ChinesePod - Beginner

Roses are green, violets are red…it wouldn’t make sense back home, nor would it here, so you’d better familiarize yourself a little with the colors in Chinese. In this podcast, you will learn how to say the different colors in Mandarin Chinese, as well as how to talk about what color something is. Make all your friends “green” with envy. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0024

China is a shoppers’ heaven, and in this podcast lesson you’ll learn some key phrases in Mandarin Chinese to help you navigate the markets and shopping streets and get what you want. You’ll learn how to identify the items you want, and ask how much they are. You’ll also learn the colloquial term for money, so you can fit right in--no matter what color your hair is. Episode link: https://www.chines...

Restaurant culture is a huge part of life in China, and you won’t want to miss out on some of the world’s most interesting cuisine just because you can’t ask for a menu in Mandarin Chinese. In this podcast lesson you’ll learn the vital phrase “do you have” (just insert toilet, bar, receipt, headache pills, etc). You’ll also learn how to politely interrupt someone, and the verb ‘to want’. Soon you’...

When you travel to China, the question on all Chinese people’s lips is “Do you like China?" So, in this podcast lesson, we help you to answer that all important question. You’ll learn how to give an emphatic “Yes! I like China!” in Mandarin Chinese. In this lesson you will also learn how to speak about your likes and dislikes – something of the utmost importance, unless you’re happy eating chicken...

After you have said hello in Chinese and know your partner in conversation’s name, the next topic likely to come up is where you are from. In this podcast you’ll learn how to say several common nationalities in Mandarin Chinese, plus one of the ways to say yes (yes, there are several!). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0003

Yes, it’s easy to point at yourself, say your own name, then point at their chest and make a questioning grunt, but wouldn’t it be great if you could ask for your new friends name in Chinese, and even tell them yours? In today’s podcast lesson, hosts Jenny and Ken teach you a few simple sentences to help you exchange names in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0002

In this lesson, we’ll teach you how to make friends! Or, at least the very first step: greetings. You’ll learn how to greet people in Mandarin Chinese, ask them how they are, and reply when they ask you. Sit back, listen, review and you’ll be able to show off with a few sentences yourself in no time. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0001

Despite our unbelievably good music taste (Ken likes anything he can do the “big box-little box” dance to; Jenny’s more of a country music gal), it wasn’t until our “80’s Office Party” that we realized we could make a lesson out of a Milli Vanilli ballad. In this retro-fueled podcast, we teach you how to tell that special someone that you miss them, using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://ww...

COVID-19 has left many cities stuck in a halt. In this special podcast, Chi first takes a short tour in the "paused" New York City, one of the epicenters of the pandemic. He then interviews with Shun who is from Hubei - the region where COVID-19 first emerged. What are the positives we can get out of a lockdown situation? How do we make things better for everyone? Let's brainstorm together! Episod...

Being sick sucks, but being sick in Chinese really sucks. If you haven't lost your voice yet, get yourself down to the corner pharmacy for some relief. The smorgasbord of remedies range from the thick, boiled and black variety to something of the pill genre that you can't decipher from the box. But that 'pharmacist' behind the counter looks kinda trustworthy, no? Listen and learn more in order to...

How old are you? When an adult asks another adult this question, guessing games are likely to ensue. In this dialog, the question is met with just this kind of response. Learn the Chinese to ask this question, and pick up a coyly evasive (but simple!) response at the same time. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1752

Making a dinner reservation over the phone can be a daunting prospect, especially when restaurant on the other end of the line is exceptionally noisy and hard to understand. Thankfully, the exchange is actually fairly straightforward and scripted, and with the help of today's newbie lesson to break it down piece by piece, you'll be making reservations for you and your friends in no time! Episode l...

If you're the kind of person that even the alarm clock doesn't wake, then you'll have definitely experienced a conversation similar to this. Learn how to tell someone that you want to sleep that little bit longer. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2625

OK, so even if you haven't come to China to pursue that job as a door-to-door salesman, you may need to call on a Chinese friend. Learn the appropriate phrases for the person on each side of the door in this lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1712

You've had a wonderful time with your friends but you're worn out and ready to leave. It's time to go. But how do you break the news to your undoubtedly disappointed friends? Learn how to leave a social situation gracefully in Mandarin Chinese with today's newbie lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1890

Ah, the eternal question... do you like Shanghai, or do you like Beijing? It's a question that both Chinese and foreigners alike enjoy debating, and with the rapid development of both cities, it kind of feels like a new discussion every time. So take your first steps into this discussion in Chinese with this lesson! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1972

When you're in China, you're going to need to buy stuff. When you buy stuff, it's best to actually know how much money something costs rather than just blindly throwing money at the merchant. Learn how to ask how much things cost in today's newbie lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1966

Rise and shine! This newbie lesson involves a discussion about getting out of bed in the morning and getting off to school. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2037

Here's a Chinese lesson for all you students out there, who live and die (hopefully not die) by the academic calendar. One of the most pertinent questions for any student whose vacation is rapidly coming to an end is: "when does the new term begin?" Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1743

How do you use Chinese to say where you've been, and when you were there? In today's Mandarin lesson, you'll learn how to talk about where you were and when you went there. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1236

Today's Chinese podcast will teach you how to talk about your job or lack thereof. No matter whether you're an easy-living bohemian, a diligent student, or an uptight and mildly incompetent middle manager, ChinesePod can help you learn how to talk about your job in Mandarin. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1226

“Why are you here?” Not in a self-help sort of way, but more in explaining to your driver why you’re here exactly. In this, another podcast that could be considered our “Traveler’s Audio Phrase Book”, we’ll help you carry on that initial conversation in Mandarin Chinese with your ever-present built-in friend, the taxi driver. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0056

Ah, the home front. Any self-respecting Mandarin learner has their work cut out for them in deciphering the who's who of a Chinese family. And don't think the one-child policy makes things any easier. So, line 'em up, and get them all straight in this podcast which will enlighten you on the members of a Chinese family. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0676

In China, where eating is always the the central activity around which all else is planned, dinner with friends is the preferred way to socialize. So you'd best prepare yourself for dinner invitations and being treated to meals. Cover the basics in this Chinese lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1780

Chinese food is well known for its variety, and one of those variable factors is spiciness. In this Chinese lesson, learn how to clearly ask if something is spicy or not. Just don't complain to us if you can't handle the heat! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1707