ChinesePod - Beginner
Episodes
Newbie | Friends For Dinner
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Elementary | I Can't Afford Cake
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Newbie | How You Doin'?
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Elementary | Is This the Correct Stop?
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 direct...
Newbie | Long Time No See (Original)
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Elementary | When Do You Shower?
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Weekend Warriors
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Elementary | Pets
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | What Time Is It?
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Elementary | Where Children Come From
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 learnin...
Newbie | What'll It Be?
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Elementary | Will vs. Can Using 会 [會] huì
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The character 会／會／huì can either mean "can" (a learned ability to do something) or "will" ( a future action or event happening). Knowing whic...
Newbie | What's His Name?
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Elementary | Which Floor?
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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
Newbie | Where's The Bathroom?
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Despite our professional image (ahem) we confess to laughing like schoolgirls anytime someone attempts to act out this phrase. So, listen in to this p...
Elementary | Working Overtime Until 9PM!
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | World Cup Football Terms
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Elementary | You Really Are Impressive
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, we hear a student compliment another student about their various accomplishments both academic and sporting. We also take a closer loo...
Newbie | You Look Nervous
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 rid...
Elementary | You Can't Bring That On The Plane!
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 voc...
Newbie | Baby Talk: Be Good!
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More “baby talk”… In this podcast, you will learn some more popular common phrases in Mandarin Chinese, such as: “Good boy/girl”, “Be care...
Elementary | I Can Teach You Spanish
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 word...
Newbie | At the Zoo
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 wan...
Elementary | How to Say: Come out / Come in
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ve...
Newbie | Asking for Favors
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“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 ...
Elementary | How Cold Is It in Winter?
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | Asking for Change
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 the...
Elementary | First This, Then That
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Newbie | Allergies
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ina...
Elementary | Describing Beauty
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Addresses
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 say...
Elementary | Buying Fresh Fish in the Market
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | A Late Knock
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Elementary | Beijing Accent
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 perfectl...
Newbie | A Startled Friend
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“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 ...
Elementary | Asking Too Many Questions
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Dialect Party Mix
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
Elementary | Asking Directions to the Toilet
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Paying the Bill
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Newbie | A Correction of Tones
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | All in the Family
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thems...
Newbie | Michelle's COVID-19 Journey - with Vocabulary
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
ChinesePod's Michelle kindly shares her experience through contracting and recovering from COVID-19 with Chi, introducing a number of related vocabula...
Newbie | Colors
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 col...
Newbie | I Want to Buy This One
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 sho...
Newbie | Do You Have a Menu?
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 yo...
Newbie | Do You Like China?
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Where Are You From?
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 p...
Newbie | What's Your Name?
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
Newbie | Good Morning!
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 Chi...
Newbie | I Miss You!
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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),...
Any | COVID-19: United We Stand
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 epicent...
Elementary | Going to the Pharmacy
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | How Old Are You?
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
Newbie | Making a Dinner Reservation, Part 1
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | Let Me Sleep a Little Longer
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Newbie | Answering the Door
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 appropriat...
Newbie | Saying Goodbye
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 undoubted...
Newbie | Which city do you like?
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Newbie | Asking About Prices
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 jus...
Newbie | What Time Do You Get Up?
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Newbie | New School Term
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 quest...
Newbie | Where Did You Go?
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
Newbie | What's Your Job?
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 studen...
Newbie | Taxi Conversations: Small Talk
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
Newbie | How Many People Are in Your Family?
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Newbie | Invitation to Dinner
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Newbie | Is It Spicy?
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 someth...
Newbie | Weekend Activities
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Newbie | Turn Right, Turn Left
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
So you've successfully communicated the address to the taxi driver, but as he approaches your final destination he needs a bit more help. Be sure you ...
Newbie | Awkward Silence
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You ever get in an elevator with someone you know and have nothing to say? Yeah, it's kinda... awkward. In Chinese as well. Just like in this lesson. ...
Newbie | Away on Business
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you often travel on business in China? Here's a Mandarin lesson that will help you to explain where you're going and when you'll be back. In this c...
Dear Amber | Massage and Renting an Apartment
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's show Amber and guests talk about some racy and not-so-racy massages in China, as well as give you the scoop on how to go about renting an a...
Any | Bazza and Dating Chinese Girls
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the moment you've all been waiting for, our dear long-time poddie Bazza joins Amber and his beloved Jenny in the studio and tells all. Also...
Dear Amber | Nakedness and Thieves
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Dear Amber we hear firsthand from a student of Chinese about applying for scholarships to Chinese Universities. In addition, an interesti...
Dear Amber | Bachelors, Acting, and Game Shows
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Dear Amber, we kick off a new series of answers about different sorts of jobs foreigners can get in China, and what it's like working here--t...
Dear Amber | Beauty Ideals and Ayi
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's Dear Amber we talk about the Chinese opinions of beauty, and as Chinese New Year approaches, we learn about a very particular Chinese c...
Dear Amber | Getting Stuff Made & Meeting People
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sure we know you can get anything manufactured in China, but did you know you can also get anything made? On this week's Dear Amber we hear about some...
Dear Amber | Trip to the Chinese Doctor and a Special Guest
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Dear Amber a fun trip to the Chinese Medicine Doctor, where you'll find so much that will intrigue and entertain you... and make sure to ...
Dear Amber | The Non-Chinese Speaking Tourist and Toilets
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we have a visitor stop by from America. Elliot doesn't know a word of Chinese, so listen as he tells us his experience of China through the ...
Dear Amber | Choosing a Chinese Name and Safety
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Dear Amber we put safety first and give some safety advice for staying alive on the streets of China. Plus, rising to the daunting challenge ...
Dear Amber | Adventures in Chinese Learning
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In today's show we are joined by two of our very own CPoddies, RobertK and Gaylon, two guys whose Chinese is amazing, and they share all their secrets...
Dear Amber | Year of the Rat and Minimum Wage
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Dear Amber, a special treat... yes, the famous Connie of ChinesePod dialogue acting fame speaks to us for the first time in English... yo...
Dear Amber | Feng Shui and Surgical Masks
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Dear Amber, we get a little 'zen'-ish and talk about feng shui... we also hear what the working world is like for a couple more foreigners in...
Elementary | Forgot to Take My Medicine Again
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn some useful words and phrases to describe forgetting to do something, as well as vocabulary for different ailments and medicine. Episode link: h...
Newbie | Just Call Me...
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Unless your name is "John Smith" or "Anna Jones," chances are your new Chinese friends will have a little difficulty with the pronunciation of your En...