ChinesePod - Beginner

Service charges (tipping) is becoming more and more common, but sometimes it can he hard to know if it's enforced. In this lesson, the service charge is "clearly" written on the blackboard on the wall of the restaurant, but the friend is complaining that the words are too small, and he cannot see them. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3057

Not a normal podcast, but one you’ll memorize word-for-word and print out as well. In this podcast, our producer, Aric, abuses his power (which we tell him he has) by stopping by to get his American Chinese menu translated into Mandarin Chinese…use this lesson to get some of these dishes down and impress the entire restaurant back home. Not to mention impress your growing belly. Episode link: http...

In this lesson we look at the important phrase, "I can't afford it" (买不起 mǎi bù qǐ). In today's dialogue, two friends are walking around an expensive department store, complaining that everything is so expensive, and that they cannot afford to buy anything, even the cake! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3053

We can only ignore so many requests for “chat-up lines” until we break…which we did today. In this soon-to-be most popular lesson for our loyal podcast listeners, you will learn some nice compliments in Chinese to endear you to someone you have your eye on; and we will also give you some saucy lines in Mandarin Chinese to use at the pub this weekend…and withdraw from any consequences thereof. (Als...

When travelling in an unfamiliar city, the transport network can be quite confusing. Learn how to ask passengers if you're heading in the right direction so that you don't miss your stop. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3041

Cliché as it may be, a good “long time no see” does wonders for reconnecting with old “peng you”. In this podcast, we’re going to make you sound more like a local by sharing these tidbits, as well as a cooler way of saying “how are you” as well as “I’m fine” in Mandarin Chinese…we just keep on giving. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0045

When do you shower? In the morning or in the evening. In the East, it's common to shower once you get home for the day, and most people wouldn't dream of going to bed without first bathing. Learn useful ways to ask colloquial and relaxed questions about what someone has been doing with their weekend. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3001

Now we like mahjong and karaoke as much as the next person, but unless you pay attention to this lesson about what other things people like to do on the weekends, you might just become a compulsive gambler and boozer. In this podcast, learn how to expand your horizons and ask a friend in Mandarin Chinese what they are up to this weekend (aka fishing for an invite). Episode link: https://www.chines...

Granted, most dogs here look like they chase parked cars, but that doesn’t stop them from being a part of the family. In this podcast, learn how to talk to fellow pet-lovers about your pet, in Mandarin Chinese. Explaining to them that dogs actually *don’t* make the sound “wang-wang” is up to you. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0208

Every once and a while we veer away from our “normal programming” and offer up some lessons on high-frequency phrases in Chinese that you will use everyday. Today happens to be “once” and now is actually “in a while” so grab that “authentic” Rolex you bought near your hotel and join us for a podcast on telling time in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0122

As parents, there is always the unavoidable coming of age when we must explain to our children about "the birds and the bees". For those of us learning Mandarin Chinese, however, there is a simpler solution. In this podcast, learn an alternative and skillfully evasive (albeit not particularly politically correct) response to this age-old question, as answered by many Chinese parents to their belov...

Don’t get me wrong, your ability to say “chicken” and “noodles” is gold-star worthy, but if variety is the spice of life, then Chinese food is the spice rack. In this “tantalizing” podcast lesson we’ll help you order some traditional dishes in China in Mandarin Chinese…without looking at that picture menu. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0042

The character 会／會／huì can either mean "can" (a learned ability to do something) or "will" ( a future action or event happening). Knowing which one to use is all about context and the position in a sentence, and with a little bit of listening practice, will become second nature. Check out today's lesson to master the 会 character. You can and will do it! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com...

With every 4th child born in the world being Chinese, there’s a good chance you’ll meet a few. In this podcast, we help you learn how to ask not only about names of new friends using Mandarin Chinese, but also about other information that might just get you an invite to that “famous restaurant” in town (word of warning: they all are famous). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0150

In this lesson, we teach some great ways to make small talk in the elevator with your neighbors. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4033

Despite our professional image (ahem) we confess to laughing like schoolgirls anytime someone attempts to act out this phrase. So, listen in to this podcast and get the education in the things you really need to know in Mandarin Chinese. If we didn’t teach you, who would? Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0163

In today's elementary class we teach you lots of "time spent doing" sentences, for example, "I have been studying for X amount of time", or "Yesterday, I read my book until.... e.g: 昨天 我 看书 看到 9点 Time Phrase VO V 到 TIME Yesterday I read book, read until 9 o'clock Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4005

Despite the majority of our staff being passificus apatheticus when it comes to soccer football--we simply couldn’t ignore that World Cup thingy. In this podcast, Jenny, John and Aric teach “let’s go”, “great shot”, “REFEREE!!!”, and more, all in Mandarin Chinese. Now, if you’ll excuse us, there are some baseball reruns to catch. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0159

In this lesson, we hear a student compliment another student about their various accomplishments both academic and sporting. We also take a closer look at 得 (de) sentences where we turn adjectives into adverbs Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3031

Fact: There are 1.4 billion people in China. Fact: You don’t read enough to understand the bus schedule Fact: This leaves you with the option of riding a bicycle or hopping on the back of an illegal motorcycle taxi. Fact: You might need to know how to talk about being nervous. In this podcast, Ken and Jenny hold your trembling hand through a lesson on the “shakes”, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode lin...

In this lesson, we teach you some words to do with items commonly brought on flights that are not allowed through security. Learn some key Chinese vocabulary to do with airport security and arguing with security. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4059

More “baby talk”… In this podcast, you will learn some more popular common phrases in Mandarin Chinese, such as: “Good boy/girl”, “Be careful!” and “Don’t be naughty”. Think these phrases are only for people adopting children? Listen closely and you’ll hear Jenny confess that her parents still use some of these on her! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0126

Spanish can be difficult for many learners, especially because of the need to be able to roll your tongue to produce the trill sound seen in many words. Listen to a dialogue about someone saying they can't speak Spanish, and the friend offering to teach them. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3034

We always chuckle to think of the situations you found yourself in before ChinesePod came along…for instance: going to the zoo. While we don’t want to know how you indicated the red-bummed baboon, we would like to offer up a cognitive exercise lesson on identifying some animals in Mandarin Chinese by the sounds they make. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0346

In this lesson, we focus on the important ways to give directions verbs such as to come in, or to go out. We do this using the structure: Direction Verb 來／去. This structure is very high use, and important in situations such as greeting guests or going for a job interview. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3061