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ChinesePod makes learning Mandarin fun and easy. It isn't your typical language learning resource - we think you'll be entertained as well!
If you’re just trying to learn some survival Chinese or looking to start a lifelong relationship with the language, this ChinesePod - Beginner Level Podcast Channel is where to start.
Expand your Mandarin Chinese learning experience by also SUBSCRIBING to ChinesePod - Intermediate and ChinesePod - Advanced Podcast channels.
For more lessons, go to www.chinesepod.com and take us for a spin.
Newbie | You Look Nervous
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 link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0117
12:3730/09/2020
Elementary | You Can't Bring That On The Plane!
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
15:1728/09/2020
Newbie | Baby Talk: Be Good!
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
11:5525/09/2020
Elementary | I Can Teach You Spanish
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
14:3723/09/2020
Newbie | At the Zoo
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
14:1121/09/2020
Elementary | How to Say: Come out / Come in
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
14:3518/09/2020
Newbie | Asking for Favors
“Some day, and that day may never come, I’ll call upon you”…if it’s good enough for Brando, its good enough for us. In this podcast Ken (an Irish Johnny Fontane) and Jenny (never sides against the family) teach you how to ask for a favor in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0099
17:4716/09/2020
Elementary | How Cold Is It in Winter?
Learn different ways to modify adjectives with this lesson all about the seasons. By the end of the lesson, you'll know how to describe the winter in different Chinese cities with varying levels of coldness. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3010
12:0514/09/2020
Newbie | Asking for Change
Now, we know when in Rome, you like to adapt to the locals. So, we expect that you’ll be treating everyone to 12 course dinners like the best of them. But, if, for some reason, you go western style and split the bill, you’re gonna need this podcast. Listen, and learn how to ask for change for that 100 yuan bill (again, sounds like more than it is) in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0296
13:4711/09/2020
Elementary | First This, Then That
In this lesson, we focus on the structure, first....and then... (先...再...) This is useful when you are making plans, or telling a story and want to order your thoughts. For example, first, we'll eat, and then go to the cinema. Click the grammar tab as well as the grammar tags to find more examples and lessons. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4018
14:5909/09/2020
Newbie | Allergies
Sure, some might think this a niche lesson, but consider the alternative: (In Mandarin) “To tell you the truth, doc, I’m not sure if it was my inability to be around cats, or my violent reaction to shellfish--I just can’t breathe.” …or you can simply follow along in this podcast, where you will learn how to use Mandarin Chinese to explain that you have allergies. Up to you. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0165
11:5707/09/2020
Elementary | Describing Beauty
In this lesson, we teach you some great ways to describe beauty, specifically when talking about a pretty woman. Learn how to say "your hair is like a waterfall", or "your eyes are just like the stars". Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4031
13:2904/09/2020
Newbie | Addresses
You’ve made contact via mobile phone with your friend and now you need to meet up, but can’t, for the life of you, figure out why he/she keeps saying “hao” after the numbers. Perhaps you should ask for landmarks…Listen in to this podcast and learn how to give addresses in Mandarin Chinese, as well as landmarks—a very useful technique in these cities the size of some countries! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0095
14:2702/09/2020
Elementary | Buying Fresh Fish in the Market
In this elementary lesson, we learn the different words for fresh and saltwater fish, as well as how to buy fish in a traditional wet market. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4066
16:3531/08/2020
Newbie | A Late Knock
With 20 million people all hitting the roads after work at the same time, you just may find yourself in the position of being late. So perhaps being armed with an apology would smooth things over? In this podcast, learn how to apologize for being late, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0308
13:1128/08/2020
Elementary | Beijing Accent
Hearing a new accent can sometimes take a little time to get used to. When native speakers talk, they often link and join syllables, which is perfectly acceptable, just like in English. But for the untrained ear, it can be a little confusing at times. In today's lesson, you'll see an example of this possible confusion. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/3068
17:0926/08/2020
Newbie | A Startled Friend
“BOO!” Bet you don’t know what to say to that, do ya? We do, and today we’ll teach you the correct response…In this podcast, you will learn how to both be the scare-er and the scare-ee, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0311
10:2724/08/2020
Elementary | Asking Too Many Questions
Listen as a nosy sister asks lots of questions to her younger brother over the telephone about what he's been up to lately and how his relationship is going with his girlfriend. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4043
14:3517/08/2020
Newbie | Dialect Party Mix
Lots of lessons under your belt and you’re feeling a bit sure of yourself these days, so here’s an intro to a few of the 1500 regional dialects here in China to bring you back down to us. In this podcast you will learn a few key phrases in a couple of the major dialects of China. Be nice and we’ll only make you remember a few. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0037
19:2310/08/2020
Elementary | Asking Directions to the Toilet
In this lesson, we teach you possibly the most important phrase to know. "Which way to the bathroom!?" If it's your first time travelling, it could be a lifesaver when you get an upset tummy. We also teach some pronunciation tips to keep in mind when saying the word "toilet" since we often here it badly pronounced, and it's important to get these key words right. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4056
11:4507/08/2020
Newbie | Paying the Bill
You’ve had the Beijing Duck not to mention an ill-advised attempt at eating “chao mian” with chopsticks, and now it’s time to pay. Who gets the bill? The bigger man, that’s who. Save face by expensing it out. In this podcast you will learn how to request the bill in a Chinese restaurant, as well as how to fight over the bill in Mandarin Chinese. We’ll even throw in a bonus “Ai yo”!!! (most versatile word in the Mandarin language). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0033
14:1103/08/2020
Newbie | A Correction of Tones
Mandarin tones got ya down? Perk up! We understand. In today’s podcast, our GM Steve comes in and offers up the wrong tones in Mandarin Chinese, so that you can start hearing the difference, which puts you on your way to correcting others mistakes, which is always an ego stroke. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0048
13:5927/07/2020
Newbie | All in the Family
Chances are that while you’re pulling out your wallet to buy that “I Climbed The Great Wall” t-shirt, a few photos of the family will show themselves. So we’ll make sure you can tell them you have a sister… unless that traditional tiara is for you. In this podcast you’ll also get the chance to learn this and some more useful sentences for talking about family and people in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0031
13:2920/07/2020
Newbie | Michelle's COVID-19 Journey - with Vocabulary
ChinesePod's Michelle kindly shares her experience through contracting and recovering from COVID-19 with Chi, introducing a number of related vocabularies along the way. She's currently waiting for her final test results to confirm her full recovery. Let's wish her all the best! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4326
27:5910/07/2020
Newbie | Colors
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
09:2024/06/2020
Newbie | I Want to Buy This One
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.chinesepod.com/0006
13:4222/06/2020
Newbie | Do You Have a Menu?
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’ll be wanting to know how to ask for the bill too… Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0005
14:1819/06/2020
Newbie | Do You Like China?
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’s feet for breakfast. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0004
16:2017/06/2020
Newbie | Where Are You From?
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
13:3215/06/2020
Newbie | What's Your Name?
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
17:0412/06/2020
Newbie | Good Morning!
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
13:5610/06/2020
Newbie | I Miss You!
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://www.chinesepod.com/0147
13:1109/06/2020
Any | COVID-19: United We Stand
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! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4298
16:5427/04/2020
Elementary | Going to the Pharmacy
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 heal thyself, in Mandarin. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0857
15:1103/03/2020
Newbie | How Old Are You?
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
11:0910/02/2020
Newbie | Making a Dinner Reservation, Part 1
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 link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1922
12:2503/02/2020
Newbie | Let Me Sleep a Little Longer
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
11:2728/01/2020
Newbie | Answering the Door
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
10:5121/01/2020
Newbie | Saying Goodbye
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
12:2313/01/2020
Newbie | Which city do you like?
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
13:4906/01/2020
Newbie | Asking About Prices
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
13:1530/12/2019
Newbie | What Time Do You Get Up?
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
12:0723/12/2019
Newbie | New School Term
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
15:3116/12/2019
Newbie | Where Did You Go?
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
12:5128/10/2019
Newbie | What's Your Job?
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
10:5121/10/2019
Newbie | Taxi Conversations: Small Talk
“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
11:5514/10/2019
Newbie | How Many People Are in Your Family?
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
11:5307/10/2019
Newbie | Invitation to Dinner
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
13:1330/09/2019
Newbie | Is It Spicy?
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
09:5923/09/2019
Newbie | Weekend Activities
Don't be surprised when your Chinese friends start asking you what you do on the weekends. (Foreigners are known to have riotously good times on the weekends, as faithfully reported by Hollywood.) In this lesson, learn how to make a connection and ask a friend in Mandarin Chinese what they are up to this weekend (AKA fishing for an invite). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1692
20:2516/09/2019