropology? And to be extra clever, let’s learn all about it in Mandarin Chinese in this podcast. So when your friends ask you “what’s up?” you can say “Oh, you know – just talking about anthropology. In Mandarin.” Someone’s getting a dinner party invite! Episode link: http...

It is not that easy to stay sane lately as the whole world has been gloomy (天昏地暗) due to COVID-19, to put it mildly. This lesson is about being confused by fears and rumors surrounding the pandemic. As we all know, coronavirus and Corona beer share nothing but a similar name, but that didn't prevent the rumors from flying around. Gosh! (天啊!) How much do we hope the pandemic could end soon! E...

Having a travel itinerary in place is no problem in China. You can take a tour and be ushered along to a string of jade factories, miracle pearl cream shops, dramatic burn-healing remedy demonstrations and, uh, another jade factory... oh, yeah, and to the Great Wall too, if you're lucky! In this podcast, take control of your itinerary! Learn how to plan your own travel itinerary, in Mandarin Chine...

“CCTV” is all the news here – not the “When Russell Crowe Goes Bad” type of CCTV, but the actual conglomerate of news stations. If you live here, you’ll learn to love it… well, most of it (read: Dashan adverts). So how about a newsworthy lesson in Mandarin Chinese on viewing habits? In this podcast, you’ll learn to talk about the tube, as well as learn how to talk about some current events in Mand...

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 just arrived at the airport. Through a phone conversation, we're going to show you useful...