Chinese Language Convo Club - Casual Chinese Speaking Practice

Need a moment to slow down and recharge — while practicing your Chinese?In this episode of Chinese Language Convo Club, Lindi is joined by returning guest Kapa to explore natural Chinese expressions connected to mindfulness, relaxation, awareness, and being present.We unpack useful expressions like 放空 (fàngkōng), 充电 (chōngdiàn), 活在当下 (huó zài dāngxià), 觉察 (juéchá), and 想开一点 (xiǎng kāi yìdiǎn), with plenty of real-life examples to show how they're actually used in conversation.Then, slow things down with us as Kapa leads a short guided meditation entirely in Chinese — a chance to practice your listening while relaxing your mind at the same time.Along the way, we also chat about why our brains can be so hard to switch off, what it really means to “empty your mind,” and the simple ways we can give ourselves a little time to recharge.So find a comfortable spot, take a deep breath, and come learn some Chinese while giving your brain a break.Key vocabulary: 放空 · 充电 · 活在当下 · 觉察 · 想开一点 · 冥想Topics: Mandarin Chinese, spoken Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, Chinese listening practice, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, guided meditation想让自己慢下来、充充电，同时练习中文吗？这一期 Chinese Language Convo Club，Lindi 邀请老朋友 Kapa 一起来聊聊和冥想、放松、觉察以及活在当下有关的地道中文表达。我们会学习几个非常实用的词和表达，比如 放空 (fàngkōng)、充电 (chōngdiàn)、活在当下 (huó zài dāngxià)、觉察 (juéchá) 和 想开一点 (xiǎng kāi yìdiǎn)，并通过生活中的例子来看看这些表达在真实对话中到底怎么用。接下来，让我们一起慢下来。Kapa 会带大家做一个全中文的简短冥想练习。你可以一边练习中文听力，一边让自己的大脑和身体放松下来。我们还会聊到：为什么有时候大脑就是停不下来？“放空”到底是什么意思？生活中又有哪些简单的方法可以让自己休息一下、充充电？所以，找一个舒服的地方坐下来，深呼吸，跟我们一起学中文，也给自己的大脑放个假吧！重点词汇： 放空 · 充电 · 活在当下 · 觉察 · 想开一点 · 冥想本期话题： 中文口语 · 中文词汇 · 中文听力 · 冥想 · 正念 · 放松 · 中文冥想练习Xiǎng ràng zìjǐ màn xiàlái, chōng chōng diàn, tóngshí liànxí Zhōngwén ma?Zhè yì qī Chinese Language Convo Club, Lindi yāoqǐng lǎo péngyou Kapa yìqǐ lái liáoliao hé míngxiǎng, fàngsōng, juéchá yǐjí huó zài dāngxià yǒuguān de dìdao Zhōngwén biǎodá.Wǒmen huì xuéxí jǐ ge fēicháng shíyòng de cí hé biǎodá, bǐrú fàngkōng (放空), chōngdiàn (充电), huó zài dāngxià (活在当下), juéchá (觉察) hé xiǎng kāi yìdiǎn (想开一点), bìng tōngguò shēnghuó zhōng de lìzi lái kànkan zhèxiē biǎodá zài zhēnshí duìhuà zhōng dàodǐ zěnme yòng.Jiēxiàlái, ràng wǒmen yìqǐ màn xiàlái. Kapa huì dài dàjiā zuò yí ge quán Zhōngwén de jiǎnduǎn míngxiǎng liànxí. Nǐ kěyǐ yìbiān liànxí Zhōngwén tīnglì, yìbiān ràng zìjǐ de dànǎo hé shēntǐ fàngsōng xiàlái.Wǒmen hái huì liáodào: wèishénme yǒu shíhou dànǎo jiùshì tíng bu xiàlái? “Fàngkōng” dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi? Shēnghuó zhōng yòu yǒu nǎxiē jiǎndān de fāngfǎ kěyǐ ràng zìjǐ xiūxi yíxià, chōng chōng diàn?Suǒyǐ, zhǎo yí ge shūfu de dìfang zuò xiàlái, shēn hūxī, gēn wǒmen yìqǐ xué Zhōngwén, yě gěi zìjǐ de dànǎo fàng ge jià ba!Zhòngdiǎn cíhuì: fàngkōng · chōngdiàn · huó zài dāngxià · juéchá · xiǎng kāi yìdiǎn · míngxiǎngBěn qī huàtí: Zhōngwén kǒuyǔ · Zhōngwén cíhuì · Zhōngwén tīnglì · míngxiǎng · zhèngniàn · fàngsōng · Zhōngwén míngxiǎng liànxí

One phrase has taken Chinese social media by storm: 情绪价值 (qíngxù jiàzhí). But what does it actually mean?In this episode of Chinese Convo Club, Vicky and I explore one of today's most popular Chinese buzzwords through natural conversation, real-life examples, and interactive pronunciation practice.You'll learn how native speakers use 情绪价值 in relationships, friendships, the workplace, and everyday conversations. Along the way, you'll also discover fun modern expressions like P一下 (to Photoshop a photo), the idiom 赏心悦目, and the viral Chinese milk tea story that perfectly captures the meaning of emotional value.If you're an intermediate Mandarin learner looking to sound more natural, understand modern Chinese culture, and expand your everyday vocabulary, this episode is for you.What 情绪价值 really meansHow to use it naturally in conversationRelationship and dating vocabularyWorkplace Chinese expressionsModern internet slang including P一下The idiom 赏心悦目Listening practice with natural dialoguesPronunciation shadowing exercisesCultural insights into modern ChinaWhether you're studying HSK 3–5 Chinese or simply want to speak more like a native, you'll come away with practical expressions you can start using immediately.最近几年，"情绪价值" 成了中国最流行的热词之一，但它到底是什么意思？在这一期《中文对话俱乐部》中，Lindi 和 Vicky 通过轻松自然的对话，带大家学习这个现代汉语中的热门表达。节目中不仅会讲解 "情绪价值" 在恋爱、友情、职场中的真实用法，还会分享有趣的文化故事、网络热词，以及帮助你提升口语的发音练习。这一期你还会学到：• P 一下 的真正意思• 成语 赏心悦目• 与恋爱、工作相关的实用表达• 奶茶为什么会成为"情绪价值"的代表？• 两段真实中文对话练习• 跟读练习，提高发音和口语流利度如果你想学习课本里学不到的真实中文，了解当代中国文化，并提高听说能力，这一期千万不要错过！Zuìjìn jǐ nián, "qíngxù jiàzhí" chéng le Zhōngguó zuì liúxíng de rècí zhī yī, dàn tā dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi?Zài zhè yī qī "Zhōngwén Duìhuà Jùlèbù" zhōng, Lindi hé Vicky tōngguò qīngsōng zìrán de duìhuà, dài dàjiā xuéxí zhège xiàndài Hànyǔ zhōng de rèmén biǎodá. Jiémù zhōng bùjǐn huì jiǎngjiě "qíngxù jiàzhí" zài liàn'ài, yǒuyì, zhíchǎng zhōng de zhēnshí yòngfǎ, hái huì fēnxiǎng yǒuqù de wénhuà gùshì, wǎngluò rècí, yǐjí bāngzhù nǐ tíshēng kǒuyǔ de fāyīn liànxí.Zhè yī qī nǐ hái huì xuédào:• P yíxià de zhēnzhèng yìsi• Chéngyǔ shǎngxīn yuèmù• Yǔ liàn'ài, gōngzuò xiāngguān de shíyòng biǎodá• Nǎichá wèishénme huì chéngwéi "qíngxù jiàzhí" de dàibiǎo?• Liǎng duàn zhēnshí Zhōngwén duìhuà liànxí• Gēndú liànxí, tígāo fāyīn hé kǒuyǔ liúlìdùRúguǒ nǐ xiǎng xuéxí kèběn lǐ xué bú dào de zhēnshí Zhōngwén, liǎojiě dāngdài Zhōngguó wénhuà, bìng tígāo tīngshuō nénglì, zhè yī qī qiānwàn búyào cuòguò!For the full transcript, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J9Gx_gBgbzT5DUvO95utgU0SCpE0k_q-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100922691999674231854&rtpof=true&sd=trueMusic By: MoodMazeTitle: Travelling AsiaURL: https://audiojungle.net/item/travelling-asia/29889111

Just a quick hello to let you know what to expect over the next few weeks!Vicky and I are taking a brief summer break while we're both traveling, but this is only a pause—not a goodbye. We'll be back soon with more real conversations to help you sound more natural in Mandarin.In the meantime, thank you for learning with us. We appreciate every download, every review, and every one of you who's joined us on this journey.回头见！(Huítóu jiàn!) ❤️~Lindi

Ever walked into a gym and had no idea what anything was called? In this rebroadcast, Vicky and I explore useful Chinese vocabulary for fitness beginners, from treadmills and elliptical machines to stretching, warming up, and sticking to it.You'll learn practical words and phrases like:✅ 健身教练 (personal trainer)✅ 健身小白 (fitness newbie)✅ 器械 (gym equipment)✅ 有氧运动 (cardio exercise)✅ 热身 (warm up)✅ 拉伸 (stretching)✅ 坚持下去 (stick with it)Whether you're a gym regular or a complete beginner, this episode will help you talk about fitness naturally in Mandarin.一起加油！(Let's do it together!)🏋️‍♀️ 重播节目你去过健身房却不知道各种器械和运动项目用中文怎么说吗？在这一期重播节目中，Lindi 和 Vicky 一起聊聊健身新手常用的中文表达。从跑步机、椭圆机，到热身、拉伸和健身目标，你都能学到实用又自然的中文。本期你将学到：✅ 健身教练✅ 健身小白✅ 器械✅ 有氧运动✅ 热身✅ 拉伸运动✅ 坚持下去无论你是经常锻炼，还是刚刚开始健身，希望这期节目能帮助你更自然地用中文聊健身话题。一起加油！🏋️‍♀️ Chóngbō JiémùNǐ qù guò jiànshēnfáng què bù zhīdào gè zhǒng qìxiè hé yùndòng xiàngmù yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō ma?Zài zhè yī qī chóngbō jiémù zhōng, Lindi hé Vicky yìqǐ liáoliáo jiànshēn xīnshǒu chángyòng de Zhōngwén biǎodá. Cóng pǎobùjī, tuǒyuánjī, dào rèshēn, lāshēn hé jiànshēn mùbiāo, nǐ dōu néng xuédào shíyòng yòu zìrán de Zhōngwén.Běn qī nǐ jiāng xuédào:✅ Jiànshēn jiàoliàn✅ Jiànshēn xiǎobái✅ Qìxiè✅ Yǒuyǎng yùndòng✅ Rèshēn✅ Lāshēn yùndòng✅ Jiānchí xiàqùWúlùn nǐ shì jīngcháng duànliàn, háishì gānggāng kāishǐ jiànshēn, xīwàng zhè qī jiémù néng bāngzhù nǐ gèng zìrán de yòng Zhōngwén liáo jiànshēn huàtí.Yìqǐ jiāyóu! 🚴‍♀️💪Dialogue:赵杰：你好！我是赵杰。你是新来的吗？(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ shì zhào jié. Nǐ shì xīn lái de ma?) Hello! I'm Zhao Jie. Are you new here? 王雨：是的，我是新来的。我叫王雨。你怎么知道的？(Shì de, wǒ shì xīn lái de. Wǒ jiào wáng yǔ. Nǐ zěnme zhīdào de?) Yes, I'm new. I'm Wang Yu. How did you know?赵杰：我是这里的健身教练，看到陌生面孔就会注意一下。欢迎！ 你想锻炼哪个部位？(Wǒ shì zhèlǐ de jiànshēn jiàoliàn, kàn dào mòshēng miànkǒng jiù huì zhùyì yīxià. Huānyíng! Nǐ xiǎng duànliàn nǎge bùwèi?) I am a fitness instructor here so when I see unfamiliar faces I usually take notice. Welcome! Which area do you want to exercise?王雨：主要是锻炼腿部和腹部，但我是健身小白。可以给一些建议吗？(Zhǔyào shi duànliàn tuǐ bù hé fùbù, dàn wǒ shì jiànshēn xiǎo bái. Kěyǐ gěi yīxiē jiànyì ma?) Mainly I want to do legs and abdomen, but I am a fitness novice. Can you give me some suggestions?赵杰：当然！我们这里有很多器械可以帮你达到目标。你想尝试一下吗？(Dāngrán! Wǒmen zhè li yǒu hěnduō qìxiè kěyǐ bāng nǐ dádào mùbiāo. Nǐ xiǎng chángshì yīxià ma?) Of course! We have a lot of equipment here to help you reach your goals. Would you like to give them a try? 王雨：好的，但我对器械不太熟悉。(Hǎo de, dàn wǒ duì qìxiè bù tài shúxī) Okay, but I'm not very familiar with exercise equipment.赵杰：没问题，我可以教你。这是有氧运动区，有跑步机、椭圆机等。我们可以从简单的开始。首先，我们热身一下，做些拉伸运动，然后慢慢开始跑步。跑步时要保持正常呼吸，不要太用力。(Méi wèntí, wǒ kěyǐ jiào nǐ. Zhè shì yǒu yǎng yùndòng qū, yǒu pǎobù jī, tuǒyuán jī děng. Wǒmen kěyǐ cóng jiǎndān de kāishǐ. Shǒuxiān, wǒmen rèshēn yīxià, zuò xiē lā shēn yùndòng, ránhòu màn man kāishǐ pǎobù. Pǎobù shí yào bǎochí zhèngcháng hūxī, bùyào tài yònglì.)No problem, I can teach you. This is the aerobic exercise area with treadmills, elliptical machines, etc. We can start simple. First, we warm up, do some stretching, and then slowly start running. Breathe normally while running and don't push too hard. 王雨：好的，我会注意的。其实，我也想变得更健康。希望能坚持下去。(Hǎo de, wǒ huì zhùyì de. Qíshí, wǒ yě xiǎng biàn dé gèng jiànkāng. Xīwàng néng jiānchí xiàqù.)Okay, I will keep that in mind. Actually, I also want to become healthier. Hope I can stick with it.赵杰：没问题，有任何问题都可以问我。 (Méi wèntí, yǒu rènhé wèntí dōu kěyǐ wèn wǒ.) No worries, if you have any questions, just ask me.王雨：好的，这里的氛围很好。谢谢你的帮助！(Hǎo de, Xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù!)Okay, Thank you for your help!赵杰：不客气，欢迎随时来找我。一起加油！(Bù kèqì, huānyíng suíshí lái zhǎo wǒ. Yīqǐ jiāyóu!) No problem,you're welcome to come find me anytime. We've got this!)

Do you say 很好 (hěn hǎo) every time someone asks for your opinion?In this episode of Chinese Language Convo Club, we show you how native Chinese speakers describe movies, weather, and people using more natural and expressive vocabulary.You'll learn useful words and phrases including:✅ 精彩 (exciting, wonderful)✅ 紧凑 (well-paced, tightly structured)✅ 到位 (spot-on, perfectly done)✅ 明媚 (bright and sunny)✅ 清新 (fresh, refreshing)✅ 体贴 (thoughtful, considerate)✅ 成熟稳重 (mature and dependable)Plus, stay for our pronunciation practice and listening challenge to help you use these expressions in real conversations.Perfect for intermediate Chinese learners who want to sound more natural and less like a textbook.#LearnChinese #ChinesePodcast #MandarinChinese #ChineseVocabulary #HSK #ChineseListening #ChineseConversation #SpeakChinese你是不是也常常用“很好”来回答所有问题？电影怎么样？很好。天气怎么样？很好。新男朋友怎么样？也很好。这一期节目里，我们会教你如何用更具体、更地道的中文表达自己的想法，让你的中文听起来更自然、更像母语者。你会学到：✨ 精彩 (jīngcǎi)✨ 紧凑 (jǐncòu)✨ 到位 (dàowèi)✨ 明媚 (míngmèi)✨ 清新 (qīngxīn)✨ 体贴 (tǐtiē)✨ 成熟稳重 (chéngshú wěnzhòng)节目最后还有发音训练和听力挑战，帮助你把这些表达真正用起来！Listening Comprehension Segment:男:今天天气真舒服，阳光明媚，空气清新。难怪你心情这么好。Nán: Jīntiān tiānqì zhēn shūfu, yángguāng míngmèi, kōngqìqīngxīn. Nánguài nǐ xīnqíng zhème hǎo.The weather’s so pleasant—bright and fresh. No wonder you’re insuch a good mood.女:当然啦，这种天气最适合约会了。Nǚ: Dāngrán la, zhè zhǒng tiānqì zuì shìhé yuēhuì le.Of course. This kind of weather is perfect for dates.男:哦？又跟你那个“成熟稳重”的新男朋友？Nán: Ó? Yòu gēn nǐ nàge “chéngshú wěnzhòng” de xīn nánpéngyou?Oh? With that “mature and steady” newboyfriend again?女:什么叫“那个”？人家真的很体贴，也很有责任感。Nǚ:Shénme jiào “nàge”? Rénjiā zhēn de hěn tǐtiē, yě hěnyǒu zérèngǎn.What do you mean “that guy”? Hereally is considerate and responsible.男:是吗？看电影的时候是不是还帮你分析剧情？Nán:Shì ma? Kàn diànyǐng de shíhou shì bú shì hái bāng nǐfēnxī jùqíng?Oh really? Did he analyze the plot foryou during the movie too?女:对啊！那部电影特别精彩，节奏紧凑，结局也很震撼。Nǚ:Duì a! Nà bù diànyǐng tèbié jīngcǎi, jiézòu jǐncòu,jiéjú yě hěn zhènhàn.Yes! The movie wasbrilliant—tight pacing and a powerful ending.男:听你这么说，我都分不清你是在夸电影，还是在夸他了。Nán:Tīng nǐ zhème shuō, wǒ dōu fēn bu qīng nǐ shì zài kuādiànyǐng, hái shì zài kuā tā le.Listening to you, Ican’t tell whether you’re praising the movie… or him.女:你少调侃我。Nǚ: Nǐ shǎo tiáokǎn wǒ.Stop teasing me.For Complete Transcript with PinYin, follow this link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/12iEgnIKf6lFAUT4sH8ZPVzs5Zr5EAe1X/view?usp=sharing

In Chinese, when someone says “sorry,” the most common response is “没关系 (it’s okay).”But in real life, different situations call for different responses.In this episode, we’ll walk you through the different levels of forgiveness—from small mistakes to more serious situations—and teach you natural, real-life expressions you can actually use.You’ll learn how to:show understandingexpress your feelingsgive suggestionsand even set boundariesMaster these phrases and your Chinese will sound more natural, more thoughtful, and more real.在中文里，当别人说“对不起”的时候，我们最常听到的回答就是“没关系”。但是，在不同的情境下，我们其实可以用更自然、更真实的表达来回应对方。在这一期节目中，我们会带你了解“原谅的不同层次”，从小事情到严重的情况，教你如何用地道的中文表达你的真实感受，不仅能表示理解，还能表达情绪、提出建议，甚至设定界限。学会这些表达，让你的中文听起来更自然、更有温度！Pinyin：Zài zhōngwén lǐ, dāng biérén shuō “duìbuqǐ” de shíhou,wǒmen zuì cháng tīngdào de huídá jiùshì “méi guānxi”.Dànshì, zài bùtóng de qíngjǐng xià,wǒmen qíshí kěyǐ yòng gèng zìrán, gèng zhēnshí de biǎodá lái huíyìng duìfāng.Zài zhè yī qī jiémù zhōng, wǒmen huì dài nǐ liǎojiě “yuánliàng de bùtóng céngcì”,cóng xiǎo shìqíng dào yánzhòng de qíngkuàng,jiāo nǐ rúhé yòng dìdào de zhōngwén biǎodá nǐ de zhēnshí gǎnshòu,bùjǐn néng biǎoshì lǐjiě,hái néng biǎodá qíngxù, tíchū jiànyì, shènzhì shèdìng jièxiàn.Xuéhuì zhèxiē biǎodá, ràng nǐ de zhōngwén tīng qǐlái gèng zìrán, gèng yǒu wēndù!For a link to the transcript, click here: https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/648518346449331565/D-uJFxfYBLaqjq2976WX5TIVVncdz-2CVEIVG1nY9-o/5-ways-to-forgive

If someone says 对不起… what do you say back?“没关系” is easy. But what if it’s not fine?What if you want to sound more sincere… or more honest?In this episode, we explore the language of forgiveness in Chinese — from holding a grudge (怨恨) to truly letting go (释怀).Through a relatable, real-life dialogue, you’ll learn how to:Express forgiveness with depthShow grace and understandingTalk about regret, reflection, and emotional healing💡 Plus: cultural insights like the Chinese saying“宰相肚里能撑船” — having a heart big enough to forgive.This isn’t just vocabulary.It’s how to communicate like a real human in Chinese.Dialogue:A:我知道我错了，但希望你能原谅我。
B:原谅不容易，可是我不想一直带着怨恨。
A: 我真的很后悔，当时没考虑你的感受。
B:人都会犯错，重要的是你真心反省。
A:谢谢你愿意宽恕我。
B:没关系，我已经释怀了。放下过去，我们才能向前走。Pinyin
A:Wǒ zhīdào wǒ cuò le, dàn xīwàng nǐ néng yuánliàng wǒ.
B:Yuánliàng bù róngyì, kěshì wǒ bù xiǎng yīzhí dàizheyuànhèn.
A:Wǒ zhēn de hěn hòuhuǐ, dāngshí méi kǎolǜ nǐ de gǎnshòu.
B:Rén doū huì fàncuò, zhòngyào de shì nǐ zhēnxīn fǎnxǐng.
A:Xièxiè nǐ yuànyì kuānshù wǒ.
B: Méiguānxì. Wǒ yǐjīng shìhuáile。Fàngxiàguòqù, wǒmen cái néng xiàng qián zǒu.English
A:I know I was wrong, but I hope you can forgive me.
B:Forgiveness isn’t easy, but I don’t want to carry resentmentforever.
A:I truly regret not considering your feelings at the time.
B:Everyone makes mistakes — what matters is that you sincerelyreflect.
A:Thank you for being willing to forgive me.
For episode transcript, click here: https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/8214565720432973579/ogXxkK9hU01j2ZKYUrRjoVoEWXtZb3-sQ-NyZ7k-gKY/forgiveness

Want to talk about the environment in Chinese without sounding like a textbook? 🌱In this Earth Day special episode of Chinese Convo Club, we teach you real-life Chinese vocabulary and natural speaking patterns to discuss environmental protection, sustainability, and daily habits—the way native speakers actually talk.You’ll learn:Practical vocabulary like 环保 (environmental protection), 一次性用品 (disposable items), 环保主义者 (environmentalist)Natural sentence patterns like:开始 + verb (to show lifestyle changes)少 + verb / 多 + verb (simple ways to talk about habits)How to say things like:“I try not to waste food”“I use less plastic now”“I bring my own water bottle”We also share:Real-life examples of eco-friendly habits in China 🇨🇳Cultural insights on sustainabilityA fun speaking challenge to help you practice out loud💡 Plus: Lindi reveals her “unusual” eco-friendly habit at the end 👀

Ever felt stuck when you needed to say “no” in Chinese… but didn’t want to sound rude?In this episode of Convo Club, we break down one of the trickiest real-life communication skills: how to politely refuse in Chinese—without ever actually saying “no.”You’ll learn:​Common “soft no” phrases like 我再看看吧 and 下次吧​The hidden meanings behind phrases like 我考虑一下 (hint: it’s often a NO 👀)​How to tell the difference between a real “maybe” and a polite rejection​Casual, modern expressions younger Chinese speakers usePlus, we walk through real-life scenarios (friends, coworkers, dating) so you can sound natural and culturally aware.If you want to sound more like a native—and avoid awkward moments—this episode is a must-listen.你有没有遇到过这种情况：想用中文拒绝别人，但又怕说得太直接、伤感情？在这一期《中文对话俱乐部》中，我们来聊一个非常实用、但也最容易卡住的话题——👉 如何在中文里“委婉地拒绝别人”，却不用直接说“不”。你将学到：​常见的“软拒绝”表达，比如「我再看看吧」「下次吧」​「我考虑一下」背后的真实含义（很多时候其实就是拒绝 👀）​如何判断对方是在认真考虑，还是在礼貌地说“不”​年轻人常用的更随意的拒绝方式我们还会通过真实生活场景（朋友、同事、甚至约会）来帮你理解这些表达的用法，让你说得更自然、更地道。如果你想让你的中文更像母语者，同时避免尴尬，这一集一定不要错过！Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu yùdào guò zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng: xiǎng yòng Zhōngwén jùjué biérén, dàn yòu pà shuō de tài zhíjiē, shāng gǎnqíng?Zài zhè yì qī “Zhōngwén Duìhuà Jùlèbù” zhōng, wǒmen lái liáo yí gè fēicháng shíyòng, dàn yě zuì róngyì kǎ zhù de huàtí —👉 rúhé zài Zhōngwén lǐ “wěiwǎn de jùjué biérén”, què bù yòng zhíjiē shuō “bù”.Nǐ jiāng xuédào:​Chángjiàn de “ruǎn jùjué” biǎodá, bǐrú “wǒ zài kàn kàn ba”, “xià cì ba”​“Wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià” bèihòu de zhēnshí hányì (hěn duō shíhou qíshí jiùshì jùjué 👀)​Rúhé pànduàn duìfāng shì zài rènzhēn kǎolǜ, háishì zài lǐmào de shuō “bù”​Niánqīngrén chángyòng de gèng suíyì de jùjué fāngshìWǒmen hái huì tōngguò zhēnshí shēnghuó chǎngjǐng (péngyǒu, tóngshì, shènzhì yuēhuì) lái bāng nǐ lǐjiě zhèxiē biǎodá de yòngfǎ, ràng nǐ shuō de gèng zìrán, gèng dìdào.Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng ràng nǐ de Zhōngwén gèng xiàng mǔyǔ zhě, tóngshí bìmiǎn gāngà, zhè yì jí yídìng búyào cuòguò!🗣️ Dialogue with Pinyin & TranslationA：这个项目你这周能不能一起跟进一下？Zhège xiàngmù nǐ zhè zhōu néng bù néng yìqǐ gēnjìn yíxià?Can you help follow up on this project together this week?B：我这边最近事情有点多，Wǒ zhè biān zuìjìn shìqíng yǒudiǎn duō,I’ve had quite a lot going on lately on my end,可能时间上不太允许。kěnéng shíjiān shàng bù tài yǔnxǔ.so time-wise it might not really allow for it.A：那下周呢？Nà xià zhōu ne?What about next week?B：我再看看整体安排吧，Wǒ zài kàn kan zhěngtǐ ānpái ba,Let me take another look at my overall schedule,到时候再说。dào shíhou zài shuō.we can talk about it then.A：好的，那不着急。Hǎo de, nà bù zháojí.Alright, no rush then.The 4 (polite) refusals:​ 我这边最近事情有点多，Wǒ zhè biān zuìjìn shìqíng yǒudiǎn duō 。a.k.a (我最近有一点忙)​ 时间上不太允许。 shíjiān shàng bù tài yǔnxǔ.​ 我再看看吧，Wǒ zài kàn kan ba​ 到时候再说。dào shíhou zài shuō.

Have you ever heard someone say “上头” (shàngtóu) and wondered what it means?In this episode, we break down one of the most commonly used (and confusing!) slang expressions in Chinese. From describing an addictive song to talking about getting tipsy, referring to your boss, or even just meaning “on top of something” — this word does it all.We start with a fun, natural dialogue about a super catchy song (“My Stupid Heart”), then walk you through 4 real-life meanings of 上头, with clear examples you can actually use in conversation.If you're an HSK1–HSK2 learner looking to sound more natural and understand real Chinese, this episode is for you.🎯 By the end, you’ll be able to:Understand 上头 in different contextsUse it naturally in daily conversationsSound more like a native speaker🇨🇳 中文：你有没有听过别人说“上头”，但是不太明白是什么意思？在这一期节目中，我们会带你深入了解这个在中文中非常常见、但又容易让人困惑的表达。从形容一首让人上瘾的歌，到表示有点醉了，再到指上级/领导，甚至还能表示在某个东西上面——“上头”其实有很多不同的用法！我们会先通过一个轻松有趣的对话（关于一首很上头的歌《My Stupid Heart》），然后帮你讲解“上头”的四种常见意思，并提供实用例句，帮助你真正掌握这个词。如果你是HSK1–HSK2的学习者，想要说得更自然、听懂更地道的中文，这一集一定不要错过！🎯 听完这一集，你可以：理解“上头”的不同用法在日常对话中自然使用这个词说中文更像母语者Vicky: 我最近听了一首特别让我上头的歌。叫 My Stupid Heart. 那个小孩特别可爱。不知道你有没有听这首歌？(Wǒ zuìjìn tīngle yī shǒu tèbié ràng wǒ shàngtóu de gē. Jiào “My Stupid Heart” Nàgè xiǎohái tèbié kě'ài. Bù zhīdào nǐ yǒu méiyǒu tīng zhè shǒu gē)I recently heard a song that’s super catchy. It's called “My Stupid Heart” That kid is so cute. I don’t know if you've heard this song or not?Lindi: 没听过。在哪儿可以听？(Méi tīngguò. Zài nǎ'er kěyǐ tīng?)No I haven’t. Where can I listen to it? Vicky：网上好像到处都是。你可以找一找。(Wǎngshàng hǎoxiàng dàochù dōu shì. Nǐ kěyǐ zhǎo yī zhǎo)It seems to be everywhere on the Internet. You can look for it.Lindi： 啊是吗？好的。那我一会儿在油管上查一下。(A shì ma? Hǎo de. Nà wǒ yīhuǐ'er zài yóuguǎn shàng chá yīxià)Oh really? Okay. I’ll check it out on YouTube in a little while. 上头：The 1st meaning:就是这首歌呀，一听就很容易去学，很想跟着一起唱，很容易上瘾就上头。(Jiùshì zhè shǒu gē ya, yī tīng jiù hěn róngyì qù xué, hěn xiǎng gēnzhe yīqǐ chàng, hěn róngyì shàngyǐn jiù shàngtóu)It's talking about a particular song, you only have to hear it once and you already know it, you also can’t help singing along. It’s a song that’s very addictive. 2nd Meaning: (Intoxicating, Goes to One's Head Quickly)如果你喝了一种酒，然后你一下子就觉得有点醉，你就可以说这个酒真让人上头。(Rúguǒ nǐ hēle yī zhǒng jiǔ, ránhòu nǐ yīxià zi jiù juédé yǒudiǎn zuì, nǐ jiù kěyǐ shuō zhège jiǔ zhēn ràng rén shàngtou。)If you drink a certain type of alcohol and right away start to feel a bit tipsy, you can say the alcohol really goes straight to your head. 3rd Meaning: (Upper Management)上头。。。你在中国的电视里面会经常看到，比如说有两个同事在说话， 假如说，我是同事A，你是同事B。然后我要是问你啊。。说。。你知道这件事情我们该怎么办吗？(Shàngtou... Nǐ zài zhōngguó de diànshì lǐmiàn huì jīngcháng kàn dào, bǐrú shuō yǒu liǎng gè tóngshì zài shuōhuà, jiǎrú shuō, wǒ shì tóngshì A, nǐ shì tóngshì B. Ránhòu wǒ yàoshi wèn nǐ a.. Shuō。。Nǐ zhīdào zhè jiàn shìqíng wǒmen gāi zěnme bàn ma?)You often see this on Chinese TV. For example, two colleagues are talking. Let's say I'm colleague A and you're colleague B. If I ask you…Do you know what we should do about this issue?如果你在中国呆的时间长了经常会有一些事情。如果你不知道该怎么解决你要去问的话，大家都会说“我们听上头的“。(Rúguǒ nǐ zài zhōngguó dāi de shíjiān chǎngle jīngcháng huì yǒu yīxiē shìqíng. Rúguǒ nǐ bù zhīdào gāi zěnme jiějué nǐ yào qù wèn dehuà, dàjiā dūhuì shuō wǒmen tīng shàngtou de。)If you stay in China for a long time, there will often be some issues. If you don't know how to solve them and you ask, everyone will say that we listen to the boss. 4th Meaning: (On Top of something)还有最后一个意思就是它可以表示一个。。。说“把这个盒子放在柜子上头”或者是说“在椅子上头坐着一只小猫”。。都可以。。(Hái yǒu zuìhòu yīgè yìsi jiùshì tā kěyǐ biǎoshì yīgè... Shuō “bǎ zhège hézi fàng zài guìzi shàngtou” huòzhě shì shuō “zài yǐzi shàngtou zuòzhe yī zhǐ xiǎo māo”.. Dōu kěyǐ.)The last meaning is that it can mean a... You can say "put the box on the top of the cabinet" or "there is a kitten sitting on the chair". It all works.

In this episode, we explore a very common and natural Chinese expression: “八字还没一撇 (bā zì hái méi yī piě).”Literally, it means “the character ‘eight’ hasn’t even had its first stroke yet.”Native speakers use it to describe situations where something hasn’t even started or taken shape yet, but people are already talking about it.In this episode you'll learn:• The real meaning of 八字还没一撇• When Chinese speakers naturally use this expression• Two natural Chinese conversations• Practical example sentences you can use right away• Pronunciation practice to help you sound more native If you're learning Chinese and want your speech to sound more natural and authentic, this is an expression you definitely need to know.在这一期节目中，我们来学习一个非常常见、也非常地道的中文表达：“八字还没一撇”。这个成语字面意思是：“八”这个字连第一笔都还没写出来。它用来形容一件事情还没有开始、还没有任何眉目，但人们却已经开始讨论或担心。在这一期节目里，你会学到：• “八字还没一撇”真正的意思• 中国人在什么情况下会用这个表达• 两段真实、自然的中文对话• 实用例句，让你马上学会使用• 跟读发音练习，帮助你说得更像母语者如果你正在学习中文，想让自己的表达更自然、更地道，这个表达一定要学会！Zài zhè yī qī jiémù zhōng, wǒmen lái xuéxí yí gè fēicháng chángjiàn, yě fēicháng dìdào de Zhōngwén biǎodá: “bā zì hái méi yī piě.”Zhège chéngyǔ zìmiàn yìsi shì: “bā” zhège zì lián dì yī bǐ dōu hái méi xiě chūlái.Tā yòng lái xíngróng yí jiàn shìqíng hái méiyǒu kāishǐ, hái méiyǒu rènhé méimù, dàn rénmen què yǐjīng kāishǐ tǎolùn huò dānxīn.Zài zhè yī qī jiémù lǐ, nǐ huì xué dào:• “Bā zì hái méi yī piě” zhēnzhèng de yìsi• Zhōngguó rén zài shénme qíngkuàng xià huì yòng zhège biǎodá• Liǎng duàn zìrán de Zhōngwén duìhuà• Shíyòng lìjù, ràng nǐ mǎshàng xuéhuì shǐyòng• Gēndú fāyīn liànxí, bāngzhù nǐ shuō de gèng xiàng mǔyǔ zhěRúguǒ nǐ zhèngzài xué Zhōngwén, xiǎng ràng zìjǐ de biǎodá gèng zìrán, gèng dìdào, zhège biǎodá yídìng yào xuéhuì!Conversation 1:小美:你听说了吗？小李和他女朋友可能要结婚了！(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ tīngshuō le ma? Xiǎo Lǐ hé tā nǚpéngyoukěnéng yào jiéhūn le!小张:结婚？他们连订婚都还没提呢，八字还没一撇呢。(Xiǎo Zhāng): Jiéhūn? Tāmen lián dìnghūn dōu hái méi tíne, bāzì hái méi yì piě ne.小美:哈哈，我也是听别人瞎说的。(Xiǎo Měi): Hāhā, wǒ yě shì tīng biérén xiā shuō de.Conversation 2:小王:你儿子是不是要上哈佛大学？听说他在准备申请。(Xiǎo Wáng): Nǐ érzi shì bú shì yào shàng Hāfó Dàxué?Tīngshuō tā zài zhǔnbèi shēnqǐng.小李:哎呀，八字还没一撇呢，连申请材料都没开始写。(Xiǎo Lǐ): Āiyā, bāzì hái méi yì piě ne, lián shēnqǐngcáiliào dōu méi kāishǐ xiě.小王:原来如此，那我就不打扰你们了。(Xiǎo Wáng): Yuánlái rúcǐ, nà wǒ jiù bù dǎrǎo nǐmenle.

What do 牛马 (corporate workhorse), 内卷 (involution), and 躺平 (lie flat) really mean in today’s China?In this episode, we break down 5 viral Chinese buzzwords that reflect Gen Z workplace stress, competition culture, and emotional burnout. You’ll learn real-life example sentences, pronunciation practice, and cultural insights to help you understand modern Chinese conversations.If you're learning Mandarin or curious about Chinese youth culture, this episode will upgrade your vocabulary — and maybe even hit you emotionally (破防!).最近几年中国年轻人最常说的热词是什么？“牛马”、“内卷”、“摆烂”、“躺平”、“破防”到底是什么意思？这一集我们带你了解5个最火的中国网络流行语，不只学词汇，还带你看懂年轻人面对工作压力、竞争文化和情绪表达的真实心声。还有发音练习和情景对话，帮你真正听懂、说得出口！Zhōngguó niánqīngrén zuì cháng shuō de recí shì shénme?“Niú mǎ”, “nèi juǎn”, “bǎi làn”, “tǎng píng”, “pò fáng” dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi?Zhè yī jí wǒmen dài nǐ liǎojiě wǔ gè zuì huǒ de Zhōngguó wǎngluò liúxíngyǔ, bù zhǐ xué cíhuì, hái dài nǐ kàn dǒng niánqīngrén miànduì gōngzuò yālì, jìngzhēng wénhuà hé qíngxù biǎodá de zhēnshí xīnshēng. Hái yǒu fāyīn liànxí hé qíngjǐng duìhuà, bāng nǐ zhēnzhèng tīng dǒng, shuō de chūkǒu!Dialogue: 小张: 最近这份工作真是让我觉得自己像个牛马，天天加班，几乎喘不过气。(Xiǎo Zhāng: Zuìjìn zhè fèn gōngzuò zhēn shì ràng wǒ juéde zìjǐ xiàng ge niú mǎ, tiāntiān jiābān, jīhū chuǎn bù guò qì.)Lately this job really makes me feel like a “牛马”—working overtime every day, I can hardly breathe.小李: 嗯，我也差不多。倒不如直接摆烂，省下精力应付这一切。(Xiǎo Lǐ: Ń, wǒ yě chà bù duō. Dào bùrú zhíjiē bǎi làn, shěng xià jīnglì yìngfu zhè yīqiè.)Yeah, me too. Might as well just “摆烂” and save some energy 小张: 可是内卷太严重了，要是不参与，好像连存在感都没了。(Xiǎo Zhāng: Kěshì nèi juǎn tài yánzhòng le, yàoshi bù cānyù, hǎoxiàng lián cúnzài gǎn dōu méi le.)But the competition is so intense—if I don’t join in, I feel invisible.小李: 那就别躺平，但也别让自己破防了。偶尔放松一下，也许更有力量。(Xiǎo Lǐ: Nà jiù bié tǎng píng, dàn yě bié ràng zìjǐ pò fáng le. Ōu’ěr fàngsōng yíxià, yěxǔ gèng yǒu lìliàng.)Then don’t “lie flat,” but don’t let yourself get emotionally defeated either(or don’t let it ‘get to you’). Sometimes rest gives you more strength.

What really happens during Chinese New Year — beyond the fireworks and red envelopes? 🧧In this episode, we walk you through Chinese New Year’s Eve (除夕) and New Year’s Day (大年初一) as they’re actually celebrated in everyday life. You’ll learn essential real-world Mandarin, common traditions, and the cultural logic behind things like family reunions, staying up late, greeting elders, and why nobody sweeps the floor on New Year’s Day.Perfect for Chinese learners, heritage speakers, and anyone curious about modern Chinese culture.In this episode you'll learn: ​Where the name 除夕 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) comes from That 年夜饭 (the reunion dinner) often matters more than the holiday itself What 守岁 is — and why people do it What happens on 大年初一 (New Year’s Day)The meaning of 拜年 and when it's done.Everyday Mandarin you’ll actually hear during Spring FestivalAll Mandarin is explained clearly, with natural examples and cultural context, so you don’t just memorize words — you understand how Chinese New Year really works.🎉 新年快乐！万事如意！🎆 Chinese New Year’s Eve（除夕）中文：除夕这一天，大家最重要的事情就是回家团圆。Pinyin:Chúxī zhè yì tiān, dàjiā zuìzhòngyào de shìqing jiùshì huí jiā tuányuán.English:On Chinese New Year’s Eve, themost important thing is going home for a family reunion.中文：晚上，全家人会一起吃年夜饭。Pinyin:Wǎnshang, quánjiā rén huì yìqǐchī niányèfàn.English:In the evening, the whole familyeats the New Year’s Eve dinner together.中文：餐桌上常见的菜有饺子、鱼，还有象征好运的年菜。Pinyin:Cānzhuō shàng chángjiàn de càiyǒu jiǎozi, yú, hái yǒu xiàngzhēng hǎo yùn de nián cài.English:Often included on the dinner table, are dishes such as dumplings, fish and others that symbolize goodluck. 中文：吃完饭后，很多人会看春晚，一起守岁，迎接新年的到来。Pinyin:Chī wán fàn hòu, hěn duō rénhuì kàn Chūnwǎn, yìqǐ shǒusuì, yíngjiē xīnnián de dàolái.English:After dinner, many people watch theSpring Festival Gala and stay up late to welcome the New Year.🧨 Chinese New Year’s Day（初一）中文：大年初一，大家通常会起得比较晚。Pinyin:Dànián chūyī, dàjiā tōngchánghuì qǐ de bǐjiào wǎn.English:On New Year’s Day, people usuallywake up a bit later.中文：一醒来，就要给家人拜年，说一些吉利的话。Pinyin:Yí xǐnglái, jiù yào gěi jiārénbàinián, shuō yìxiē jílì de huà.English:As soon as they wake up, they greetfamily members and say auspicious wishes.中文：孩子们最期待的，就是收到红包。Pinyin:Háizimen zuì qīdài de, jiùshìshōudào hóngbāo.English:What children look forward to themost is receiving red envelopes.中文：这一天，很多人不扫地、不吵架，希望新的一年有个好开始。Pinyin:Zhè yì tiān, hěn duō rén bùsǎodì, bù chǎojià, xīwàng xīn de yì nián yǒu gè hǎokāishǐ.English:On this day, many people avoidsweeping the floor or arguing, hoping for a good start to the year.For the full transcript, click here: https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/8980177657064100715/7Fxm_UxP9AJ26zEURve0ZJni7vsn4ftjfMJybEcxxxE/chinese-new-yearMusic: Li River by Zimpzonhttps://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fzimpzon%2Fli-river/vZub/AFXDAQ/AQ/083f6ce2-49f5-4655-afe0-af85484a41ba/4/rcr0--dCae

In this episode of Chinese Language Convo Club, we delve into three essential Chinese love words that come up again and again in real-life dating conversations: 暧昧 (ambiguous feelings), 约会 (going on dates), and 表白 (confessing your feelings).With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Vicky and I break down how romantic relationships typically unfold in Chinese dating culture, and how it differs from Western dating norms. You’ll learn what these words really mean, how native speakers use them, and when 约会 turns into 交往.The episode includes natural Chinese dialogues, clear explanations, cultural insights, and repeat-after-me practice to help you sound more natural and confident when talking about relationships in Mandarin.Perfect for intermediate Chinese learners, podcast listeners who want real spoken Chinese, and anyone curious about love, dating, and romance in Chinese culture.For The Complete Transcript, Click Here:https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/477381560584301628/okfSdv4XEu74yPtZU1W6STG67OdJSeMvd_go3M4sSv8/3-love-words-you-must-know

What does “干杯” really mean—and do you actually have to finish your drink? In this episode, we explore Chinese drinking culture, from casual dinners with friends to formal business banquets. You’ll learn key toasting phrases, pronunciation tips, and polite ways to decline alcohol—without losing face.“干杯”一定要喝完吗？敬酒时为什么杯子要放低？这一集我们通过生活化对话，带你了解中文里的喝酒文化、正式与非正式的敬酒礼仪，以及各种得体又自然的“不喝酒”说法。Gānbēi” yídìng yào hē wán ma? Jìngjiǔ shí wèishénme bēizi yào fàng dī? Zhè yí jí wǒmen tōngguò shēnghuó huà duìhuà, dài nǐ liǎojiě Zhōngwén lǐ de hējiǔ wénhuà, zhèngshì yǔ fēi zhèngshì de jìngjiǔ lǐyí, yǐjí gè zhǒng détǐ yòu zìrán de “bù hējiǔ” shuōfǎ.🟢 Dialogue 1: Casual dinner with friends小兰: 来，干杯！在中文里，“干杯”就是“cheers”的意思。湖帆: 哦，那要喝完吗？小兰: 不一定，朋友之间随意一点就好。湖帆: 明白了！那我就小酌一口～ Pinyin：A: Lái, gānbēi! Zài Zhōngwén lǐ, “gānbēi” jiù shì “cheers” de yìsi.B: Ó, nà yào hē wán ma?A: Bù yídìng, péngyǒu zhījiān suíyì yīdiǎn jiù hǎo.B: Míngbai le! Nà wǒ jiù xiǎo zhuó yì kǒu ~English:A: Okay, cheers! In Chinese, “干杯 (gānbēi)” means “cheers.”B: Oh, do I have to finish the drink?A: Not necessarily — with friends, it’s more relaxed.B: Got it! Then I’ll just take a small sip.🟠 Dialogue 2: Formal business banquet小刘: 王经理，我敬您一杯！感谢您的合作。王经理: 谢谢！我也回敬您一杯。先您后我，这是礼貌。小刘: 对，听说敬酒时杯口要比对方低一点？王经理: 是的，表示尊重。Pinyin:Xiao Liu: Wáng jīnglǐ, wǒ jìng nín yì bēi! Gǎnxiè nín de hézuò.Wang Jingli: Xièxiè! Wǒ yě huíjìng nín yì bēi. Xiān nín hòu wǒ, zhè shì lǐmào.Xiao Liu: Duì, tīngshuō jìngjiǔ shí bēikǒu yào bǐ duìfāng dī yìdiǎn?Wang Jingli: Shì de, biǎoshì zūnzhòng.English:A: Manager Wang, I’d like to toast to you! Thank you for your cooperation.B: Thank you! I’ll also return the toast. You first, then me — that’s polite.A: Right, I heard the rim of my glass should be slightly lower than yours?B: Yes, that shows respect.Polite Refusals: 1. 我今天不太能喝酒，还请多包涵。Wǒ jīntiān bù tài néng hējiǔ, hái qǐng duō bāohan.“I can’t really drink today — thank you for understanding.”➡️ Super common, soft, humble tone.2. 我酒量不好，今天就先不喝了。Wǒ jiǔliàng bù hǎo, jīntiān jiù xiān bù hē le.“My alcohol tolerance isn’t great, so I’ll pass today.”➡️ A very accepted excuse; no one argues with “low tolerance.”3. 我等等还要开车，就不喝酒了。Wǒ děngdeng hái yào kāichē, jiù bù hējiǔ le.“I still need to drive later, so I can’t drink.”➡️ 100% respected; people will immediately stop pushing alcohol.4. 我身体不太舒服，医生也不建议我喝酒。Wǒ shēntǐ bù tài shūfu, yīshēng yě bù jiànyì wǒ hējiǔ.“I’m not feeling well, and my doctor advised me not to drink.”➡️ No one will challenge this.Soft & Friendly Ways (Still Polite)5. 我陪大家就好，我喝茶/水就行。Wǒ péi dàjiā jiù hǎo, wǒ hē chá/shuǐ jiù xíng.“I’ll join everyone in spirit — tea/water is fine for me.”➡️ Shows participation without drinking alcohol.6. 我浅尝一下就好，真的不太能喝。Wǒ qiǎncháng yíxià jiù hǎo, zhēn de bù tài néng hē.“I’ll just take a tiny sip; I really can’t drink much.”➡️ Not very effective. Drinking in China is an "all or nothing" event! Direct But Still Polite7. 不好意思，我真的不喝酒。Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ zhēnde bù hējiǔ.“Sorry, but I really don’t drink alcohol.”➡️ Clear boundary, still polite.8. 我对酒精过敏，所以真的不能喝。Wǒ duì jiǔjīng guòmǐn, suǒyǐ zhēnde bùnéng hē.“I’m allergic to alcohol, so I really can’t drink.”➡️ Absolutely respected; people will even protect you from more toasts.A Playful but Safe Excuse (Used in Friendly Settings)9. 我喝一杯就会脸红得像虾，还是算了吧！Wǒ hē yì bēi jiù huì liǎnhóng de xiàng xiā, háishi suànle ba!“If I drink even one glass I turn red like a shrimp, so better not!”➡️ Lightens the mood, keeps things friendly.

We'll be back in a few weeks to bring you more fun lessons on Chinese language and culture, but in the meantime, celebrate the holidays and boost your Chinese vocabulary in this quick five-minute bilingual episode! 🥟✨ Learn how to describe a true foodie (资深吃货), talk about a big holiday feast (大餐), and even say you’ve eaten to your limit (吃到嗓子哑了). Perfect for learners who love language, culture, and great food. Listen, laugh, and learn festive Mandarin phrases you can use right away!

Think gift-giving is easy? Not always — especially in Chinese culture 😅In this episode, we talk about Chinese gift-giving taboos and the surprising reasons why things like clocks, shoes and other seemingly normal items, can send the wrong message.With funny examples, natural dialogues, and pronunciation practice, you’ll learn Chinese while picking up real cultural tips you can actually use. Learn how to avoid awkward moments, sound more natural, and understand what gifts really mean in Chinese.送礼看起来很简单，但在中国文化里，可没那么容易 😅这一集我们用轻松有趣的对话，带你认识常见的送礼禁忌，看看为什么钟、鞋、等等。。。都可能让人误会你的意思。通过真实情境、自然对话和发音练习，帮你在开心中学中文，不仅学会怎么说，更懂中国文化在想什么。Sònglǐ kàn qǐlái hěn jiǎndān, dàn zài Zhōngguó wénhuà lǐ, kě méi nàme róngyì Zhè yí jí wǒmen yòng qīngsōng yǒuqù de duìhuà, dài nǐ rènshi chángjiàn de sònglǐ jìnjì, kànkan wèishénme zhōng, xié, deng deng...dōu kěnéng ràng rén wùhuì nǐ de yìsi.Tōngguò zhēnshí qíngjìng, zìrán duìhuà hé fāyīn liànxí, bāng nǐ zài kāixīn zhōng xué Zhōngwén, Bù jǐn xuéhuì zěnme shuō, gèng dǒng Zhōngguó wénhuà zài xiǎng shénme.Dialogue 1:小王: 我打算买个钟送给李老师，你觉得怎么样？(Xiǎo Wáng): Wǒ dǎsuàn mǎi gè zhōng sòng gěi Lǐ lǎoshī, nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?I’m thinking about giving a clock to Teacher Li — what do you think?小李: 千万别！送钟在中国是大忌！(Xiǎo Lǐ): Qiānwàn bié! Sòng zhōng zài Zhōngguó shì dà jì!Don’t ever do that! Giving a clock is a big taboo in China!小王: 啊？为什么？(Xiǎo Wáng): A? Wèishénme?Huh? Why?小李: 因为“送钟”听起来像“送终”，很不吉利。(Xiǎo Lǐ): Yīnwèi “sòng zhōng” tīng qǐlái xiàng “sòng zhōng”, hěn bù jílì.Because “giving a clock” sounds like “attending a funeral” — it’s unlucky!小王: 原来如此！那我改送点别的吧。(Xiǎo Wáng): Yuánlái rúcǐ! Nà wǒ gǎi sòng diǎn bié de ba.I see! Then I’ll give something else instead.Dialogue 2:小美: 你看我给男朋友买了一双鞋，好看吗？(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ kàn wǒ gěi nánpéngyou mǎi le yì shuāng xié, hǎokàn ma?Look, I bought a pair of shoes for my boyfriend! Aren’t they nice?小芳: 鞋很好看，不过听说送鞋有点不吉利。(Xiǎo Fāng): Xié hěn hǎokàn, búguò tīngshuō sòng xié yǒudiǎn bù jílì.They’re nice, but I heard giving shoes is a bit unlucky.小美: 是吗？那怎么办？(Xiǎo Měi): Shì ma? Nà zěnmebàn?Really? What should I do then?小芳: 很简单，你让他给你一块钱，就当是“买”的，不是“送”的。(Xiǎo Fāng): Hěn jiǎndān, nǐ ràng tā gěi nǐ yí kuài qián, jiù dāng shì “mǎi” de, bú shì “sòng” de.Easy! Just ask him to give you one yuan — that way, it’s like he bought the shoes, not that you gave them. 小美: 哈哈，好主意！(Xiǎo Měi): Hāhā, hǎo zhǔyì!Haha, good idea!

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? In this episode, we talk about the popular Mandarin phrase 小确幸 (xiǎo què xìng) — the Chinese concept of “small but certain happiness” that has become a modern lifestyle mindset across Asia.You’ll learn:• The meaning and origin of 小确幸• Why it became so influential in Chinese culture• How to use 小确幸 naturally in real Mandarin conversations• Practical examples of everyday “small joys”• A guided pronunciation breakdown to help you sound more natural• A full dialogue review for listening practiceWe also talk about stress, burnout, workplace drama, and how noticing small moments of joy can help you recharge — emotionally and linguistically.Conversation 1:小王: 最近工作太忙了，压力好大。(Xiǎo Wáng: Zuìjìn gōngzuò tài máng le, yālì hǎo dà.)You’ve been so busy lately—so stressed out.小刘: 是啊，不过今天早上喝到一杯特别好喝的咖啡，算是小确幸吧。(Xiǎo Liú: Shì a, búguò jīntiān zǎoshang hē dào yì bēi tèbié hǎohē de kāfēi, suàn shì xiǎo què xìng ba.)Yeah, but I had a really good cup of coffee this morning—that’s my little happiness for the day.小王: 哈哈，小确幸也很重要啊！(Xiǎo Wáng: Hāhā, xiǎo què xìng yě hěn zhòngyào a!)Haha, those small joys really matter!Conversation 2 :小美: 最近真的有点累，什么事都提不起劲。(Xiǎo Měi): Zuìjìn zhēn de yǒudiǎn lèi, shénme shì dōu tí bù qǐ jìn.Lately I’ve been exhausted—nothing really excites me.小芳: 我懂，不过我发现，生活里的小确幸能让我重新充满能量。(Xiǎo Fāng): Wǒ dǒng, búguò wǒ fāxiàn, shēnghuó lǐ de xiǎo què xìng néng ràng wǒ chóngxīn chōngmǎn néngliàng.I know the feeling, but I’ve realized that the little happinesses in life can really recharge me.小美: 对，你说得对。也许我们都该学会去发现这些小确幸。(Xiǎo Měi): Duì, nǐ shuō de duì. Yěxǔ wǒmen dōu gāi xuéhuì qù fāxiàn zhèxiē xiǎo què xìng.You’re right. Maybe we should all learn to notice those small joys in life.Example Sentences:​ 吃到第一口冰淇淋的感觉，就是小确幸。The feeling of that first bite of ice cream—that’s a little happiness.​ 下班回家发现外卖刚好送到，小确幸！Coming home from work just as your food delivery arrives—that’s a small joy!​ 听喜欢的歌、闻到咖啡香，这些都是生活里的小确幸。Hearing your favorite song or smelling fresh coffee—these are the small pleasures of life.Contact Us: [email protected]

In today’s episode, we’re doing something a little different—we’re going to explore a trending topic: the viral Starbucks Bearista Bear cup. Why did it sell out instantly? Why were some stores given only one or two? And what’s the Chinese term for “Manufactured Scarcity”—a marketing strategy that exists in both English and Chinese?You’ll learn key vocabulary like 饥饿营销 (jī’è yíngxiāo) plus hear a short dialogue using these words in context, and follow along with pronunciation training so you can say the sentences naturally and confidently.✨ Special Giveaway!At the end of the episode, we’ll announce how you can enter to win a free Starbucks Bearista Bear (China version)—shipped directly from us. Don’t miss it!Great for learners who want to expand their real-world vocabulary, understand Chinese marketing culture, and improve speaking fluency—all while following a fun viral story.Email us at: [email protected]中文简介：这一集我们来聊一个最近非常热门的话题：星巴克的 Bearista 小熊杯 为什么会在发布当天瞬间售罄？有的门店甚至只收到一两个？这背后到底是不是一种 “饥饿营销” 的策略？节目中我们会带你认识这些中文营销词汇，播放一段实用对话，并进行发音训练，让你能够自然流畅地说出这些句子。✨ 特别赠品！节目最后，我们会公布如何免费抽到一只 星巴克中国版 Bearista 小熊。千万不要错过！⭐ Dialogue:A: 你最近有看到星巴克的 Bearista 吗？被炒得很火。Pinyin: Nǐ zuìjìn yǒu kàn dào Xīngbākè de Bearista ma? Bèi chǎo de hěn huǒ.English: Have you seen the Starbucks’ Bearista? It’s going viral.B: 看到了！发布当天数量很少，根本抢不到。Pinyin: Kàn dào le! Fābù dāngtiān shùliàng hěn shǎo, gēnběn qiǎng bú dào.English: Yeah! On release day the quantity was so limited—you couldn’t get one at all.A: 我觉得他们是故意制造稀缺，用饥饿营销的方式让大家更想买。Pinyin: Wǒ juéde tāmen shì gùyì zhìzào xīquē,yòng jī'è yíngxiāo de fāngshì ràng dàjiā gèng xiǎng mǎi.English: I think they intentionally created scarcity to make people want it more.B: 对啊，越难买，越让人觉得有收藏价值。Pinyin: Duì a, yuè nán mǎi, yuè ràng rén juéde yǒu shōucáng jiàzhí.English: Exactly—the harder it is to get, the more collectible it feels.For the Full Transcript Click Here:https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/4611686018488220516/TNLeLX0Ql1OBnTAG0uzbioGR70kF_N3L26kOy8LSgQg/bearista-bear-4th-edit1

Ever tried to bluff your way through an exam, a project, or even a date? In this episode, we dive into the hilarious (and slightly sneaky) Chinese idiom 蒙混过关, which literally means “to muddle through a checkpoint.” We’ll chat about this useful expression, when it’s risky, and how Chinese people use it in daily life.🎧 Learn Mandarin through real examples, personal stories, and our usual dose of laughter!Sentence Examples1. 他靠蒙混过关拿到了那份工作。Tā kào méng hùn guò guān ná dào le nà fèn gōngzuò.He got the job through deception.2. 这次考试不能蒙混过关，要认真复习。Zhè cì kǎoshì bù néng méng hùn guò guān, yào rènzhēn fùxí.You can’t b.s. your way through this exam; you have to study seriously. 3. 有些人试图蒙混过关，但最终被发现了。Yǒu xiē rén shìtú méng hùn guò guān, dàn zuìzhōng bèi fāxiàn le.Some people tried cheating to get by, but were eventually found out.Dialogue 1A: 听说小张考试的时候蒙混过关了？ Tīngshuō Xiǎo Zhāng kǎoshì de shíhòu méng hùn guò guān le? I heard Xiao Zhang faked his way through the exam?B: 是的，他没好好复习，靠作弊蒙混过关。 Shì de, tā méi hǎohǎo fùxí, kào zuòbì méng hùn guò guān.Yeah — he didn’t study properly; he cheated to get by.A: 这样很危险吧？一旦被抓就麻烦了。 Zhèyàng hěn wēixiǎn ba? Yídàn bèi zhuā jiù máfan le. That’s really risky, right? If he gets caught it’ll be a big problem.B: 对啊，老师现在越来越严格了。 Duì a, lǎoshī xiànzài yuè lái yuè yángé le. Totally — teachers are getting stricter and stricter now.A: 我觉得还是踏实学习，不要想蒙混过关。 Wǒ juéde háishì tàshí xuéxí, bú yào xiǎng méng hùn guò guān.I think it’s better to study properly — don’t try to bluff your way through.B: 我也是，靠实力才是长久之计。 Wǒ yě shì, kào shílì cái shì chángjiǔ zhī jì. Same here — relying on real ability is the long-term plan.Dialogue 2A: 你觉得我们这次项目能蒙混过关吗？ Nǐ juéde wǒmen zhè cì xiàngmù néng méng hùn guò guān ma? Do you think we can get away with b.s.ing ur way through this project?B: 不能，我们必须准备充分，不能耍花招。 Bù néng, wǒmen bìxū zhǔnbèi chōngfèn, bù néng shuǎ huāzhāo. No — we must prepare thoroughly; we can’t pull any tricks.A: 但是时间不够，蒙混过关好像很诱人。 Dànshì shíjiān bù gòu, méng hùn guò guān hǎoxiàng hěn yòurén. But there isn’t enough time — bluffing our way through sounds tempting.B: 这不好，如果被发现，后果很严重。 Zhè bù hǎo, rúguǒ bèi fāxiàn, hòuguǒ hěn yánzhòng. That’s not good — if we get found out, the consequences will be serious.

Practice your Mandarin with a chilling Chinese ghost story 空无一人的巷子! Learn spooky new words like 纸钱 (zhǐqián) “ghost money,” 低语 (dīyǔ) “whisper,” and 门缝 (ménfèng) “crack of a door” as you follow 小王 (Xiǎo Wáng) through a deserted alley late at night.🎧 Listen for comprehension, build vocabulary, and test yourself with our mini-quiz at the end! Perfect for intermediate learners who love stories, culture, and a little bit of creepiness in their study routine.Story:深夜，小王下班回家，经过一条空无一人的小巷。Shēnyè, Xiǎo Wáng xiàbān huí jiā, jīngguò yì tiáo kōng wú yī rénde xiǎoxiàng.Late at night, Xiao Wang washeading home from work, passing through a deserted alley.风吹过，纸钱飘舞。Fēng chuī guò, zhǐqián piāowǔ.The wind blew, andghost money fluttered in the air.他忽然听见身后有人轻声喊他的名字。Tā hūrán tīngjiàn shēnhòu yǒu rén qīngshēng hǎn tā demíngzi.Suddenly, he heard someone softly callinghis name from behind.回头，却什么也没有。Huítóu, què shénme yě méiyǒu.He turned around, butnothing was there.加快脚步时，耳边又传来低语：“别走那么快……”Jiākuài jiǎobù shí, ěrbiān yòu chuánlái dīyǔ: “Bié zǒu nàmekuài……”As he quickened his pace, a whisperbrushed past his ear: “Don’t walk so fast…”小王吓得跑回家，猛地关上门，透过门缝，却看到一双苍白的手，缓缓拍着门板。Xiǎo Wáng xià de pǎo huí jiā, měng de guān shàng mén, tòuguò ménfèng, què kàndào yì shuāng cāngbái de shǒu, huǎnhuǎn pāizhe ménbǎn.Terrified, Xiao Wang ran home andslammed the door shut. Through the crack, he saw a pair of pale hands slowly tapping on the door.Mini-Quiz:1. 故事发生在什么时候？(When does the story take place?)2. 小王在什么地方听见有人叫他？(Where was Xiao Wang when he heard someone call his name?)3. 小王回到家后，从门缝里看到了什么？(What did Xiao Wang see through the crack of the door?)

In this episode, we explore the Chinese phrase 离不开 (lí bù kāi) — which means “can’t live without.” Learn how native speakers use it to express dependence, habits, and deep connections. We’ll break it down with clear examples, a short dialogue, and pronunciation practice to help you sound more natural when speaking Mandarin. Examples: 1. 他离不开咖啡，每天都要喝。 Tā lí bù kāi kāfēi, měitiān dōu yào hē. He can’t live without coffee; he drinks it every day. 2. 他离不开他的家人。 Tā lí bù kāi tā de jiārén. He can't be apart from his family 3. 成功离不开努力和机会。 Chénggōng lí bù kāi nǔlì hé jīhuì. Success depends on both effort and opportunity. 4.这件事离不开大家的努力。 Zhè jiàn shì lí bù kāi dàjiā de nǔlì. This matter can't succeed without everyone's effort. 🗣 Dialogue: 离不开 (Lí bù Kāi)A: 你觉得你离不开什么东西？Nǐ juéde nǐ lí bù kāi shénme dōngxī?What do you think you can’t live without?B: 我觉得我离不开手机和家人。Wǒ juéde wǒ lí bù kāi shǒujī hé jiārén.I think I can’t live without my phone and my family.A: 为什么手机排在第一位呢？Wèishénme shǒujī páizài dì yī wèi ne?Why is your phone in first place?B: 因为手机帮我工作，也让我跟朋友保持联系。Yīnwèi shǒujī bāng wǒ gōngzuò, yě ràng wǒ gēn péngyǒu bǎochí liánxì.Because my phone helps me with work and lets me stay in touch with my friends.A: 是啊，现在大家都离不开手机了。Shì a, xiànzài dàjiā dōu lí bù kāi shǒujī le.Yeah, these days everyone can’t live without their phones.B: 对，而且家人也很重要，离开他们我会很孤单。Duì, érqiě jiārén yě hěn zhòngyào, lí kāi tāmen wǒ huì hěn gūdān.Right, and family is very important too — without them, I’d feel really lonely.

In this episode, we dive into the Chinese slang phrase 露馅儿 (lòu xiànr) — literally “the filling is showing.” Learn how native speakers use it to describe moments when secrets slip out, someone accidentally reveals too much, or a cover-up fails. We’ll share clear examples, cultural context, and easy practice sentences so you can start using 露馅儿 naturally in conversation.在这一集节目里，我们要聊一聊中文俚语“露馅儿 (lòu xiànr)”——字面意思是“馅儿露出来了”。它常常用来形容秘密被揭穿了、有人不小心说漏了嘴，或者掩饰失败的情况。我们会分享清晰的例子、文化背景，以及简单的练习句子，帮助你在对话中自然地使用“露馅儿"。Zài zhè yì jí jiémù lǐ, wǒmen yào liáo yī liáo Zhōngwén lǐyǔ “lòu xiànr” —— zìmiàn yìsi shì “xiànr lòu chū lái le.”Tā chángcháng yòng lái xíngróng mìmì bèi jiēchuān le, yǒu rén bù xiǎoxīn shuō lòu le zuǐ, huòzhě yǎnshì shībài de qíngkuàng.Wǒmen huì fēnxiǎng qīngxī de lìzi, wénhuà bèijǐng, yǐjí jiǎndān de liànxí jùzi, bāngzhù nǐ zài duìhuà zhōng zìrán de shǐyòng “lòu xiànr.”Conversation 1:小张: 你不是说你今天请假是去看医生吗？(Xiǎo Zhāng): Nǐ bù shì shuō nǐ jīntiān qǐngjià shì qù kàn yīshēng ma?小李: 是啊，怎么了？(Xiǎo Lǐ): Shì a, zěnme le?小张: 可是我在商场看到你在排队买鞋，你露馅儿啦！(Xiǎo Zhāng): Kěshì wǒ zài shāngchǎng kàndào nǐ zài páiduì mǎi xié, nǐ lòu xiànr la!小李: 哎呀，被你发现了……(Xiǎo Lǐ): Āiyā, bèi nǐ fāxiàn le……English Translation – Conversation 1:Xiaozhang: Didn’t you say you took the day off to see a doctor?Xiaoli: Yeah… why?Xiaozhang: I saw you at the mall lining up to buy shoes—your cover’s blown!Xiaoli: Aiya, you caught me…Conversation 2:小美: 你是不是偷偷喜欢他？(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ shì bù shì tōutōu xǐhuan tā?小芳: 没有啊，别乱说！(Xiǎo Fāng): Méiyǒu a, bié luàn shuō!小美: 可你一听到他的名字就脸红，早就露馅儿啦！(Xiǎo Měi): Kě nǐ yì tīng dào tā de míngzì jiù liǎnhóng, zǎo jiù lòu xiànr la!小芳: 啊？我有吗？(Xiǎo Fāng): A? Wǒ yǒu ma?English Translation – Conversation 2:Xiaomei: Do you secretly like him?Xiaofang: No way—don’t say that!Xiaomei: But you blush every time you hear his name. You totally gave yourself away!Xiaofang: Huh? I did?Example Sentences: • 他紧张得说错了话，一下子就露馅儿了。He got nervous and said the wrong thing—he totally gave himself away. • 他们本来想骗我，结果一问就露馅儿了。They tried to fool me, but I caught them right away. • 假装不知道结果，结果自己先露馅儿了。Pretended not to know, but ended up revealing it accidentally.

It’s that time of year again — back to school season! In this episode, we dive into the popular Chinese expression 神兽归笼 (“the mythical beasts return to their cages”), a humorous way parents describe sending kids back to school after summer break. You’ll learn how this phrase is used in daily conversation and pick up practical Mandarin expressions to talk about the social aspect of this time of year. Perfect for Chinese learners who want to sound more natural and stay up-to-date with trending slang.对话：小李：哎，今天开学第一天，家长群都在刷屏。Xiǎo Lǐ: Āi, jīntiān kāixué dì yī tiān, jiāzhǎng qún dōu zài shuāpíng.(Sigh, it’s the first day of school, and the parents’ group is blowing up.)小王：哈哈，是啊，大家都在感叹“神兽归笼”。Xiǎo Wáng: Hāhā, shì a, dàjiā dōu zài gǎntàn “shénshòu guī lóng.”(Haha, yeah, everyone is sighing with relief: “the little beasts are back in their cages.”)小李：终于能安静一点了，不用每天被孩子吵醒。Xiǎo Lǐ: Zhōngyú néng ānjìng yīdiǎn le, bùyòng měitiān bèi háizi chǎoxǐng.(Finally some peace and quiet—no more being woken up by the kids every day.)小王：可不是嘛. 暑假天天陪着我女儿，累得不行。现在上班反而像休息Xiǎo Wáng: Kě bù shì ma, Shǔjià tiāntiān péizhe wǒ nǚ’ér, lèi de bùxíng. Xiànzài shàngbān fǎn’ér xiàng xiūxi.(Tell me about it—During summer vacation I was with my daughter every single day — it was exhausting. Now going to work actually feels like taking a break.”)小李：现在交给老师了，我们也能喘口气。Xiǎo Lǐ: Xiànzài jiāogěi lǎoshī le, wǒmen yě néng chuǎn kǒuqì.(Now that the teachers are in charge, we can finally take a breather.)小王：不过老师才是真正的英雄，得面对几十只“神兽”！Xiǎo Wáng: Bùguò lǎoshī cái shì zhēnzhèng de yīngxióng, děi miànduì jǐshí zhī “shénshòu”!(But the teachers are the real heroes—they have to face dozens of these “little beasts”!)

Fall means Pumpkin Spice Latte season! ☕🍂 In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of the PSL while teaching you how to order it in Mandarin Chinese. Learn essential café vocabulary, practice real-life dialogues, and discover how seasonal drinks are talked about in Chinese. Perfect for language learners who love coffee and culture.顾客：你好，我要一杯南瓜香料拿铁。Gùkè: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yao yì bēi nánguā xiāngliào nátiě.Customer: Hello, I'd like a Pumpkin Spice Latte.咖啡师：好的，要多大杯？中杯还是大杯？Kāfēishī: Hǎo de, yào duō dà bēi? Zhōng bēi háishì dà bēi?Barista: Okay, what size? Medium or large?顾客：中杯就好，谢谢。对了，可以少糖吗？Gùkè: Zhōng bēi jiù hǎo, xièxiè. Duì le, kěyǐ shǎo táng ma?Customer: Medium is fine, thank you. Oh, and can you make it less sweet?咖啡师：没问题，请稍等。Kāfēishī: Méi wèntí, qǐng shāo děng.Barista: No problem, please wait a moment.For a link to the full transcipt of this episode, click here:https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/927741523293021000/vH-Kvog1yzZVTOqVfbfhzLiNOAm6uTTGFWVyJMf6Sg4/pumpkin-spice-latte-the-fall-favorite-explained-in-chinese-or-mandarin-learning-podcast-pre-intermediateCheck out my friend Kapa Zhao's Video on a favorite Shanghai Coffee Spot: http://xhslink.com/m/3A44hcyH3JV

When Your Own Actions Come Back to Bite You — Mandarin StyleWant to sound more natural in Mandarin? Learn the Chinese idiom that can mean not only making the kind of mistakes that hurt yourself, but also when your plans to harm someone else backfire. 小李：听说老赵匿名举报同事偷懒。Xiǎo Lǐ: Tīng shuō Lǎo Zhào nìmíng jǔbào tóngshì tōulǎn.Xiao Li: I heard Old Zhao anonymously reported a coworker for slacking off.小王：结果呢？Xiǎo Wáng: Jiéguǒ ne?Xiao Wang: And what happened?小李：结果调查时才发现，他自己摸鱼更严重。Xiǎo Lǐ: Jiéguǒ diàochá shí cái fāxiàn, tā zìjǐ mōyú gèng yánzhòng.Xiao Li: Turns out, when they investigated, they found he was slacking off even worse.小王：哈哈，这不就是搬起石头砸自己的脚嘛！Xiǎo Wáng: Hāhā, zhè bú jiù shì bān qǐ shítou zá zìjǐ de jiǎo ma!Xiao Wang: Haha, isn’t that just “lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot”? (Chinese idiom meaning “to shoot yourself in the foot”)For a full transcript of this episode, follow the link below:https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/7539025776270928496/jOXVaUiFnSTesYK1gstei-9dv5a0Fb_nF6Iaz4K7OG4/shoot-oneself-in-the-foot

不得已："不得已" is typically used to express that an action or decision was made out of necessity rather than desire, usually because of circumstances that leave no alternative. It's often used in situations where one is reluctantly forced to make a choice.小明: 你怎么突然辞职了？不是说好要坚持下去的吗？(Xiǎo Míng): Nǐ zěnme túrán cí zhí le? Bù shì shuō hǎo yào jiānchí xiàqù de ma?小李: 其实我也很不想辞职，可是公司最近的变化让我不得已做出了这个决定。(Xiǎo Lǐ): Qíshí wǒ yě hěn bù xiǎng cí zhí, kěshì gōngsī zuìjìn de biànhuà ràng wǒ bù dé yǐ zuò chū le zhège juédìng.小明: 哦，原来是这样。你打算做什么？(Xiǎo Míng): Ó, yuánlái shì zhèyàng. Nǐ dǎsuàn zuò shénme?小李: 我还没想好，但总不能一直这样下去，我得找到更适合自己的工作。(Xiǎo Lǐ): Wǒ hái méi xiǎng hǎo, dàn zǒng bù néng yīzhí zhèyàng xiàqù, wǒ děi zhǎodào gèng shìhé zìjǐ de gōngzuò.Translation:Xiao Ming: Why did you suddenly resign? Didn’t you say you were going to stick it out?Xiao Li: Actually, I really didn’t want to quit, but the recent changes at the company left me no choice but to make this decision.Xiao Ming: Oh, I see. So what are you planning to do?Xiao Li: I haven’t figured it out yet, but I can’t go on like this forever. I need to find a job that suits me better.Dialogue #2:小杰: 你为什么不参加今晚的聚会？大家都很期待你来！(Xiǎo Jié): Nǐ wèishéme bù cānjiā jīn wǎn de jùhuì? Dàjiā dōu hěn qīdài nǐ lái!小芳: 我本来很想去，但我得照顾生病的妈妈，实在是不得已。(Xiǎo Fāng): Wǒ běnlái hěn xiǎng qù, dàn wǒ děi zhàogù shēngbìng de māmā, shízài shì bù dé yǐ.小杰: 哦，那就没办法了，家人最重要。(Xiǎo Jié): Ó, nà jiù méi bànfǎ le, jiārén zuì zhòngyào.Translation:Xiaojie: Why aren’t you coming to the gathering tonight? Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you!Xiaofang: I really wanted to go, but I have to take care of my sick mom. I really have no choice.Xiaojie: Oh, then there’s nothing we can do. Family is the most important.Example Sentences:1. 他们这样做是出于不得已。(Tāmen zhèyàng zuò shì chū yú bùdéyǐ.) They did it that way b/c they had no choice.2. 不到万不得已，他不亲自出马。(Bù dào wànbùdéyǐ, tā bù qīnzì chūmǎ) Unless absolutely necessary, he never appears in person.3. 他知道这只是万不得已的办法。(Tā zhīdào zhè zhǐshì wànbùdéyǐ de bànfǎ.) He knew it was the last resort.

In our most recent short video, Vicky takes us to explore some of the highlights of New York City. Come along with us as we take in the sights of The Big Apple, all in Chinese.

"见怪不怪" (Upper Intermediate)—a dialogue about adapting to unusual phenomena, such as colleagues wearing slippers in the office. Includes example sentences for practice.Dialogue:A：你看，那个新同事居然在办公室里穿拖鞋！(A: Nǐ kàn, nàgè xīn tóngshì jūrán zài bàngōngshì lǐ chuān tuōxié! )A: Look, the new guy is wearing slippers in the office!B：哎，见怪不怪了，现在很多人工作时都喜欢随意些。(B: Āi, jiàn guài bù guàile, xiànzài hěnduō rén gōngzuò shí dōu xǐhuān suíyì xiē.)B: Oh, I no longer even notice that. Now many people like to be casual at work.A：也是，越来越多公司不再强调穿着了。(A: Yěshì, yuè lái yuè duō gōngsī bù zài qiángdiào chuānzhuóle.)A: That’s true, more and more companies no longer emphasize dressing.B：对，毕竟大家更重视工作成果，穿得舒服也有助于放松心情。(B: Duì, bìjìng dàjiā gèng zhòngshì gōngzuò chéngguǒ, chuān dé shūfú yěyǒu zhù yú fàngsōng xīnqíng )B: Right, after all, everyone pays more attention to work results, and wearing comfortable clothes can also help people relax.Example Sentences:1. 他刚开始觉得公司里的规矩很奇怪，但工作久了也就见怪不怪了。( Tā gāng kāishǐ juédé gōngsī lǐ de guījǔ hěn qíguài, dàn gōngzuò jiǔle yě jiù jiàn guài bù guàile.) He thought the rules in the company were strange at first, but he got used to it after working for a long time.2. 这个地方交通混乱，行人和车辆争道，但当地人似乎都见怪不怪。(Zhège dìfāng jiāotōng hǔnluàn, xíngrén hé chēliàng zhēng dào, dàn dāngdì rén sìhū dōu jiàn guài bù guài.) The traffic in this place is chaotic, with pedestrians and vehicles competing for the road, but the locals seem to be used to it.3. 作为老师，面对学生的各种小聪明，她早已见怪不怪。(Zuòwéi lǎoshī, miàn duì xuéshēng de gè zhǒng xiǎocōngmíng, tā zǎoyǐ jiàn guài bù guài.)As a teacher, she is no longer surprised by all kinds of cleverness of students.4.在网络上，每天都有新鲜的热点和事件，网友们早已见怪不怪。(Zài wǎngluò shàng, měitiān doū yǒu xīnxiān de rèdiǎn hé shìjiàn, wǎngyǒumen zǎoyǐ jiàn guài bù guài.) There are new hot topics and events on the Internet every day, and netizens have long been accustomed to them.Want to connect with us? Leave us a comment right here on Spotify.You can also send us a message at: [email protected]

Dialogue: #1小明 (Xiǎo Míng): 今天我准备去跑步，天气很好。(Jīntiān wǒ zhǔnbèi qù pǎobù, tiānqì hěn hǎo.)小丽 (Xiǎo Lì): 可是偏偏下雨了，真不巧。(Kěshì piānpiān xiàyǔle, zhēn bù qiǎo.)小明 (Xiǎo Míng): 我也没想到，真是的！(Wǒ yě méi xiǎngdào, zhēn shì de!)小丽 (Xiǎo Lì): 偏偏遇到这种情况，真是倒霉。(Piānpiān yù dào zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng, zhēn shì dǎoméi.)The expression 偏偏 is used to express something happening contrary to what was expected, often with a sense of irony or frustration.Dialogue #2:小明 (Xiǎo Míng): 我今天准备好好休息。(Wǒ jīntiān zhǔnbèi hǎo hǎo xiūxí.)小丽 (Xiǎo Lì): 那你为什么还在工作呢？(Nà nǐ wèishéme hái zài gōngzuò ne?)小明 (Xiǎo Míng): 对啊，老板偏偏在最后一刻才给我任务。(Duì a, lǎobǎn piānpiān zài zuìhòu yī kè cái gěi wǒ rènwù.)小丽 (Xiǎo Lì): 真是太倒霉了！(Zhēn shì tài dǎoméi le!)In this context, 偏偏 expresses the idea that something happened in a frustrating or unexpected way, as the boss gave the task at the last moment.

This week, my friend Giacobbe joins me all way the from Bangkok, Thailand to discuss practical ways to master a new language. A great lesson for anyone needing a little inspiration to persevere on your language learning journey while hopefully getting a few fresh ideas. Btw, this is my first attempt at speaking only Chinese so please forgive the potential roughness of this episode (I did cheat here and there, fyi) and I'd love to hear if this is something I should do more often. Let me know what you think! • 有效 (yǒuxiào) – effective • 技巧 (jìqiǎo) – skill; technique • 已知 (yǐzhī) – known • 事物 (shìwù) – thing; object • 有助于 (yǒu zhù yú) – is helpful for... • 加深 (jiāshēn) – to deepen • 记忆 (jìyì) – memory • 定期 (dìngqī) – regularly; periodically • 间隔 (jiàngé) – interval; spaced • 巩固 (gǒnggù) – to consolidate, to reinforce • 吸收 (xīshōu) – to absorb • 目标语言(mùbiāo yǔyán) – The target language • 沉浸 (chénjìn) – to immerse • 显著 (xiǎnzhù) - significant学习语言时，有一些有效的小技巧能帮助你提高。首先，尝试把新单词和已知事物联系起来，这样有助于加深记忆。其次，定期复习学过的内容，利用间隔复习法巩固记忆。第三，睡前复习重要知识点，可以帮助大脑更好地吸收信息。第四，尽量用目标语言进行思考，避免翻译。最后，沉浸在语言环境中，多听、多看，能加速语言学习的过程。掌握这些方法，学习效果会更显著。Xuéxí yǔyán shí, yǒu yīxiē yǒuxiào de xiǎo jìqiǎo néng bāngzhù nǐ tígāo. Shǒuxiān, chángshì ba xīn dāncí he yǐ zhīshì wù liánxì qǐlái, zhèyàng yǒu zhù yú jiāshēn jìyì. Qícì, dìngqí fùxí xuéguò de nèiróng, lìyòng jiàngé fùxí fǎ gǒnggù jìyì. Dì sān, shuì qián fùxí zhòngyào zhīshì diǎn, kěyǐ bāngzhù dànǎo gèng hǎo de xīshōu xìnxī. Dì sì, jǐnliàng yòng mùbiāo yǔyán jìnxíng sīkǎo, bìmiǎn fānyì. Zuìhòu, chénjìn zài yǔyán huánjìng zhōng, duō tīng, duō kàn, néng jiāsù yǔyán xuéxí de guòchéng. Zhǎngwò zhèxiē fāngfǎ, xuéxí xiàoguǒ huì gèng xiǎnzhù.When learning a language, there are some effective techniques that can help improve your skills. First, try to associate new words with things you already know, as this helps deepen your memory. Second, regularly review what you've learned and use spaced repetition to reinforce your memory. Third, reviewing important points before sleep can help your brain absorb the information better. Fourth, try to think in the target language instead of translating. Finally, immerse yourself in the language environment by listening and watching more, which can speed up your learning process. Mastering these methods will lead to more significant learning results.https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/7665126565895355695/BPoXgMKzp8HMa9qiWtEGxZNbkug6TuBfHCw_2G0pq0g/language-learning-secrets

In this week's minisode, Vicky and I have some beef with each other. How exactly would you say that in Chinese? Listen in to find out :)

Chef Wang Makes Steamed Buns with Shrimp:哈喽，大家好，我是王刚。本期视频为大家带来一道特色菜: 馒头炸虾球。首先，我们把大虾去头，从背部切开，去掉虾线和虾壳，然后加入食用盐和柠檬汁，将虾肉腌制十分钟。下一步，我们准备一个白馒头，将馒头切成大小均匀的小粒备用，然后将腌制好的大虾先粘上淀粉，然后再裹上蛋液，最后再均匀的裹上馒头粒，再用手轻轻的压紧。锅中油温烧至六成热的时候下入馒头虾，开中小火炸至五分钟，将虾炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。然后锅中加入适量的番茄酱，翻炒均匀之后加入白糖两勺，再加入少许白醋，然后加入适量的水淀粉，收紧汤汁，最后加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可。一道非常美味的馒头炸虾球就制作完成。Hā lóu, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì WángGāng. Běn qi(1) shìpín wei(4) dàjiā dài lái yīdào tèsè cài: Mántou zha(2) xiā qiú. Shǒuxiān, wǒmen bǎ dà xiā qù tóu, cóng bèibù qiē kāi, qùdiào xiā xiàn hé xiā ké, ránhòu jiārù shíyòng yán hé níngméng zhī, jiāng xiā ròu yān zhì shí fēnzhōng. Xià yi(2)bù, wǒmen zhǔnbèi yīgè bái mántou, jiāng mántou qiè chéng dàxiǎo jūnyún de xiǎolì bèiyòng, ránhòu jiāng yān zhì hǎo de dà xiā xiān zhān shàng diànfěn, ránhòu zài guǒ shàng dàn yè, zuìhòu zài jūnyún de guǒ shàng mántou lì, zài yòng shǒu qīng qīng de yā jǐn. Guō zhōng yóu wēn shāo zhì liù chéng rè de shíhòu xià rù mántou xiā, kāi zhōngxiǎo huǒ zha(2) de wǔ fēnzhōng, jiāng xiā zha2) zhì jīnhuáng sūcuì de shíhòu dào chū bèiyòng. Ránhòu guō zhōng jiārù shìliàng de fānqié jiàng, fān chǎo jūnyún zhīhòu jiārù báitáng liǎng sháo, zài jiārù shǎoxǔ báicù, ránhòu jiārù shìliàng de shuǐ diànfěn, shōu jǐn tāng zhī, zuìhòu jiārù zha(2) hǎo de xiā qiú xià guō fān chǎo jūnyún jí kě. Yi(2)dào fēicháng měiwèi de mántou zha(2)xiā qiú jiù zhìzuò wánchéng.Pronunciation:1. 男：切成小粒。。。。切成小粒备用。。。。。大小均匀的。。。。切成大小均匀的。。。。。。切成大小均匀的小粒。。。。。。。切成大小均匀的小粒备用。。。。。。。。将馒头切成大小均匀的小粒备用。。。。。。。。。。。。。女： 下一步，我们准备一个白馒头。要先做什么呢？。。。。。。。。。。。。。男： 将馒头切成大小均匀的小粒备用2. 女：锅中油温。。。。。烧至。。。。油温烧至六成热。。。。。。锅中油温烧至六成热的时候。。。。。。。。。下入。。。下入馒头虾。。。。。锅中油温烧至六成热的时候下入馒头虾。。。。。。。。。。。。男：锅中油需要多热才下入馒头虾？。。。。。。。。。。。。。。女：锅中油温烧至六成热的时候下入馒头虾。3. 男：金黄酥脆。。。。。炸。。。炸至金黄酥脆的时候。。。。。。。倒出备用。。。。。炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。。。。。。。。。。。。将虾炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。。。。。。。。。炸至五分钟。。。。。开中小火炸至五分钟。。。。。。开中小火炸至五分钟，将虾炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。女：然后要怎么做？。。。。。。。。。。。。。男：开中小火炸至五分钟，将虾炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。4. 女：适量。。。适量的水淀粉。。。。。。加入适量的水淀粉。。。。。。。收紧汤汁。。。。。。然后加入适量的水淀粉收紧汤汁。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。翻炒。。。。翻炒均匀。。。。。。下锅翻炒均匀即可。。。。。。。。加入炸好的虾球。。。。。。加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可。。。。。。。。最后加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可。。。。。。。。。。。。。。然后加入适量的水淀粉，收紧汤汁，最后加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。男：最后两步是什么？。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。女： 然后加入适量的水淀粉，收紧汤汁，最后加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可Catch My Drift:女性：你在吃什么？真让人眼馋啊！男性：是我自己做的馒头炸虾球。第一次做的，结果还不错。女性：是吗？你怎么知道怎么做这个？用了什么配料？男性: 我是看视频上的烹饪教程学会的。挺容易的! 它也只需要很普通的配料来做：虾，馒头，盐，淀粉，蕃茄酱，柠檬汁，糖，醋，鸡蛋，就这些。女性：也许我也应该试着做一下。男性：又简单，又快！你先把虾在盐和柠檬酱里腌制10分钟。再把白馒头切成均匀的小片。然后把腌制完的虾先粘上淀粉，再裹上蛋液。裹上蛋液后再裹上切好的白馒头，轻轻的压紧。然后炸10分钟。倒出来备用。在锅里加一点番茄酱，翻炒一会儿，再加两勺白糖，少许白醋，还有适量的水淀粉。最后再加炸好的虾球，翻炒均匀即可。女性：原来没那么简单呀。要不然我来偷吃你做好的馒头炸虾球吧！Pronunciation1. 男： 烹饪。。。烹饪教程。。。。。。我是看烹饪教程学会的。。。。。。。视频上的烹饪教程。。。。。。。。。我是看视频上的烹饪教程学会的。。。。。。。。。。。女：你怎么知道怎么做这个？。。。。。。。。。。。男：我是看视频上的烹饪教程学会的。2. 女： 配料。。。。很普通的配料。。。。。。它只需要很普通的配料。。。。。。。。它只需要很普通的配料来做。。。。。。。。。。男：你说做这个很简单但是配料难找吗？女：它也只需要很普通的配料来做。3. 男：腌制。。。腌制十分钟。。。。。盐和柠檬酱。。。。。在盐和柠檬酱里。。。。。在盐和柠檬酱里腌制十分钟。。。。。。。。。。你先把虾在盐和柠檬酱里腌制十分钟。。。。。。。。。。。女：做这道菜的第一步是什么？。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。男： 你先把虾在盐和柠檬酱里腌制10分钟。

甲：你在吃什么？真让人眼馋啊！ Nǐ zài chī shénme? Zhēn ràng rén yǎnchán a!Person A: What are you eating? It really makes my mouth water!乙：是我自己做的馒头炸虾球。第一次做的，结果还不错。Shì wǒ zìjǐ zuò de mántou zhà xiā qiú. Dì yī cì zuò de, jiéguǒ hái búcuò.Person B: It’s mantou fried shrimp balls that I made myself. It’s my first time making them, and they turned out pretty good.甲：是吗？你怎么知道怎么做这个？用了什么配料？: Shì ma? Nǐ zěnme zhīdào zěnme zuò zhège? Yòngle shénme pèiliào?Person A: Really? How did you know how to make this? What ingredients did you use?乙: 我是看视频上的烹饪教程学会的。挺容易的! 它也只需要很普通的配料来做：虾，馒头，盐，淀粉，蕃茄酱，柠檬汁，糖，醋，鸡蛋，就这些。: Wǒ shì kàn shìpín shàng de pēngrèn jiàochéng xuéhuì de. Tǐng róngyì de! Tā yě zhǐ xūyào hěn pǔtōng de pèiliào lái zuò: xiā, mántou, yán, diànfěn, fānqiéjiàng, níngméng zhī, táng, cù, jīdàn, jiù zhèxiē.Person B: I learned it from a cooking tutorial video. It’s quite easy! It only needs very common ingredients: shrimp, mantou, salt, starch, ketchup, lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, eggs — that’s all.甲：也许我也应该试着做一下。: Yěxǔ wǒ yě yīnggāi shìzhe zuò yíxià.Person A: Maybe I should try making it too.乙：又简单，又快！你先把虾在盐和柠檬酱里腌制10分钟。再把白馒头切成均匀的小片。然后把腌制完的虾先粘上淀粉，再裹上蛋液。裹上蛋液后再裹上切好的白馒头，轻轻的压紧。然后炸10分钟。倒出来备用。在锅里加一点番茄酱，翻炒一会儿，再加两勺白糖，少许白醋，还有适量的水淀粉。最后再加炸好的虾球，翻炒均匀即可。: Yòu jiǎndān, yòu kuài! Nǐ xiān bǎ xiā zài yán hé níngméng jiàng lǐ yānzhì 10 fēnzhōng. Zài bǎ bái mántou qiē chéng jūnyún de xiǎo piàn. Ránhòu bǎ yānzhì wán de xiā xiān zhān shàng diànfěn, zài guǒ shàng dànyè. Guǒ shàng dàn yè hòu zài guǒ shàng qiē hǎo de bái mántou, qīng qīng de yā jǐn. Ránhòu zhà 10 fēnzhōng. Dào chūlái bèiyòng. Zài guō lǐ jiā yīdiǎn fānqié jiàng, fānchǎo yīhuǐ'er, zài jiā liǎng sháo báitáng, shǎoxǔ báicù, háiyǒu shìliàng de shuǐ diànfěn. Zuìhòu zài jiā zhà hǎo de xiā qiú, fānchǎo jūnyún jí kě.Person B: It’s simple and fast! First, marinate the shrimp in salt and lemon juice for 10 minutes. Then cut the white mantou into even small slices. Next, coat the marinated shrimp with starch, then dip it in the egg mixture. After dipping in the egg, wrap it with the sliced mantou and gently press to tighten. Then fry for 10 minutes. Take them out and set aside. In the pan, add some ketchup and stir-fry for a bit, then add two spoonfuls of sugar, a little vinegar, and some water mixed with starch. Finally, add the fried shrimp balls and stir evenly—done!甲：原来没那么简单呀。要不然我来偷吃你做好的馒头炸虾球吧！: Yuánlái méi nàme jiǎndān ya. Yàoburán wǒ lái tōu chī nǐ zuò hǎo de mántou zhà xiā qiú ba!Person A: So it’s not that simple after all. Otherwise, I might just sneak some of your mantou fried shrimp balls!

We watch a Chinese cooking video and try to follow along—spoiler: it’s harder than it looks! Learn tasty new vocabulary, hear real kitchen phrases in Mandarin, and pick up expressions you can use next time you cook (or pretend to).Brought to you by YouTube's Chef Wang. 食用 Edible, to use for food腌制 Marinate均匀 Uniform, evenly 粒 （量词）Small piece, pieces备用 For Future Use粘 To Glue, to stick (if it’s an adj, it’s “sticky”)裹 To Wrap 至 （到）To金黄 Golden酥脆 Crispy适量 Suitable Amount, To Taste翻炒 To Stir-Fry少许 – A pinch, a small amount收紧, 收汁 To Cook Something Down, (to use Reduction to decrease the amount of liquid in a dish)汤汁 - broth炸 （if it’s 2nd tone, it means to deep fry – if it’s 4th tone, it means “to explode”) 即可 （就可以了)...”and that will suffice” or “and that’s it”Chef Wang Makes Shrimp Croquettes:哈喽，大家好，我是王刚。本期视频为大家带来一道特色菜: 馒头炸虾球。首先，我们把大虾去头，从背部切开，去掉虾线和虾壳，然后加入食用盐和柠檬汁，将虾肉腌制十分钟。下一步，我们准备一个白馒头，将馒头切成大小均匀的小粒备用，然后将腌制好的大虾先粘上淀粉，然后再裹上蛋液，最后再均匀的裹上馒头粒，再用手轻轻的压紧。锅中油温烧至六成热的时候下入馒头虾，开中小火炸至五分钟，将虾炸至金黄酥脆的时候倒出备用。然后锅中加入适量的番茄酱，翻炒均匀之后加入白糖两勺，再加入少许白醋，然后加入适量的水淀粉，收紧汤汁，最后加入炸好的虾球下锅翻炒均匀即可。一道非常美味的馒头炸虾球就制作完成。Hā lóu, dàjiā hǎo, wǒ shì WángGāng. Běn qi(1) shìpín wei(4) dàjiā dài lái yīdào tèsè cài: Mántou zha(2) xiā qiú. Shǒuxiān, wǒmen bǎ dà xiā qù tóu, cóng bèibù qiē kāi, qùdiào xiā xiàn hé xiā ké, ránhòu jiārù shíyòng yán hé níngméng zhī, jiāng xiā ròu yān zhì shí fēnzhōng. Xià yi(2)bù, wǒmen zhǔnbèi yīgè bái mántou, jiāng mántou qiè chéng dàxiǎo jūnyún de xiǎolì bèiyòng, ránhòu jiāng yān zhì hǎo de dà xiā xiān zhān shàng diànfěn, ránhòu zài guǒ shàng dàn yè, zuìhòu zài jūnyún de guǒ shàng mántou lì, zài yòng shǒu qīng qīng de yā jǐn. Guō zhōng yóu wēn shāo zhì liù chéng rè de shíhòu xià rù mántou xiā, kāi zhōngxiǎo huǒ zha(2) de wǔ fēnzhōng, jiāng xiā zha2) zhì jīnhuáng sūcuì de shíhòu dào chū bèiyòng. Ránhòu guō zhōng jiārù shìliàng de fānqié jiàng, fān chǎo jūnyún zhīhòu jiārù báitáng liǎng sháo, zài jiārù shǎoxǔ báicù, ránhòu jiārù shìliàng de shuǐ diànfěn, shōu jǐn tāng zhī, zuìhòu jiārù zha(2) hǎo de xiā qiú xià guō fān chǎo jūnyún jí kě. Yi(2)dào fēicháng měiwèi de mántou zha(2)xiā qiú jiù zhìzuò wánchéng.Hello, everyone, I’m Wang Gang. This video presents to you a special dish: steamed buns with deep fried shrimp croquettes. First, we remove the head of the prawn, cut it from the back, remove the shrimp vein and shell, then add salt and lemon juice, and marinate the shrimp for ten minutes. In the next step, we prepare the white steamed buns -- cut the steamed buns into evenly-sized small pieces to be used later, then cover the marinated prawns with starch, then brush with egg wash, and finally coat the steamed buns evenly, pressing gently with your hand. When the oil in the pan is heated to 60% hot, add the steamed prawns and fry for five minutes on medium-low heat. When the prawns are fried until golden and crispy, pour out and set aside. Then add the right amount of tomato sauce to the pan, stir evenly, add two spoons of sugar, then add a little white vinegar, then add the appropriate amount of the starch water mix to thicken the soup, and finally add the fried shrimp balls and stir evenly in the pan. A very delicious steamed bun fried shrimp ball is all finished. Additional Words/Sentences:1. Low heat - 小火2. Medium heat - 中火3. High heat - 大火4. Medium Low Heat - 中小火5. Medium High Heat - 中到大火6. Burner - 炉头，灶眼7. Stove - 炉子8. Turn the burner on to medium heat - 开到中火9. Reduce the heat - 把火转（开）小一些。10. Turn up the heat - 把火开大一些11. Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat。 - 把料汁在大火上烧开12. Using a medium-sized pot, bring the sauce to boil over high heat - 用一个中等大小的锅，把料汁在大火上烧开。

Mistakes happen — but in Chinese, there’s a perfect phrase for turning failures into wisdom: “吃一堑长一智.” Join us as we break down its meaning, share real-life examples, and show you how to use this saying naturally in conversation.A: 你上次被骗的事还记得吗？Nǐ shàng cì bèi piàn de shì hái jì de ma?Do you remember the time you got scammed?B: 当然记得！吃一堑长一智嘛。那次之后，我可长记性了。Dāng rán jì de! Chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì ma. Nà cì zhī hòu, wǒ kě zhǎng jì xìng le.Of course I remember! You learn from your mistakes. After that, I’ve been more cautious.A: 这么说，你以后就不会再上当了？Zhè me shuō, nǐ yǐ hòu jiù bú huì zài shàng dàng le?So that is to say, you won’t be fooled again in the future?B: 没错！再上当就太丢人了，肯定要避免啊！Méi cuò! Zài shàng dàng jiù tài diū rén le, kěn dìng yào bì miǎn a!Exactly! Getting fooled again would be too embarrassing; I’ll definitely avoid it!Example Sentences： 1. 虽然这次失败了，但我学到了很多，真是吃一堑长一智。Suī rán zhè cì shī bài le, dàn wǒ xué dào le hěn duō, zhēn shì chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì.Although I failed this time, I learned a lot; it's truly a case of learning from experience.2. 失败不可怕，只要能吃一堑长一智就值得了。Shībài bù kěpà, zhǐyào néng chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì jiù zhídé le.Failure isn’t scary — as long as you can learn from it, it’s worth it. 3. 她又找了一个渣男，怎么不能吃一堑长一智呢？Tā yòu zhǎo le yí gè zhā nán, zěnme bù néng chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì ne?She went and found another jerk of a boyfriend — how come she still hasn’t learned her lesson?4. 经过那次教训，他开始更加小心，真是吃一堑长一智。Jīng guò nà cì jiào xùn, tā kāi shǐ gèng jiā xiǎo xīn, zhēn shì chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì.After that lesson, he became more cautious; truly a case of learning from mistakes. 5. 每次犯错后，我们都能吸取教训，吃一堑长一智。Měi cì fàn cuò hòu, wǒ men dōu néng xī qǔ jiào xùn, chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì.Every time we make a mistake, we can learn from it; you learn as you go.6. 他总是说吃一堑长一智，所以遇到困难时他从不气馁。Tā zǒng shì shuō chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì, suǒ yǐ yù dào kùn nán shí tā cóng bù qì něi.He always says, "Learn from your mistakes," so he never gets discouraged when facing difficulties.7. 失败是成功之母Shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔFailure is the mother of success.In Summary:吃一堑长一智(chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì) - "A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit," meaning that one learns and becomes wiser after experiencing a setback or making a mistake.

Vicky is back and very shortly we'll be making some new podcast episodes. Until then we'd like to share with you some of the places Vicky went to during her trip, one of which was Barcelona, Spain. In this video, she is showing us the views at the Sagrada Family Basilica, one of Spain's most iconic buildings. To view on YouTube, copy/paste the link below: https://youtube.com/shorts/J8kCjwqSy1s?feature=shareHere is the full transcript:巴塞罗那圣家族大教堂（Sagrada Familia）是西班牙最具代表性的建筑之一(Bāsèluónà shèng jiāzú dà jiàotáng (Sagrada Familia) shì xībānyá zuì jù dàibiǎo xìng de jiànzhu zhī yī )The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of Spain’s most iconic buildings.它是世界上独特的现代主义建筑和哥特式建筑的融合，被誉为“建筑中的奇迹”(Tā shì shìjiè shàng dútè de xiàndài zhǔyì jiànzhu hé gē tè shì jiànzhu de rónghé, bèi yù wèi “jiànzhu zhōng de qíjì”)It is one of the world’s unique blends of Modernist and Gothic architecture, known as a “miracle in architecture.”教堂外立面讲述了基督教的不同故事，每个细节都经过精心雕琢(Jiàotáng wài lì miàn jiǎngshùle jīdūjiào de bùtóng gùshì, měi gè xìjié dōu jīngguò jīngxīn diāozhuó)The facade of the church tells different stories of Christianity, with each detail carefully crafted.在其外墙和内部结构上也融入了许多自然元素，如树木、花朵、动物等，使建筑整体呈现出生动的自然氛围.(Zài qí wài qiáng hé nèibù jiégòu shàng yě róngrùle xǔduō zìrán yuánsù, rú shùmù, huāduǒ, dòngwù děng, shǐ jiànzhú zhěngtǐ chéngxiàn chū shēngdòng de zìrán fēnwéi)Many natural elements, such as trees, flowers, and animals, are incorporated into the exterior walls and internal structure, creating a lively natural ambiance教堂由著名建筑师安东尼·高迪（Antoni Gaudí）设计.(Jiàotáng yóu zhùmíng jiànzhu shī āndōngní·gāo dí (Antoni Gaudí) shèjì)The church was designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí.高迪在设计时强调建筑的高度，象征接近天堂(Gāo dí zài shèjì shí qiángdiào jiànzhu de gāodù, xiàngzhēng jiējìn tiāntáng)Gaudí emphasized the height of the structure in his design, symbolizing closeness to heaven.同时也致力于用建筑表达他对宗教和自然的深刻理解(Tóngshí yě zhìlì yú yòng jiànzhu biǎodá tā duì zōngjiào hé zìrán de shēnkè lǐjiě)At the same time, he also devoted himself to using architecture to express his profound understanding of religion and nature.教堂的柱子如同大树般向上延展，象征生命的繁荣与自然的力量(Jiàotáng de zhùzǐ rútóng dà shù bān xiàngshàng yánzhǎn, xiàngzhēng shēngmìng de fánróng yǔ zìrán de lìliàng)The columns stretch upwards like trees, symbolizing the prosperity of life and the power of nature.彩色玻璃在阳光照射下，投射出五彩斑斓的光影(Cǎisè bōlí zài yángguāng zhàoshè xià, tóushè chū wǔcǎi bānlán de guāngyǐng)The stained glass windows cast colorful lights and shadows under sunlight东侧的多为暖色调，如红色和橙色，象征着清晨的阳光与希望(Dōng cè de duō wèi nuǎn sèdiào, rú hóngsè hé chéngsè, xiàngzhēngzhe qīngchén de yángguāng yǔ xīwàng)The glass on the east side is mostly in warm tones, like red and orange, symbolizing the morning sunlight and hope.西侧的则以冷色调为主，如蓝色和绿色，象征黄昏的平静与安宁(Xī cè de zé yǐ lěng sèdiào wéi zhǔ, rú lán sè hé lǜsè, xiàngzhēng huánghūn de píngjìng yǔ ānníng)The glass on the west side is mainly in cool tones, like blue and green, symbolizing the calm and tranquility of dusk.圣家堂的修建始于1882年，预计在21世纪20年代完工(Shèng jiā táng de xiūjiàn shǐ yú 1882 nián, yùjì zài 21 shìjì 20 niándài wángōng.)Construction of the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and is expected to be completed in the 2020s.即使目前仍未完工，这座教堂也已成为巴塞罗那最重要的地标之一(Jíshǐ mùqián réng wèi wángōng, zhè zuò jiàotáng yě yǐ chéngwéi bāsèluónà zuì zhòngyào de dìbiāo zhī yī)Even though it is still unfinished, this church has already become one of Barcelona’s most important landmarks.其独特的建筑风格使其成为世界文化遗产，吸引了全球游客前来一睹其风采(Qí dútè de jiànzhu fēnggé shǐ qí chéngwéi shìjiè wénhuà yíchǎn, xīyǐnle quánqiú yóukè qián lái yī dǔ qí fēngcǎi)Its unique architectural style has made it a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting visitors from all over the world to witness its splendor.

Restaurant Review:今天来打卡的这家金春禧，专做经典传统鲁菜，走进大厅就可以看到明亮的落地窗，窗外可以看到大海，海景的座位都是需要提前预定的，水饺是这里的特色，口味种类也很多，各种海鲜馅料，都是当天调制，现包现煮，糖醋鱼是特色，酸甜的汤汁，肉质细腻，蟹黄干捞粉丝煲也特别入味，喜欢吃鲁菜的朋友可以去试一下.Jīntiān lái dǎkǎ de zhè jiā JīnChūnXǐ, zhuān zuò jīngdiǎn chuántǒng lǔ cài. Zǒu jìn dàtīng jiù kěyǐ kàn dào míngliàng de luòdìchuāng, chuāngwài kěyǐ kàn dào dàhǎi. Hǎijǐng de zuòwèi dōu shì xūyào tíqián yùdìng de. Shuǐjiǎo shì zhèlǐ de tèsè, kǒuwèi zhǒnglèi yě hěnduō, gè zhǒng hǎixiān xiàn liào, dōu shì dāngtiān tiáozhì, xiàn bāo xiàn zhǔ. Táng Cù Yú shì tèsè, suān tián de tāng zhī, ròuzhì xìnì. Xièhuáng Gàn Lāo Fěnsī Bǎo yě tèbié rùwèi. Xǐhuān chī lǔ cài de péngyǒu kěyǐ qù shì yīxià.Translation:The restaurant, Jin Chun Xi I visited today, specializes in classic traditional Shandong cuisine. As you enter the lobby, you can see bright floor-to-ceiling windows, from which you can view the ocean. Seats with ocean views need to be reserved in advance. Dumplings are the specialty here, and there are many flavors and a variety of seafood fillings. They are all prepared on the same day, wrapped and cooked fresh. Sweet and sour fish is a specialty, with sweet and sour soup and delicate meat. The crab roe and vermicelli casserole is also very flavorful. Those who like Shandong cuisine can go and give it a try.What a Rip-Off! 一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡，竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡，竟然收费118，真是坑！！！Yīdiǎn bù zhèngzōng, tèyì lái chī zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī, jiéguǒ zuò chéngle xīnjiāng dàpán jī, jìngrán nèizàng yīkuài dōu méiyǒu, hái gǎn zìchēng yī zhǐ zhěng jī, jìngrán shōufèi 118, zhēnshi kēng!!Not authentic at all. I came here specifically to eat Zaozhuang spicy chicken, but it turned out to be Xinjiang big plate chicken, without even a piece of internal organs. They still dared to call it a whole chicken, but charged 118, what a rip-off!!!1. 女性：一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。特意。。特意来。。。特意来吃。。。。 枣庄。。。枣庄辣子鸡。。。。。特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡 。。。。。。。。新疆。。大盘鸡。。。 新疆大盘 鸡。。。。做成了。。。结果。。 结果做成了 。。。。。。结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。 特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。。。。。正宗。。不正宗。。。 一点不正宗。。。。。。 一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。。。。。。。。。。男性 – 金春禧的枣庄辣子鸡味道怎么样？。。。。。。。。。。女性： 一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡。2. 男性：竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。。自称。。敢自称。。。还敢自称。。。一只鸡。。整。。一只整鸡。。。。 还敢自称一只整鸡。。。。。内脏。。一块。。都。。没有。。一块都没有。。。。内脏一块都没有。。。。。。竟然。。 竟然内脏一块都没有。。。。。 竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。。。。。。。。。。女性：？。。。。。。。。。。男性： 竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡。3. 女性：竟然收费118，真是坑！。。。坑。。真是坑。。。收费。。收费118。。 竟然收费118。。。。 竟然收费118，真是坑。。。。。。。。男性：？。。。。。。。。。。女性：竟然收费118，真是坑！

Join me and my good friend and guest host Kapa Zhao, as we talk about what a restaurant review might say if the dishes don’t quite live up to one’s expectations.Vocabulary:​ 正宗 ( zhèngzōng)– Authentic​ 特意(tèyì) - For a special purpose, specially​ 枣庄辣子鸡(zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī)– Zao Zhuang Spicy Chicken​ 新疆大盘鸡(xīnjiāng dàpán jī) – XinJiang Big Plate Chicken​ 竟然(jìngrán) – To go so far as to, to have the impudence or nerve to do something​ 内脏 (nèizàng)– internal organs​ 自称 ( zìchēng)- to call oneself, to claim to be, self-proclaimed​ 收费(shōufèi ) – to collect fees, to charge​ 坑 – (kēng)(in this context) a rip-off金春禧的一个差评：一点不正宗，特意来吃枣庄辣子鸡，结果做成了新疆大盘鸡，竟然内脏一块都没有，还敢自称一只整鸡，竟然收费118，真是坑！！！Yīdiǎn bù zhèngzōng. Tèyì lái chī zǎozhuāng làzǐ jī, jiéguǒ zuò chéngle xīnjiāng dàpán jī, jìngrán nèizàng yīkuài dōu méiyǒu, hái gǎn zìchēng yī zhi zhěng jī, jìngrán shōufèi 118, zhēnshi kēng!!Not authentic at all. I came here specifically to eat Zao Zhuang Spicy Chicken, but it turned out to be Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken, without any internal organs. They still dared to call it a whole chicken, but charged 118. What a rip-off!!!For the YouTube Video of Vicky's visit to JinChunXi, follow this link:https://youtu.be/DKDNrLaL3Sg?si=N8lyKt_y2CNMZ583

To watch this video on Youtube, follow the link below:https://youtu.be/DKDNrLaL3Sg几周前，我和我的朋友Max看了一篇关于金春禧的好评。下周，我的好朋友Kapa Zhao和我将讨论一篇负面评论，这篇评论是由一位没有得到他所期望的客户写的。与此同时，Vicky也去了一趟青岛，亲自去参观了这家历史悠久的餐厅，决定自己做出判断。你怎么看呢？根据我们的第一次评论和你看到的内容，如果你有机会到青岛，中国，你会考虑去这家餐厅吗？Jǐ zhōu qián, wǒ hé wǒ de péngyǒu Max kànle yī piān guānyú Jīnchūn Xǐ de hǎo pínglùn. Xià zhōu, wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu Kapa Zhao hé wǒ jiāng tǎolùn yī piān fùmiàn pínglùn。 Zhè piān pínglùn shì yóu yī wèi méiyǒu dédào tā suǒ qīwàng de kèhù xiě de. Tóngshí, Vicky yě qùle yī tàng Qīng Dǎo, qīnzì qù cānguānle zhè jiā lìshǐ yōujiǔ de cāntīng, juédìng zìjǐ zuòchū pànduàn. Nǐ zěnme kàn ne? Gēnjù wǒmen de dì yī cì pínglùn hé nǐ kàn dào de nèiróng, rúguǒ nǐ yǒu jīhuì dào QīngDǎo, ZhōngGuó, nǐ huì kǎolǜ qù zhè jiā cāntīng ma?A couple weeks ago, my friend Max and I looked at a positive review written for Jin Chun Xi. Next week, my good friend Kapa Zhao and I will discuss a negative review written by a customer who didn't quite get what he was hoping for. In the meantime, Vicky took a trip of her own to go check out this well established restaurant in Qing Dao and decide for herself. What do you think? Based on our first review and what you see here, is this a place you would likely visit if you ever find yourself in Qing Dao, China?

幸灾乐祸 (Xìng zāi lè huò) Lindi: 你听说了吗？小李失业了。(Nǐ tīng shuōle ma? Xiǎo lǐ shīyèle.) Have you heard? Xiao Li lost his job.Vicky: 是啊，我知道。其实我觉得他有点活该。(Shì a, wǒ zhīdào. Qíshí wǒ juédé tā yǒudiǎn huógāi.) Yes I know. Actually I think he deserves it.Lindi: 你怎么会这么说？(Nǐ zěnme huì zhème shuō?) How can you say that? Vicky: 他总是看别人不顺眼，现在轮到他了，幸灾乐祸嘛。(Tā zǒng shì kàn biérén bù shùnyǎn, xiànzài lún dào tāle, xìngzāilèhuò ma.) He’s always giving people the side-eye, now he’s gotten his. Too bad for him.Lindi: 这样不好吧，应该同情他。(Zhèyàng bù hǎo ba, yīnggāi tóngqíng tā.) That’s not right – we should sympathize with him.

In this episode, we take a real review we found on a Chinese website and break it down word by word—so you can learn how to describe food, setting and atmosphere, like a native speaker.Join my friend and Chinese teacher Max, as she walks us through a this review written about a restaurant in QingDao called Jin Chun Xi. Vocab: 1. 鲁菜 – Shandong Cuisine2. 落地窗 – Floor to ceiling windows3. 馅料 – Filling (literally, Filling Materials for food only)4. 当天调制 – made fresh daily (调制 – means “to concoct by mixing ingredients, to prepare according to a recipe”)5. 现包现煮 – freshly wrapped/freshly boiled6. 汤汁 - broth7. 细腻 – Smooth, Melts in the mouth8. 蟹黄干捞粉丝煲 – Crab Roe and vermicelli casserole9. 入味 – tasty, flavorful 今天来打卡的这家金春禧，专做经典传统鲁菜，走进大厅就可以看到明亮的落地窗，窗外可以看到大海，海景的座位都是需要提前预定的，水饺是这里的特色，口味种类也很多，各种海鲜馅料，都是当天调制，现包现煮，糖醋鱼是特色，酸甜的汤汁，肉质细腻，蟹黄干捞粉丝煲也特别入味，喜欢吃鲁菜的朋友可以去试一下.Jīntiān lái dǎkǎ de zhè jiā JīnChūnXǐ, zhuān zuò jīngdiǎn chuántǒng Lǔ cài. Zǒu jìn dàtīng jiù kěyǐ kàn dào míngliàng de luòdìchuāng, chuāngwài kěyǐ kàn dào dàhǎi. Hǎijǐng de zuòwèi dōu shì xūyào tíqián yùdìng de. Shuǐjiǎo shì zhèlǐ de tèsè, kǒuwèi zhǒnglèi yě hěnduō, gè zhǒng hǎixiān xiàn liào, dōu shì dāngtiān tiáozhì, xiàn bāo xiàn zhǔ. Táng Cù Yú shì tèsè, suān tián de tāng zhī, ròuzhì xìnì. Xièhuáng Gàn Lāo Fěnsī Bǎo yě tèbié rùwèi. Xǐhuān chī lǔ cài de péngyǒu kěyǐ qù shì yīxià.Translation:The restaurant I visited today, Jin Chun Xi, specializes in classic traditional Shandong cuisine. As you enter the lobby, you can see bright floor-to-ceiling windows, from which you can view the ocean. Seats with ocean views need to be reserved in advance. Dumplings are the specialty here, and there are many flavors and a variety of seafood fillings. They are all prepared on the same day, wrapped and cooked fresh. Sweet and sour fish is a specialty, with sweet and sour soup and delicate meat. The crab roe and vermicelli casserole is also very flavorful. Those who like Shandong cuisine can go and give it a try.

What does it mean when someone says a place or person is “小资”? In this episode, we break down this nuanced phrase and explore how it’s used to describe a certain type of urban, cultured lifestyle—sometimes elegant, sometimes a little pretentious. Perfect for learners looking to understand modern Mandarin culture and tone.对话：Vicky – 我昨天晚上去了一家新的酒吧，很有小资情调。(Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshàng qùle yījiā xīn de jiǔbā, hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) I went to a new bar last night, it was very bougie.Lindi – 哦是吗？这家酒吧有什么特别的？(ó shì ma? Zhè jiā jiǔbā yǒu shé me tèbié de?) Oh really? What was unique about this bar?Vicky – 它每个周某都有现场的音乐。特别是它的爵士乐，非常好听。有机会我带你去看一看。(Tā měi gè zhōu mǒu dōu yǒu xiànchǎng de yīnyuè. Tèbié shì tā de juéshìyuè, fēicháng hǎotīng. Yǒu jīhuì wǒ dài nǐ qù kàn yī kàn.) They have live music every week. Their jazz music is especially good. If we get chance sometime soon I’ll take you to go check it out.Lindi – 太好了！(tài hǎole!) Great!Supplementary words/phrases:小资情调：它本来的意思就是说：中产阶级 – 他追求精致和有品位生活的这种生活方式叫“小资情调”。“资” 就是“资产阶级”。 (XiǎoZī QíngDiào: Tā běnlái de yìsi jiùshì shuō: Zhōngchǎn jiējí – tā zhuīqiú jīngzhì hé yǒu pǐnwèi shēnghuó de zhè zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì jiào “xiǎozī qíngdiào”. “Zī” jiùshì “zīchǎn jiējí.”) It originally comes from: The Middle Class - the pursuit of a refined and tasteful lifestyle (of some people in the middle class) which came to be known as “petty bourgeoisie”"Zi" refers to “assets” – “Zī chǎn” - “ Jiē jí” refers to “social class”. “Zīchǎn jiējí” – is known as the “petty bourgeois class” 资本主义 (Zīběn zhǔyì) - Capitalism资本主义者 (Zīběn zhǔyì zhě) Capitalist"情调" – 很有情调。(Qíngdiào – hěn yǒu qíngdiào) – Sentiment – Very Sentimental)Example Sentences:这个人，她很有小资情调。(Zhège rén, tā hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) This person is very bougie.她很喜欢小资情调。(Tā hěn xǐhuān xiǎozī qíngdiào.) She likes bougie things.这个地方很有小资情调。(Zhège dìfāng hěn yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào.) This place is very bougie.他很小资。(Tā hěn xiǎozī. ) He’s very bougie.他的品味很小资。(Tā de pǐnwèi hěn xiǎozī. ) He has very bougie tastes (not used very often)这点比较有小资情调。(Zhè diǎn bǐjiào yǒu xiǎozī qíngdiào) This is rather bougie.你喝咖啡很小资。(Nǐ hē kāfēi hěn xiǎozī.) You’re pretty bougie about coffee.

Frozen Video Call:小明: 你今天干什么了？。。。(Xiǎomíng: Nǐ jīntiān gān shén me le?) What did you do today?小丽。。。。。小明：嘿。。你能听得见我吗？(Hēi.. Nǐ néng tīng dé jiàn wǒ ma?) Hey..Can you hear me? 小丽: 。。嗯。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面卡住了。(Xiǎo lì:Ǹg. Wǒ xiànzài néng tīngjiànle, dànshì nǐ de huàmiàn kǎ zhùle.) Uhh..I can hear you now, but your picture is frozen.小明: 哦，不好意思。可能是网络问题吧。恐怕我这边也有点卡。(Ó, bù hǎoyìsi. Kěnéng shì wǎngluò wèntí ba. Kǒngpà wǒ zhè biān yěyǒu diǎn kǎ.) Oh sorry. It might be a network problem. I’m afraid it’s a bit stuck on my end too.小丽: 那我们要不要重连一下？(Nà wǒmen yào bù yào chónglián yīxià?) Should we reconnect?小明: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。稍等。(Hǎo de, wǒ chóngxīn bō yīxià shìpín. Shāo děng..) Ok, I’ll try calling you again. One moment...)小丽: 没问题。我等你。(Méi wèntí. Wǒ děng nǐ.) No problem. I’ll wait. （小明挂断视频，几秒钟后重新拨打）(Xiǎomíng guà duàn shìpín, jǐ miǎo zhōng hòu chóngxīn bōdǎ) (Xiao Ming hangs up the call and redials a few minutes later.)小明: 现在怎么样？画面清楚吗？(Xiànzài zěnme yàng? Huàmiàn qīngchǔ ma?)How is it now? Is the picture clear?小丽: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。( Háishì bù qīngchǔ, shēngyīn yě duànduànxùxù de.) It’s still not clear, and the sound is intermittent. 小明: 哦。。是吗？那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。(Ó.. Shì ma? Nà wǒ kěyǐ shì shì chóngqǐ lùyóuqì, yěxǔ huì hǎo yīdiǎn.) Oh really? Then I can try restarting the router. Maybe that will help.小丽: 没问题。。等你好了，我们再试一次。(Méi wèntí.. Děng nǐ hǎole, wǒmen zài shì yīcì.) No problem. When it’s finished (restarting) we’ll try again. （在打视频时） (Zài dǎ shìpín shí) (While starting the video call)小明：现在怎么样？(Xiànzài zěnme yàng? ) How is it now? 小丽：还是不行。。算了！我们还是打电话吧！(Háishì bùxíng.. Suànle! Wǒmen háishì dǎ diànhuà ba!) Still not working...Forget it! Let’s just use the phone!Pronunciation Training: 1. 女性: 我。。。现在。。。能。。。听见了。。。我现在能听见了。。。但是。。。你的。。。画面。。。停住了。。。但是你的画面停住了。。。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面停住了。男性: 你能听到我说话吗？女性: 我现在能听见了，但是你的画面停住了。 2. 男性: 可能。。。是。。。网络。。。问题。。。吧。。。可能是网络问题吧。。。我这边。。。也。。。有点。。。卡。。。我这边也有点卡。。。可能是网络问题吧。我这边也有点卡。女性: 你觉得是什么问题？男性: 可能是网络问题吧。我这边也有点卡。 3. 女性: 好的。。。我。。。重新。。。拨一下。。。视频。。。重新拨一下视频。。。好的，我重新拨一下视频。男性: 你可以重新拨一下吗？女性: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。 4. 男性: 还是。。。不。。。清楚。。。还是不清楚。。。声音。。。也。。。断断续续。。。的。。。声音也断断续续的。。。还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。女性: 现在听得清吗？男性: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。 5. 女性: 那。。。我。。。可以。。。试试。。。重启。。。路由器。。。重启路由器。。。可以试试重启路由器。。。也许。。。会。。。好一点。。。也许会好一点。。。那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。男性: 还有什么别的办法吗？女性: 那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会好一点。Tips for Online Meetings: 大家好，为了避免上次会议中的翻车现场，我决定通过电子邮件向大家分享一下会议的内容。 下面是开视频会议时的几点建议： 1. 不要把问题留到最后。 2. 提前征求反馈建议。 3.使用电子问卷调查。 4. 预先考虑到一些会被提到的问题。 5.了解你的讨论内容 6. 保持持续的对话 --承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。 7. 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。如果你有任何问题或者建议， 随时和我沟通. 祝好,王雪梅Dàjiā hǎo, Wèile bìmiǎn shàng cì huìyì zhōng de fānchē xiànchǎng, wǒ juédìng tōngguò diànzǐ yóujiàn xiàng dàjiā fēnxiǎng yīxià huìyì de nèiróng. Xiàmiàn shì kāi shìpín huìyì shí de jǐ diǎn jiànyì: 1. Bùyào bǎ wèntí liú dào zuìhòu.2. Tíqián zhēngqiú fǎnkuì jiànyì.3. Shǐyòng diànzǐ wènjuàn diàochá.4. Yùxiān kǎolǜ dào yīxiē huì bèi tí dào de wèntí.5. Liǎojiě nǐ de tǎolùn nèiróng6. Bǎochí chíxù de duìhuà --chéngnuò zài huì hòu huídá rènhé wèi bèi huídá de wèntí.7. Rènhé yīcì hǎo de huìyì dōu bùshì yǐ yīgè wèntí lái jiéshù de----ér shì yǐ nǐ xīwàng dàjiā jì zhù de sān gè zhòngdiǎn lái jiéshù de.Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu rènhé wèntí huòzhě jiànyì, suíshí hé wǒ gōutōng. Zhù hǎo, WángXuěMéiPronunciation Training:1. 男性：承诺。。承诺在会后。。。。未被。。未被回答的。。。。未被回答的问题。。。。回答任何。。。回答任何未被回答的问题。。。。。承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。女性: 为了保持持续的对话，要做什么？。。。。。。。。。。男性：承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。2. 女性：以一个问题来结束的。。。。不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。都不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。。任何一次好的会议。。。。 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的。。。。。。。。。而是。。而是以三个重点来结束的。。。。。你希望大家记住的。。。。。而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。。。。。。。 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。。。。。。。。。。。。。男性：好的会议是怎么结束的？女性：任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的

我们今天讨论一下关于怎么样更好的开视频会议，能吸引人们来参加视频会议的时候，多一些讨论并且提出问题.Today we will be talking about how to have more interactive online meetings - a rebroadcast of a favorite episode Vicky and I recorded early on.If you like this one, pls check out The Zoom Meeting Disaster, which delves a bit deeper into what can go wrong when online meetings get hacked.Email us at: [email protected]: https://apextutoring.org/Vocabulary:预先 - In Advance保持 - Maintain承诺 - To Promise未被 - Un..未被回答的 - Unanswered Questions。。。以。。。。以。。。- By or Through重点 - Key Points, Unimportant Points煮好 - Best, Best WishesDialogue:邮件: 大家好，为了避免上次会议中的翻车现场，我决定通过电子邮件向大家分享一下会议的内容。 下面是开视频会议时的几点建议： 1. 不要把问题留到最后。 2. 提前征求反馈建议。 3.使用电子问卷调查。 4. 预先考虑到一些会被提到的问题。 5.了解你的讨论内容 6. 保持持续的对话 --承诺在会后回答任何未被回答的问题。 7. 任何一次好的会议都不是以一个问题来结束的----而是以你希望大家记住的三个重点来结束的。如果你有任何问题或者建议， 随时和我沟通.祝好,王雪梅

措手不及小李：你听说了吗？公司要裁员！(Xiǎo Lǐ: Nǐ tīng shuōle ma? Gōngsī yào cáiyuán!) Have you heard? The company’s about to go through lay-offs.小张：真的？我完全措手不及！(Xiǎo Zhāng: Zhēn de? Wǒ wánquán cuòshǒubùjí! )Really? I was totally unaware!小李：是啊，昨天还正常开会，今天就来了这个消息。(Shì a, zuótiān hái zhèngcháng kāihuì, jīntiān jiù láile zhège xiāoxī.) Yes, just yesterday we had our meeting as usual, but today got the news.小张：我们得赶紧准备，找新的工作吧。(Wǒmen déi gǎnjǐn zhǔnbèi, zhǎo xīn de gōngzuò ba.) We better get ready and find a new job! 小李：对，不能坐等。我会更新我的简历!(Duì, bùnéng zuòděng. Wǒ huì gēngxīn wǒ de jiǎnlì!) Yes, we can’t sit around and wait. I’m going to update my resume!Example Sentences: 1. 老师突然说要考试。同学们都觉得措手不及。 The teacher suddenly announced a pop quiz. All the students were caught off guard。2. 他的问题让我（有一点儿）措手不及。His question caught me （a little) off guard.3. 听说飓风就要来了，我得准备一些应急用品，免得措手不及。I heard a hurricane is coming through. I need to get a few emergency supplies ready so I’m not caught off guard.

*There was a small mistake which I didn't catch until after posting this episode. We had changed the script from 你的画面停住了 to 你的画面卡住了， the difference being along the lines of .."your video (or picture) has stopped" v/s "your picture is frozen". Both can be used in Chinese, but we liked 卡住了 a bit better. We reached out to our voice actors and had them re-record this small part in the dialogue and pronunciation training. Thanks for your patience!We will be back to posting regularly in a few weeks! Until then, please enjoy a very practical lesson on what to say when having technical difficulties during video calls.视频卡住了: 1. 听得见 (tīng de jiàn) - Can hear 2. 画面 (huà miàn) - Screen, picture 3. 卡住 (kǎ zhù) - Frozen 4. 网络 (wǎng luò) - Network, internet 5. 重连 (chóng lián) - Reconnect 6. 重新 (chóng xīn) - Again, once more 7. 拨打 (bō dǎ) - Dial, call 8. 视频 (shì pín) - Video 9. 清楚 (qīng chu) - Clear 10. 声音 (shēng yīn) - Sound, voice 11. 断断续续 (duàn duàn xù xù) - Intermittent, off&on 12. 重启 (chóng qǐ) - Restart 13. 路由器 (lù yóu qì) - Router 14. 再试一次 (shì yī cì) – Try one more time小明: 你今天干什么了？。。。小丽。。。。。小明：嘿。。你能听得见我吗？小丽: （忧郁地说话。。）。。嗯。我现在能听见了，但是你的画面卡住了。小明: 哦，不好意思。可能是网络问题吧。恐怕我这边也有点卡。小丽: 那我们要不要重连一下？小明: 好的，我重新拨一下视频。稍等。小丽: 没问题。我等你。（小明挂断视频，几秒钟后重新拨打）小明: 现在怎么样？画面清楚吗？小丽: 还是不清楚，声音也断断续续的。小明: 哦。。是吗？那我可以试试重启路由器，也许会 好一点。小丽: 没问题。。等你好了，我们再试一次。（在打视频时）小明：现在怎么样？小丽：还是不行。。算了！我们还是打电话吧！Useful Phrases for Video Calls:1. 你能听见吗？你能看见我吗？Can you hear me? Can you see me?2. 我有一点 听不清楚 – 你的声音很小。I can’t hear you very clearly – your sound is very low.3. 我换个耳机。 - I’ll change over to headphones4. 你卡住了 – you’re frozen5. 你能再说一遍吗？刚才你卡住了。Can you say that again? You were frozen just a moment ago.6. 信号不好 – The signal is bad.7. 网络很差。- The internet connection isn’t very good.8. 你没开麦克风 – Your microphone isn’t on.9. 你静音了。- You’re on mute.10. 你那边断断续续的 – You’re breaking up.11. 我先挂了，等一下再打给你。- Let me hang up, I’ll call you right back.12. 不好意思，我刚才不小心按错了。- Sorry, I just accidentally hit the wrong thing13. 他还没上线 – He’s not online yet14. 大家都到齐了吗？ - Are we waiting on anyone? Or Is everyone here?15. 我的手机快没电了，我找一下充电器 – My cell phone is about to go dead. Let me go find a charger.16. 我的电脑快没电了，我换手机登录 – My computer is about to go dead. I’ll switch over to my phone and log in.

We are taking some time away for the holidays, but have a few things to share in the interim. In this short video, Vicky takes us with her on a winter's day walk on the beach near Qing Dao. 这是一个温暖的冬日的午后。 让我们一起去青岛的海边走一走， 看一看沙滩上有没有人。 大家都在做一些什么呢？ Zhè shì yīgè wēnnuǎn de dōngrì de wǔhòu. Ràng wǒmen yīqǐ qù qīngdǎo dì hǎibiān zǒu yī zǒu, kàn yī kàn shātān shàng yǒu méiyǒu rén. Dàjiā dōu zài zuò yīxiē shénme ne? It is a warm winter afternoon. Let's go to the beach in Qingdao and take a walk,see if there are people on the beach. What is everyone doing? 远处的礁石上有一个人在海边垂钓。 他的样子十分的专注。 希望他今天能有所收获。 Yuǎn chǔ de jiāoshí shàng yǒuyī gèrén zài hǎibiān chuídiào. Tā de yàngzǐ shífēn de zhuānzhù. Xīwàng tā jīntiān néng yǒu suǒ shōuhuò. There is a man fishing on the reef in the distance. He looks very focused. I hope he can catch something today. 那边的红衣小哥扔飞盘扔得很高。 这边两只小狗玩的很开心。 Nà biān de hóng yī xiǎo gē rēng fēipán rēng dé hěn gāo. Zhè biān liǎng zhī xiǎo gǒu wán de hěn kāixīn. The boy in red over there threw the frisbee very high. The two puppies over here are having fun. 当然要说最喜欢沙滩的那应该还是小朋友们吧。 天气这么冷也阻挡不了他们玩水的热情。 有些小朋友和父母一起在走路。 有些在自己堆着沙堡。 也有一些在海边寻找着宝贝。 希望他们能够捡到自己喜欢的贝壳。 Dāngrán yào shuō zuì xǐhuān shātān de nà yīnggāi háishì xiǎopéngyǒumen ba. Tiānqì zhème lěng yě zǔdǎng bùliǎo tāmen wán shuǐ de rèqíng. Yǒuxiē xiǎopéngyǒu hé fùmǔ yīqǐ zài zǒulù. Yǒuxiē zài zìjǐ duīzhe shā bǎo. Yěyǒu yīxiē zài hǎibiān xúnzhǎozhe bǎobèi. Xīwàng tāmen nénggòu jiǎn dào zìjǐ xǐhuān de bèiké。 Of course, the ones who like the beach the most are probably the children. The cold weather can't stop their enthusiasm for playing in the water. Some children are walking with their parents. Some are building sand castles. Some are looking for treasures on the beach. I hope they can pick up their favorite shells. 走在柔软的沙滩上，耳边传来阵阵的海浪声。 非常的舒适，非常的放松。 感觉烦恼瞬间就消失了。 Zǒu zài róuruǎn de shātān shàng, ěr biān chuán lái zhèn zhèn dì hǎilàng shēng. Fēicháng de shūshì, fēicháng dì fàngsōng. Gǎnjué fánnǎo shùnjiān jiù xiāoshīle. Walking on the soft beach, the sound of waves came to my ears. Very comforting and relaxing. It feels like all my troubles disappeared instantly. 不知道这样的冬日沙滩，你喜欢吗？ Bù zhīdào zhèyàng de dōngrì shātān, nǐ xǐhuān ma? I’m wondering if you like this kind of winter beach as well?

Come exploring as Vicky takes us on a walk along the charming and historic street known as Silver Fish Lane. We'll see historic old homes, a few shops and cafes, and get a brief glimpse of the lives of QingDao's past fishermen in the Silver Fish Museum. We will be returning soon with new podcast episodes. Below is the video transcript including PinYin: To watch our video on YouTube, please follow this link: https://youtube.com/shorts/rzSe0KxtSa0?feature=share 银鱼巷位于青岛老城区，距离栈桥仅几步之遥。 它因青岛沿海盛产的银鱼而得名，是一条隐匿于 城市深处、充满韵味的小巷。 自19世纪未以来，这里见证了青岛历史发展的沧 桑变迁。今天，我们将走进这条独具魅力的街 巷，一起探寻它的前世与今生。 Yín yú xiàng wèiyú QīngDǎo lǎo chéngqū, jùlí zhànqiáo jǐn jǐ bù zhī yáo. Tā yīn QīngDǎo yánhǎi shèngchǎn de yín yú ér dé míng, shì yītiáo yǐnnì yú chéngshì shēn chù, chōngmǎn yùnwèi de xiǎo xiàng zì. 19 shìjì mou yǐlái, zhèlǐ jiànzhèngle QīngDǎo lìshǐ fāzhǎn de cāng sāng biànqiān. Jīntiān, wǒmen jiāng zǒu jìn zhè tiáo dú jù mèilì de jiē xiàng, yīqǐ tànxún tā de qiánshì yǔ jīnshēng. Silverfish Lane is located in the old city of Qingdao, just a few steps away from the trestle bridge. It is named after the silverfish that are abundant in the coastal areas of Qingdao. It is a charming alley hidden deep in the city. Since the late 19th century, it has witnessed the vicissitudes of Qingdao's historical development. Today, we will walk into this unique street and explore its past and present. 漫步银鱼巷，映入眼帘的是拱形门窗、雕花阳台 和红砖外墙。一座座老宅保留了原始风貌，仿佛 在静静诉说岁月的故事。 这里不仅延续着历史的印记，也焕发出现代的活 力。特色小店、文艺咖啡馆和手工艺品商铺，无 论是寻找独特的纪念品、享受一杯咖啡，还是拍 摄打卡，这里都能满足你的期待． Mànbù yín yú xiàng, yìng rù yǎnlián de shì gǒng xíng ménchuāng, diāohuā yángtái hé hóng zhuān wài qiáng. Yī zuò zuò lǎo zhái bǎoliúle yuánshǐ fēngmào, fǎngfú zài jìng jìng sùshuō suìyuè de gùshì. Zhèlǐ bùjǐn yánxùzhe lìshǐ de yìnjì, yě huànfā chū xiàndài de huó lì. Tèsè xiǎo diàn, wényì kāfēi guǎn hé shǒu gōngyìpǐn shāngpù, wú lùn shì xúnzhǎo dútè de jìniànpǐn, xiǎngshòu yībēi kāfēi, háishì pāi shè dǎkǎ, zhèlǐ dōu néng mǎnzú nǐ de qídài. Strolling down Silverfish Lane, what comes into view are arched doors and windows, carved balconies and red brick exterior walls. The old houses retain their original appearance, as if quietly telling the story of the years. This place not only continues the imprint of history, but also exudes modern vitality. Specialty shops, literary cafes and handicraft shops, whether looking for unique souvenirs, enjoying a cup of coffee, or taking photos and checking in, here can fulfill your expectations. 银鱼巷博物馆是深入了解这条街巷历史与文化的 窗口。从渔民的日常生活到城市的发展变迁，每 一件展品都在诉说着过往的动人故事。 如今，这条承载百年历史与无尽故事的街巷，已 成为青岛一道独特的风景线。岁未年初，漫步于 此，成就了一段值得铭记的时光。愿所有家人和 朋友在新的一年平安健康、幸福如意！ Yín Yú Xiàng BóWùGuǎn shì shēnrù liǎojiě zhè tiáo jiē xiàng lìshǐ yǔ wénhuà de chuāngkǒu. Cóng yúmín de rìcháng shēnghuó dào chéngshì de fǎ zhǎn biànqiān, měi yī jiàn zhǎnpǐn dōu zài sùshuōzhe guòwǎng de dòngrén gùshì. Rújīn, zhè tiáo chéngzài bǎinián lìshǐ yǔ wújìn gùshì de jiē xiàng, yǐ chéngwéi qīngdǎo yīdào dútè de fēngjǐngxiàn. Suì wèi niánchū, mànbù yú cǐ, chéngjiùle yīduàn zhídé míngjì de shíguāng. Yuàn suǒyǒu jiārén hé péngyǒu zài xīn de yī nián píng'ān jiànkāng, xìngfú rúyì! Silverfish Lane Museum is a window into the history and culture of this lane, giving us an in-depth understanding of it. From the daily life of fishermen to the development and changes of the city, each exhibit tells a moving story of the past. Today, this lane, which carries a century of history and endless stories, has become a unique landscape in Qingdao. At the end of the year and the beginning of the year, strolling here has created a memorable time. May all family and friends be safe, healthy, happy and prosperous in the new year!

Wishing all of you a safe and Happy Holidays! Vicky is in China for the holidays and sharing with us some videos of her adventures in Qing Dao. We're taking this time to regroup and plan future episodes, but will be back again soon. Until then please enjoy our short videos. We'll see you again in the new year! To view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2_IXUydR0l0 The transcript for this video is below: 过节是非常令人开心的事情。 Guòjié shì fēicháng lìng rén kāixīn de shìqíng. Celebrating Festivals is a very joyous thing. 我们在青岛看一看，这里有没有节日气氛。 Wǒmen zài qīngdǎo kàn yī kàn, zhè li yǒu méiyǒu jiérì qìfēn. Let's take a look around Qingdao to see if there is a festive atmosphere here. 路旁的大树上挂满了彩色的灯, 使街道显得温暖而明亮。 Lù páng de dà shù shàng guà mǎnle cǎisè de dēng, Shǐ jiēdào xiǎndé wēnnuǎn ér míngliàng. Big trees next to the road are hung with colorful lights, making the streets look warm and bright. 天气有一点冷所以街道上的行人并不是很多。 Tiānqì yǒu yīdiǎn lěng suǒyǐ jiēdào shàng de xíngrén bìng bùshì hěn duō. The weather was a bit cold so there weren't many people on the streets. 那边的教堂在暮色的映衬下显得格外的庄严。 Nà biān de jiàotáng zài mùsè de yìngchèn xià xiǎndé géwài de zhuāngyán. The church over there looks particularly solemn against the backdrop of dusk. 这家蓝色咖啡屋的墙上还写着一句非常浪漫的话：遇见你是我故事的开始。 Zhè jiā lán sè kāfēi wū de qiáng shàng hái xiězhe yījù fēicháng làngmàn dehuà：Yùjiàn nǐ shì wǒ gùshì de kāishǐ There is a very romantic sentence written on the wall of this blue coffee shop：Meeting you is the beginning of my story. 伴随着悠扬的歌声我么来到了美食节。 Bànsuízhe yōuyáng de gēshēng wǒ men lái dàole měishí jié Accompanied by melodious songs, we made our way to the food festival. 这位女士正透过镜头向大家介绍这里的美食。 Zhè wèi nǚshì zhèng tòuguò jìngtóu xiàng dàjiā jièshào zhèlǐ dì měishí This lady here is introducing the local delicacies to everyone through the camera. 要说最让我印象最深刻的，应该是这对穿着中式服装的夫妻。 Yào shuō zuì ràng wǒ yìnxiàng zuì shēnkè de, yīnggāi shì zhè duì chuānzhuó zhōngshì fúzhuāng de fūqī I think I’d say what impressed me most had to be this couple in Chinese costumes. 他们站在圣诞树前，向我们展示了中西方文化的完美结合。 Tāmen zhàn zài shèngdànshù qián, xiàng wǒmen zhǎnshìle zhōng xīfāng wénhuà de wánměi jiéhé They stood in front of the Christmas tree, showing us the perfect combination of Chinese and Western cultures. 我喜欢圣诞节。我也喜欢所有的节日。 Wǒ xǐhuān shèngdàn jié. Wǒ yě xǐhuān suǒyǒu de jiérì I love Christmas. I love all holidays. 祝大家节日快乐！希望所有人在新的一年里平安健康幸福如意。 Zhù dàjiā jiérì kuàilè！ Xīwàng suǒyǒu rén zài xīn de yī nián lǐ píng'ān jiànkāng xìngfú rúyì Wishing all of you Happy Holidays! I hope everyone will have a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous in the new year.