ChinesePod - Intermediate
Episodes
Upper-intermediate | Organic Food Shopping
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to a dialogue about shopping in an organic supermarket for vegetables. Are they more nutritious, or tastier? Episode link: https://www.chinesep...
Intermediate | Traditional Chinese Medicine
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At ChinesePod, we know that part of learning Chinese is getting an introduction to the wonderful world of Chinese medicine. Before we take your pulse ...
Pre-intermediate | Ordering Songs At Karaoke
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's nothing like a night (or an afternoon) of karaoke to bring friends together. It's also a great way to learn Chinese. In today's Mandarin lesso...
Upper-intermediate | Shanghai Expo
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Granted, you’ve heard all about the impending Olympic arrival here, but what about the next big thing? The Shanghai Expo seems to be what everyone i...
Intermediate | Shanghai Fashion
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Granted, the same person that said Shanghai was the “Paris of the East” also said that baijiu was a tasty drink…so we’ll let you decide. Fashi...
Pre-intermediate | What Do Foreigners Like?
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No matter what you sell, you have to know your market. In today's podcast you'll learn how to talk in Chinese about dealing with picky customers who a...
Upper-intermediate | TV Commercials
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to an “open door” policy, you can hear the neighbors’ “telly” in your own house. So why not possess the ability to stroll in, squeeze...
Intermediate | Chinese Tea
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here is a lesson impressing on you the “Importance of Tea”…you’ll notice we capitalized the “T” there, which should tell you something. Te...
Pre-intermediate | Simple Electrical Stuff
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you can't plug in your computer, how can you get your ChinesePod fix? In today's lesson, you'll learn the ins and outs of plugs and sockets, all in...
Upper-intermediate | The Cocktail Party
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we’ve mentioned before, people that listen to ChinesePod are cool. Cool people attend cool functions, like cocktail parties. Cool people also sch...
Intermediate | Let’s Break Up ASAP 趁早
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not uncommon for a relationship to go stagnant, with both parties pretending everything’s alright. 趁早 sung by 张惠妹 is an anthem for ...
Pre-intermediate | Antiperspirant In China
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Confidence, confidence, dry and secure... raise your hand..... raise your hand... if you're sure you want to drop a hundred kuai on your favorite stic...
Upper-intermediate | Choosing A Wine
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While no one can be a smooth as Steve Martin’s character in “The Jerk” (”No more 1966! Bring us some fresh, new stuff!”), you can still impr...
Intermediate | Misfortune From Our Mouths 祸从口入──管住嘴巴
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, you’ll learn useful vocabulary for nuts, seafood, milk etc that’ll come handy especially for persons with food allergies. 祸从口...
Pre-intermediate | Fortunate Cookies
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“The greatest danger could be your stupidity.” “Hell is paved with good intentions.” “Magic time is created when unconventional person comes...
Upper-intermediate | Movie Genres
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a land of, ahem, less-than-pricy DVD’s, it’s no shock that films are always of interest. So why not wow ‘em by discussing your favorite genre...
Intermediate | Coffee Break Series #4 - The Exhibition
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Pre-intermediate | MSN and QQ
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Reports reveal a mysterious drop in the GDP of several countries in the last ten years. Analysts have been concerned and perplexed. But they have over...
Upper-intermediate | Chinese Antiques
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No visit to the PRC would be complete without a “Waving Mao” watch, but is it *really* an antique? In this podcast, one seasoned friend helps anot...
Intermediate | How Was Your Date?
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Pre-intermediate | Iron Your Clothes
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 rump...
Upper-intermediate | Exam Overview
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 “k...
Intermediate | Future Goals
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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” (Chi...
Pre-intermediate | Don't Litter
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ban...
Upper-intermediate | Phobias
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Intermediate | Negotiating Price
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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”...
Pre-intermediate | Winter Fun
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 chu...
Upper-intermediate | Attitudes Toward Religion
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Between 1937-39, over 20,000 Jewish families migrated to Shanghai. Today, north of the city center, there is still a flourishing Jewish community. Chi...
Intermediate | A Disappointment
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
Pre-intermediate | Describing Athletes
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Upper-intermediate | Translation Issues
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If Pepsi’s slogan “Come Alive” can mean “Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Dead” after translation into Chinese, then there’s a good cha...
Intermediate | Taiwanese Mandopop: Teresa Teng 邓丽君 and Singer-Songwriters (1970s-90s)
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ev...
Pre-intermediate | Coffee Break Series: Business Dinner, Part 3
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Upper-intermediate | Exotic Animals
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 monke...
Intermediate | Coffee Break Series #3 - First Meeting
24 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Pre-intermediate | Man Or Woman?
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Upper-intermediate | Negotiating Rent
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: A Dead Duck’s Mouth Is Hard
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 cook...
Pre-intermediate | Introducing Oneself To The Family
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"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 ro...
Upper-intermediate | Anthropology
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Intermediate | COVID-19, Rumors and Beer
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 bein...
Pre-intermediate | Travel Itinerary
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Upper-intermediate | Views On The News
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“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 ...
Intermediate | Coffee Break Series - Airport Pick Up #1
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Pre-intermediate | Chinese Money Denominations
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Don't make the short-sighted mistake of dismissing the many miniscule denominations of Chinese currency jingling around at the bottom of your pocket j...
Upper-intermediate | Discussing Photography
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While it might come as a shock to you that “bunny ears” are not considered “photographically sound,” we’re sure that your composition and li...
Intermediate | Pop Music And Pop Culture
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The artist-formerly-known-but-has-since-changed-it-back-so-we-assume-it’s-okay-to-call-him-Prince sang about “Pop Life.” Iggy loved it so much h...
Pre-intermediate | Dog Personalities
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been estimated that dogs have the ability to understand a vocabulary of around 200 words. So when you come to China, you’ll find out pretty q...
Upper-intermediate | Traditional Residences
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the north, you’ll find yourself in a maze of “hutongs.” In Shanghai it’s the “longtang.” In this podcast, we’ll open the regional doo...
Intermediate | Business Style
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Now, back home, an open liquor bottle on your desk might get you a one-way ticket to Palookaville, but in China, a little “báijiǔ” at the end of...
Pre-intermediate | China's Most Famous Tourist Destinations
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
So you arrive in China, map in hand and hundreds of ChinesePod lessons echoing through your head. But you soon find that all the places you want to go...
Upper-intermediate | Getting Tough On Employees
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the mid-80’s, you responded with a resounding “YES, I AM” to NKOTB’s query of “Are you tuff enuf?” Now, we’re still sure it rings tru...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: A Blind Cat Meets A Dead Mouse
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Morning And After-Work Habits
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do you get up to before and after work or class? Learn how to ask and answer about morning routines and activities after work. Episode link: http...
Upper-intermediate | 强买强卖？3D 眼镜
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Should cinemas supply 3D glasses free of charge? 现在越来越多的电影院已经不再为消费者提供免费的3D眼镜了。可是消费者究...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Can't Get Both Fish And A Bear's Paw
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Consoling The Bereaved
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s always difficult to find the right words of comfort when a friend’s loved one has passed away. It’s many times more difficult when you have...
Upper-intermediate | First Aid
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the popularity of the previous lesson on visiting the doc (a lot more popular than actually visiting the doc), we decided that a health-laden wee...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Become A Pig To Catch A Tiger
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | My Computer Froze!
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Situation: You’re working on a document at your office and your computer suddenly freezes up. What do you do? 1. Flail arms around until someone not...
Upper-intermediate | Bargaining
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You’ll get here and pay 15 yuan for a DVD and wonder why people laugh when you tell them. We don’t want people laughing at you--thus the lesson of...
Intermediate | Future Plans
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, surely college made something out of you, right? In this podcast, Jenny takes the reins (with Ken ther...
Pre-intermediate | Morning Hygiene
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A few cultural tips on “personal upkeep” here: 1. Most Chinese bathe at night. 2. Chairman Mao used tea to brush his teeth. 3. Toilet paper is thr...
Upper-intermediate | World Cup Football
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To be honest, we have had this lesson ready to go for a month, and would like to say we timed it for the first week of Germany’s World Cup Football ...
Intermediate | China’s Supergirl
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, Simon pierced many a hope with his sharp Cockney tongue, but no “Pop Idol”, nor its 1000 spin-off shows grabbed a country by its (silk) lape...
Pre-intermediate | Cooking
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How and where did “chow main” get its name? “Kung Pao” is a dish and not a (brilliant) film? Someone must have their mouth full of “kuaizi”...
Upper-intermediate | The Monkey King
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Wu Cheng’en’s novel “Journey to the West”, a hero was born…in the form of a monkey. In this podcast, Jenny and Aggie offer up Mandarin Ch...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Hit The Snake 7 Inches Below Its Head
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Coffee Break Series: Business Dinner, Part 2
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Upper-intermediate | Backpacking To Tibet 风光在险峰—西藏之旅
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Backpacking, Airbnb, popular Tibet sights, Rhodiola rosea (medicine for altitude sickness) … learn them in this lesson! 西藏旅行的广告听起来...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Perform Like A Workhorse
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Coffee Break Series: Business Dinner, Part 1
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Upper-intermediate | 语法课程：“其它”，“其他”和“其余”
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
这节语法课程，我们一起来学习“其它”、“其他”和“其余”这三个词语。下面是本节课的重点知识！ -其它： ...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: The Weasel Wishes The Chicken A Good Year
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Surfing Online
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Think you don’t need to talk about the internet? You’re positive? Okay, tell you what, think very, very carefully about your life sans web…no em...
Upper-intermediate | 语法课程：“别人”和“人家”
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
这节语法课程，我们一起来学习“别人”和“人家”这两个词语。下面是本节课的重点知识！ 共同点： “人家”和...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: No Ivory Will Come Out Of A Dog's Mouth
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Your Turn To Pay!
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we take a lesson from our own experience. While names have been changed to protect the innocent (until proven stingy), the account to follow...
Upper-intermediate | 语法课程：即
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
这节语法课程，我们一起来学习“即”的用法，还有和它非常相似的“既”。下面是本节课的重要知识！ -即：就是...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Eat Like A Dragon, Work Like A Worm
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | What's Your Type?
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At ChinesePod, we’re all about putting Ken into compromising situations (see: beatings with the “Tone Stick” out back), so when a request came i...
Upper-intermediate | 1949
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
1949 was a big year for the P.R.C., but we’d be cheating if we told you why. In this podcast, you’ll take a walk down off of The Wall for a bit an...
Intermediate | Animal Proverbs: Newborn Calves Are Not Afraid Of Tigers
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Animal metaphors are prevalent in almost every language, but people from different cultures may regard the same animal differently. In Chinese proverb...
Pre-intermediate | Requesting A Raise
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
So, the contract said “5000 a month” and you said “heck, yes” and at the end of that first glorious month you realized that 5000 RMB is slight...
Upper-intermediate | Celebration Plans And New Year’s Resolutions
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How did you spend New Year’s last year? Can you even remember? What do you plan to do this year? And what do you plan to never do again? Listen in o...
Intermediate | It's Raining So Bad I Don't Want To Go Out!
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, you'll learn how to discuss a sudden change in the weather, how to say what your plans were, and how they will change, as well as ways...
Pre-intermediate | How To Use Past Experience Marker 过 (guò)
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, we are going to show you how to describe past experiences with 过. It's a useful word to tell people what you have or have not done b...
Upper-intermediate | 新年特辑：回首2019，展望2020
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is an interview between 2 upper intermediate hosts - Peony and Diana on their involvement with Chinesepod in 2019 and their plans for the new yea...
Intermediate | Taking Too Long To Pick A Meal
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all have those friends that don’t care where they eat, and then take ages to order food, only to complain that they would prefer to go to another...
Pre-intermediate | Coffee Break Series - How To Congratulate Someone
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, we are showing you how to congratulate and give best wishes to others in a business setting. Joshua and Alice will talk about differen...
Upper-intermediate | 入乡随俗
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
饮食、服饰、礼仪，世界各地都有自己独特的风俗习惯。人在外地，学习和顺应当地风俗是一种尊重；不仅是人，...
Intermediate | "My Husband Is Home! Hide!"
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is a slapstick lesson about infidelity! A husband returns home to a cheating wife and her lover. The lover must quickly find somewhere to hide in...
Pre-intermediate | Coffee Break Series - Phone Etiquette
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we have a new episode of the coffee break series for pre-intermediate students! Alice and Lyn are showing you useful phrases you must know for ...
Upper-intermediate | 语法课程：与其……不如
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
有人说，学习讲究“循序渐进”，不能心急，要遵循规律，逐渐进步。与其急于求成，不如慢慢来，速度放慢反倒...
Intermediate | Getting On Stage With A Seal
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson we're at the aquarium enjoying the seal performance. Two of the audience members are trying to get selected to go on stage to get a cha...
Pre-intermediate | How To Use 得 (de)
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson, we are going to show you how to describe performing actions with 得. It's a useful word to give compliments as well as complaints. Le...
Upper-intermediate | 相见恨晚——老电影
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“有心栽花花不开，无心插柳柳成荫。”费尽心思种下的花朵迟迟不开，随手插下的柳枝却长成一片树荫，很多事...
Intermediate | Buying Dinner To Say Thank You
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After being helped by a friend to book some plane tickets, they invite them out for dinner as a treat. Learn some great phrases when you want to say t...
Pre-intermediate | My Boss Isn't Satisfied
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
People learn Chinese for a number of different reasons. Some for work, some for play, some to finally convey to the nice lady downstairs that the smel...
Upper-intermediate | 语法课程：“了解”和“理解”
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
当你向别人提出一个问题，对方可能回答：“不好意思，这个问题……我不太了解。”或者是：“不好意思，您的...