Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Can AI replace human connection? What do Freemasons actually do? And how can learning Mandarin shape your career and life opportunities?In Episode 470 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula explore language learning, artificial intelligence, online education, social media, mental health, and modern life through a relaxed Mandarin and English conversation.In this episode:• A listener from Germany shares how Mandarin transformed their career• The benefits of staying connected to Chinese after formal study• What Freemasons really do and the charity work behind the organisation• Building the new Mandarin Monkey learning platform using AI• Why many language learners feel nervous meeting a new teacher• The UK's planned social media restrictions for under-16s• AI as a tool for productivity, creativity, and emotional support• Whether AI can ever truly understand human struggles• The future of AI assistants booking travel, events, and everyday tasks• A surprisingly passionate debate about coconutsThis episode is ideal for Mandarin learners, language enthusiasts, expats, bilingual families, AI enthusiasts, and anyone interested in personal growth, education, and technology.The Mandarin Monkey Podcast is a bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English podcast designed to help learners improve their listening skills through natural conversations about culture, life, parenting, language learning, travel, technology, and current events.If you're learning Mandarin and want more natural Chinese listening practice, you'll hear real conversations, authentic vocabulary, and everyday expressions used in context.Resources:🐵 Learn Mandarin with us:https://mandarinmonkey.com/✍️ Learn Chinese writing with Skritter:https://skritter.com?ref=mandarinmonkeyUse promo code MANDARINMONKEY for 10% off.🎮 Watch Monkey Plays:https://www.youtube.com/@monkeyplaysmandarinEnjoyed the episode?Follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with another Mandarin learner. Your support helps us continue creating free Mandarin listening content for learners around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a Taiwanese really dislike bubble milk tea? 😱In this episode, Ula, Tom, and Yating sit down for a relaxed Mandarin-English conversation covering everything from bubble tea and Taiwanese food to relationships, life abroad, and cultural differences.Yating shares what it's like living in Sweden for nearly a decade and reveals a surprising opinion that leaves Ula heartbroken. Tom joins the conversation with his experiences living in Taiwan, his advice for foreigners considering a move there, and his thoughts on adapting to a completely different culture.The trio also discuss one of the questions they're asked most often: how have Ula and Tom managed to work together, build Mandarin Monkey, raise a family, and stay happily married for so many years?🥤 Topics in this episode:• A Taiwanese who doesn't like bubble tea?!• Chinese zodiac vs Western star signs• Living in Sweden as a Taiwanese expat• Tom's advice on moving to Taiwan• Working with your spouse every day• Building a business together• Long-term relationships and marriage• Taiwan culture, food, and daily life• Real Mandarin and English conversationWhether you're learning Mandarin, interested in Taiwan, living abroad, or simply enjoy authentic bilingual conversations, this episode is full of natural language, cultural insights, and plenty of laughs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ Listen while you walk, relax, or practise your Mandarin with us.🐵 Learn Mandarin with us: https://mandarinmonkey.com/🎮 Check out our Monkey Plays channel:https://www.youtube.com/@monkeyplaysmandarinIn this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we take you on a countryside walk while sharing the story of our recent family camping trip.What started as a relaxing getaway quickly turned into a series of disasters: a heatwave, sunburn, locked car keys, an unexpected £100 locksmith bill, a very nosey campsite neighbour, and plenty of family chaos along the way.We also chat about village life in the UK, friendly communities, parenting moments, camping with kids, and a proud moment for our daughter at school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Meeting Yating, Ula and Yating continue getting to know each other through a series of fun, unexpected, and surprisingly personal questions.How can two Leos be so shy? Why do both teachers give off a "don't talk to me" first impression? And perhaps most shocking of all... how can a Taiwanese person not love stinky tofu?The conversation jumps from personality types and school memories to food culture, including the great fried vs. steamed stinky tofu debate, sweet vs. savoury rice dumplings, and what it really means to be a foodie in Taiwan.Yating also shares the story of how she ended up living in Sweden after meeting her partner, including long-distance challenges, visa interviews, Swedish relationship laws, and the unique concept of sambo.Along the way, they discuss how they cope with bad moods, the benefits of exercise, chocolate therapy, whether they're cat people or dog people, and the different ways people show their true personalities depending on the situation.A relaxed and natural Mandarin conversation filled with cultural insights, personal stories, and plenty of unexpected tangents.In this episode:Why two Leos can still be shyFirst impressions vs. realityFried or steamed stinky tofu?Sweet or savoury rice dumplings?Life in Sweden as a Taiwanese expatLong-distance relationships and visa challengesHow exercise can improve your moodCat people vs. dog peopleFood culture in TaiwanPerfect for Mandarin learners who enjoy authentic conversations, real-life stories, and getting to know the people behind Mandarin Monkey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 466 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Ula and Tom dive into the strange world of AI language learning apps, including one that judged Tom’s Mandarin level almost instantly after saying “你好”! We chat about why language confidence matters, how AI should assess learners, and what actually helps people improve their Chinese naturally.We also share exciting updates about the brand-new Mandarin Monkey learning platform currently in development, including progress tracking, flashcards, homework tools, vocabulary lists, teacher feedback, and more community features coming soon.Then we play Headbands in Mandarin and English. Expect confusion, ridiculous clues, paintbrush disasters, clothing misunderstandings, and one of the hardest guessing games we’ve ever played.We also talk about:Learning Mandarin through conversation and contextWhy vocabulary alone doesn’t define your levelAI chat partners for language practiceWalking podcasts and GoPro ideasMonkey Plays and bilingual gaming contentFuture plans for Mandarin Monkey learners and teachersThanks for listening and supporting Mandarin Monkey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ula sits down with new Mandarin Monkey teacher Yating for a fun first conversation together.They discuss the kinds of questions Taiwanese people always ask when meeting someone new, including where you’re from, your star sign, and whether you’re an I person or a J person. The conversation also explores life abroad, cultural differences between Taiwan, the UK, and Sweden, and the small daily habits that become surprisingly emotional when living overseas.Topics include:Taiwanese social cultureAstrology and personality types in TaiwanIntrovert vs extrovert (I vs E)Planning personalities (J vs P)Shoes inside the houseFood hygiene differencesPublic changing rooms in SwedenA relaxed and natural Mandarin conversation for learners who enjoy culture, personality discussions, and everyday life topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back on another Friday walk, this time heading to buy pizza for the kids before their disco.Along the way we talk about rats, squirrels, Dungeons & Dragons, steak names in Mandarin, private and public schools, and the differences between education in Taiwan and the UK.We also discuss how children discover their interests, whether schools should focus more on individual passions, and what parents can do to support their kids’ happiness and future choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 463, we take the podcast outside again for a relaxed walk around our local area. We chat in Mandarin and English about spring weather, birds, nettles, dandelions, dog poo bags, new housing developments, finding a £2 coin, and spotting a rat in the bushes.We also talk about our upcoming camping trip to the Cotswolds, bank holiday weather, funny local pub experiences, and some of our recent Mandarin Monkey short videos — including GATAO and Sherlock.A casual bilingual walking episode for Mandarin learners who enjoy real conversation, natural listening practice, and a little bit of chaos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So we decided to go out for a walk today while doing the podcast. Makes a change to the usual studio based Mandarin and English conversation. Enjoy. www.mandarinmonkey.com Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Mandarin Monkey Podcast episode 461.This week, we dive into a big idea: what if we hosted a Mandarin Monkey live immersion event in the UK?We talk through what that could look like — a full day of Chinese-speaking activities, games, food, and socialising — designed to feel fun, relaxed, and genuinely immersive, not like a traditional classroom.Along the way, we also chat about:how realistic a one-day Mandarin immersion event actually is the challenges of organising venues, logistics, and activities ideas for games, karaoke, VR, food tasting, and interactive learning how AI is becoming part of daily life, work, and creativity what it’s like talking to AI (and when it gets a bit weird…) why different AI voices and personalities feel so different new teachers joining Mandarin Monkey plans to improve our booking system and websiteThis episode is a mix of brainstorming, behind-the-scenes, and everyday life, as we figure things out in real time.If you’d be interested in joining a Mandarin Monkey live event, let us know.Thanks for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Mandarin Monkey Podcast episode 460.In this episode, we talk about the reaction to our “goodbye” joke and the unexpected wave of love that came from it. It was a warm reminder that even when content feels lonely to make, there are real people out there listening.We also get into:why long-form content still matters to ushow short-form is changing attention spansideas for future Mandarin Monkey episodesboard games, walking podcasts, and trying new formatsbeing ranked as one of the world’s Mandarin learning podcaststhe reality of balancing Mandarin Monkey with work, life, and everything else going on behind the scenesThis episode is a bit of a catch-up, a bit reflective, and very much us.Thanks for sticking with us.If you enjoy learning Mandarin through real conversations, hit subscribe and come along for the ride.#MandarinMonkey #LearnMandarin #ChinesePodcast #MandarinPodcast #BilingualPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are finally saying goodbye to the podcast. We have been doing this since 2018! Made so many awesome friends along the way and had so much fun. But now its time we call it a day. We started with a microphone on a bedside table in our bedroom and ended up in a full studio, its been a long and arduous journey. We want to say thank you to everyone who made this possible. The community will continue! Every monkey worth their salt will still be on the front lines learning Mandarin. We love you all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So this is it. The final mailbag episode. It was fun while it lasted. If you have any interesting stories or emails, email them in to:[email protected] and we will read them out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We started planning a simple trip to Lapland…and somehow ended up booking reindeer rides, elf school, glass igloos, and possibly bankruptcy.In this episode, we talk (and argue) through planning a family trip to Lapland, what we actually want to do vs what we can afford, and how quickly “just a few activities” turns into chaos.Along the way, you’ll hear natural Mandarin and English conversation, real-life vocab, and how we actually think through decisions as a bilingual couple.Also in this episode:– Should podcasts feel like a conversation or a show?– Why talking to the audience vs each other changes everything– Christmas in Lapland… is anything even open?– The reality of planning travel with kids– Wholesome news (with Mandarin vocab you can actually use)If you’re learning Mandarin, this is how it really sounds in real life. No scripts. No slow talk. Just conversation.Key Mandarin you’ll hear:– 募款活動 (fundraising activity)– 太陽能板 (solar panels)– 星星 / 天文學家 (stars / astronomers)If you’ve ever been to Lapland, drop a comment.Tell us what’s actually worth doing… and what’s a waste of money.—Listen, learn, and just enjoy the chaos.New episodes every week.Follow for more real Mandarin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mandarin Monkey Podcast Episode 456.This one’s a proper listener mailbag episode.We read your emails and end up talking about all sorts: learning Mandarin on a tractor in rural Iowa, a workplace misunderstanding about saving face, the chaos of Taiwan Ghost Month, whether the third tone is designed to ruin lives, typing Chinese on a Mac, and one very wholesome story about using Mandarin to ask for a father’s blessing.As usual, Tom speaks English, Ula speaks Mandarin, and somewhere in the middle we all try to make sense of life, language, and cultural confusion.In this episode:real stories from Mandarin Monkey listeners around the worldTaiwan Ghost Month taboos and superstitionssaving face in Chinese and Taiwanese culturelearning Mandarin through real conversationMandarin tones, typing Chinese, and bilingual family lifewhy this community is a lot bigger than either of us expectedIf you're learning Mandarin Chinese, interested in Taiwanese culture, or just enjoy chaotic bilingual conversations, you’re in the right place.Send us your stories, questions, wins, disasters, cultural confusion, and Mandarin struggles. We need more for future mailbags.Write in and be part of the next episode.#LearnMandarin #MandarinChinese #TaiwanCulture #ChineseListeningPractice #BilingualPodcast #MandarinMonkey #LearnChinese #GhostMonth #SavingFace #Taiwan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast takes a strange turn.We somehow ended up playing a “tiny acting” game we found online… which is great for YouTube and absolutely terrible for podcast listeners.Expect awkward silence, ridiculous acting challenges, and one very questionable scenario involving a dog in a waiting room.Along the way we also talk about: • why words start to feel strange when you repeat them too much • life stress after moving countries • how comments about your voice can stick with you for years • why sometimes the best thing you can do is just laugh and relaxIf you enjoy learning Mandarin through real conversations, chaos, and the occasional terrible idea… welcome to Mandarin Monkey.Listen to the full podcast and learn Chinese with us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you really learn Mandarin while doing the dishes? What about while running, driving, or just surviving family life on broken sleep?In this Mandarin Monkey mailbag episode, we dive into real listener stories and questions about learning Chinese in the middle of normal life. From passive listening and bilingual parenting to sleep deprivation, kids climbing into bed sideways, and the never-ending mystery of 了, this one goes everywhere.In this episode:learning Mandarin while doing the disheswhy some people understand more while running than studyinga 58-year-old dad starting Mandarin in retirementraising bilingual children outside Taiwan and Chinawhether natural input is enough for kidswhy 了 still confuses everyonesleep, parenting, and recovering from SwitzerlandIf you're learning Mandarin and trying to make it fit around work, family, or everyday chaos, this episode is for you.Tell us in the comments:Where do you listen to Mandarin Monkey?Doing the dishes? Driving? Walking? Hiding from your children for five minutes?Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English podcast designed to help you improve your listening through real conversation, humour, and everyday life.#LearnMandarin #MandarinChinese #ChineseListeningPractice #BilingualPodcast #LanguageLearning #MandarinMonkey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just spent 36 hours in Zurich, Switzerland filming an event at the FIFA Museum… and somehow turned it into a mini travel adventure.In this episode we talk about:• flying to Switzerland with camera gear • our first taste of real Swiss chocolate • accidentally spending £50 on chocolate • riding electric scooters around Zurich • trying kangaroo steak in an Australian restaurant • discovering how expensive Switzerland really is • meeting our Uber driver with a powerful story about Iran • exploring Lake Zurich early in the morningIt was a very short trip, but Zurich turned out to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities we've visited.This episode is also great for Mandarin learners, as Ula shares thoughts and stories in Mandarin while we talk about the experience in English.If you've ever been to Switzerland, tell us your favourite place! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just recorded 40 minutes of podcast… and realised we never pressed record.So here we are doing it again.In this episode we talk about:• Our first corporate filming job in London• Why we're suddenly flying to Zurich next week• The launch of our new gaming channel Monkey Plays• Whether language exchange apps actually work• Why Pleco is amazing (but not perfect)• Why people in Taiwan don’t really say 你好吗• And how to actually use podcasts to improve your MandarinPlus we answer your emails about:Using Mandarin podcasts for learningCantonese vs Mandarin situationsLanguage exchange apps like TandemStudy methods and common mistakes learners makeIf you want to send us a question for a future mailbag episode, email [email protected] PlaysOur new gaming channel where you can learn Mandarin while watching games:RaftOvercooked 2Peak(and more coming)https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuNENWdUdcvRMuMiADUFmQFull playthroughs and interactive vocab games are available on Patreon.patreon.com/monkeyplaysgamesMandarin Monkey LinksPodcast: https://mandarinmonkey.comLessons: https://mandarinmonkey.com/lessonsPatreon: https://patreon.com/mandarinmonkey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s mailbag episode is… painful.• A freelance translator loses a business contract because he didn’t understand 面子 (miànzi). • Someone tries to compliment their manager… and accidentally calls him a bastard. • Another listener’s Chinese name sounds dangerously close to “horse sh*t.”We talk about cultural competence in business Mandarin, tone disasters, gaming as a language-learning method, and why choosing a Chinese name is more serious than you think.If you’ve ever made a language mistake that keeps you awake at night, this one’s for you.Don’t lose confidence. Just don’t translate “losing face” word for word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 450 is here! 🎉In this fun and chaotic bilingual episode, we chat about life getting back to normal after the holidays, the challenges of new projects, and a possible Mandarin retreat idea… before things take a very British turn 😅We dive into one tiny English word — “piss” — and explore the MANY ways British people actually use it in real life. If you’ve ever been confused by British slang, this episode is for you.This podcast is spoken in both Mandarin and English, making it perfect for learners who want natural, real-world listening practice.What you’ll hear in this episode:Real couple conversation in Mandarin + EnglishBritish slang explained in contextCultural differences in language useRelaxed, natural listening practiceWhether you're a beginner or advanced learner, come hang out and improve your Mandarin the natural way.📩 Got a story to share? Email us: [email protected]🎓 Want to learn with us? Try a free trial lesson! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we read three powerful emails from listeners whose Mandarin journeys couldn’t be more different — yet share the same courage.From feeling fluent for the first time, to reconnecting with family and heritage, to quitting a job and moving to Taiwan for love and language…These are real stories from real learners navigating confidence, shame, identity, relationships, and bold life decisions — all through Mandarin.Whether you’re:A beginner starting from scratchA heritage learner feeling pressureDating someone TaiwaneseOr dreaming of living in TaiwanThis episode is for you.We speak naturally in both Mandarin and English throughout the episode, so learners of all levels can follow along and build real-world listening skills.💛 Mandarin isn’t just grammar and vocab lists. It’s connection, risk, community, and growth.加油 — we’re in this together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese New Year is here… but we’re not just talking about red envelopes and dumplings.In this episode:Who should give red envelopes (and when it stops)The weird firework pranks from childhoodWhy we chose not to vlog our kidsAnd… our idea for a 48-hour Mandarin-only retreatCould you survive two full days speaking only Chinese?No English. No safety net. Just immersion.Let us know if you’d actually come.🎧 Listen on Spotify📩 Join our community🧧 Happy New Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s mailbag:a learner understands his mother-in-law at the worst moment,a tone mistake turns into a workplace disaster,and a four-year-old becomes the teacher.Plus: how to ask to camp in Taiwan without sounding like a tourist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does real bilingual development actually look like?In this episode of Mandarin Monkey, we talk about one of the biggest concerns parents have when raising bilingual children:“My child understands Mandarin… but won’t speak it. Is that normal?”We explore:• What children usually understand first• Why mixing languages is a sign of competence• Whether silence means failure• How long it realistically takes to become conversational• Why input matters more than early outputUla shares personal stories of growing up with Taiwanese and Mandarin, and we reflect on our own children’s bilingual journey.If you’re raising a child in a mixed-language household, this conversation will reassure you.Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast where Mandarin and English are used naturally, just like in real families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode started as a simple idea:list 100 very specific things to do before you die.We didn’t get to 100.We talked about sharks, Lapland, Route 66, Disney parks, cherry blossoms, tequila in Mexico, collecting memories, and why “someday” is a dangerous word.Mandarin and English.Travel, goals, family, and that quiet feeling of wanting more life in your life.If this episode sparks an idea for you, tell us what you’d add to the list.Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast in Mandarin and English.We speak naturally. No scripts. No lessons. Just real conversation.Support the show or join the hangouts:mandarinmonkey.compatreon.com/mandarinmonkey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning Mandarin isn’t just about vocabulary or grammar.Sometimes it’s about confidence, fear, and not feeling “good enough”.In episode 444 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we talk honestly about:– Why language “levels” can actually hurt learners– Speaking Mandarin without destroying your confidence– Trial lessons that start way too basic– Learning through conversation, not correction– Why progress feels invisible even when it’s real– Being scared to speak, even after years of learning– How creativity, experience, and repetition change everythingThis episode drifts between English and Mandarin, just like real life does.Because that’s how language is actually learned.If you’ve ever felt stuck, nervous, or frustrated with Mandarin…this one’s for you.🎧 Listen, relax, and remember: you’re not bad at languages.You’re just still learning.📩 Got a question for our Friday mailbag?Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a mailbag episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast.We answer listener questions about a deceptively common Mandarin mistake:why you can’t use “ask” the way you do in English.Ula explains why 問 is for asking questions, but doesn’t work when you’re asking someone to do you a favour, and why 請 is often the natural choice, even though it doesn’t translate cleanly into English.We also respond to listener emails about:learning Mandarin without a clear end goalwhy grammar turns people off languagespatience, time, and long-term progresshow hangouts and lessons help people stick with itUla speaks Mandarin pretty much throughout.Tom speaks English pretty much throughout.🎧 Lessons, hangouts, and more:mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a fully bilingual English–Mandarin conversation. Tom speaks in English. Ula responds entirely in Mandarin.We talk about:Extreme risk and a climber scaling Taipei 101Whether dangerous stunts should be streamed liveTravel plans including Lapland, skiing holidays, the Maldives, and the USFear, animals, parenting, and how perspective changes over timeThis is not a scripted lesson.It’s how Mandarin is used naturally in real life.If you’re learning Mandarin and want:Real listening practiceNatural speed and phrasingMandarin used in context, not explained to deathThis episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does Mandarin feel easy when you’re listening…but impossible the moment a real person speaks?In this mailbag episode, we answer real listener questions about learning Mandarin in the real world.Textbooks vs real speech. Tones. Confidence. Speaking to in-laws. And why your brain sometimes just shuts down.We talk about:Why textbooks teach words nobody actually saysWhether tones really matter (and why)Freezing when speaking to native speakersSpeaking Mandarin with your partner’s parentsWhy some days you feel fluent and others you forget everythingMainland Chinese vs Taiwanese MandarinIf you’ve ever thought, “Is it just me?”…it isn’t.00:00 Welcome & what this episode is03:10 Why textbooks don’t sound like real people11:45 Speaking Mandarin with your partner’s parents23:40 “I understand podcasts but not real people”33:10 Do tones really matter?41:45 Why some days Mandarin feels impossible52:30 Mainland Chinese vs Taiwanese Mandarin59:10 Final thoughts & how to keep improving01:02:30 How to support Mandarin Monkey🎧 Support the podcast: https://patreon.com/mandarinmonkey📚 Book lessons: https://mandarinmonkey.com👥 Join Mandarin Monkey Hangouts on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back. We both got hit with a nasty illness for a few weeks and lost our voices, so this one is low-energy and coughy. We talk about why we disappeared, why this Christmas felt “off”, a New Year’s Eve living-room campout with the kids, and how fast sickness can wipe you out. Then we look back at some 2025 goals, set fresh 2026 goals, and Tom admits he’s convinced Premium Bonds will make him a millionaire every month. We also share why Disney matters to us, plus a quick reminder: if you’ve been listening for ages and thinking about lessons, now’s a good time to start.0:00 Welcome back and why we disappeared0:40 Three weeks ill, lost voices, low energy3:00 Christmas felt quiet this year6:00 New Year’s Eve with kids and getting sick10:30 Moving house, 2025 drama, hoping 2026 improves17:00 Premium Bonds and the monthly million fantasy20:30 2025 goals review, exercise, habits, tracking26:00 Journaling, Finch app, wanting better insights27:30 Disney plans and giving kids real memories34:00 Hobbies, dates, books, piano, creative projects40:00 2026 goals, family time, couple time47:00 Where we might live next, avoiding tourist traps50:30 Dog debate, Halloumi, dog sitting reality54:30 Lessons, teachers, Patreon, wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our Christmas Special Mailbag.We answer listener questions about real Chinese greetings, why “Ni Hao Ma” sounds unnatural, fear of flying explained by a pilot, and how to type pinyin with tone marks properly.We finish with a fun Christmas quiz full of strange traditions and surprising facts from around the world.If you’re learning Mandarin and want natural Chinese, not textbook Chinese, this episode is for you.Topics include • What to say instead of “Ni Hao Ma” • Casual vs polite Chinese greetings • Flying anxiety and turbulence explained • Typing pinyin with tones • Christmas traditions and triviaMerry Christmas and thank you for listening to Mandarin Monkey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ula explains why some dictionary and app translations feel unnatural, and shares a new Mandarin dictionary app recommendation. Then we mess around with a sound-guessing game, chat about school plays, and end with Tom quizzing Ula on the Life in the UK test. 00:00 Intro, episode 438, Wednesday energy 01:35 What subject do we look like we teach? 07:10 Midweek fatigue and kid sleep chaos 09:20 Why “dictionary Chinese” sounds unnatural 11:40 New app recommendation, 橘子漢語 (J-U-Z-I) 15:20 Free vs paid features, why it beats Pleco for usage 18:00 Nativity play recap, Bethlehem Bake Off confusion 24:35 Game time, People Places Projects sound guesses 25:55 Sound: vacuum cleaner 吸塵器 33:10 Sound: “personal trainer”, Schwarzenegger link 38:20 Sound: parking sensor, reversing beep 41:55 Next week schedule, last broadcasts, Christmas plan 43:20 Visa update and Life in the UK test quiz 48:15 Judiciary question confusion 50:55 Habeas Corpus question, 75% pass mark talk 58:50 Wrap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why doesn’t “How are you?” really exist in Chinese?In this episode, we talk about how Chinese people show care without asking about feelings. Food, warmth, sleep, and daily life matter more than emotional check-ins. We also talk about sleep, anxiety, bilingual kids, accents, affection across cultures, and then completely lose control playing a sound guessing game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday mailbag time. Chinese and English together, as always.Today you get listener stories about:• Stress gestures that looked like a love confession • Soft Mandarin that sounded like poetry underwater • Motivation, guilt, discipline and VR boxing • Ten minutes of bus auntie story with zero context • Scooter fails in Taiwan and panic Mandarin • Sounding fluent while saying nonsense • Noodle theft in a Bristol flat • Turning passive vocab into active speechWe talk through:• How to describe emotions without strange vibes • Why quiet Mandarin feels impossible to decode • When to push through and when to rest • How confidence helps even if the vocab falls apartEmail your story for a future mailbag: [email protected], community, and all the good stuff: mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bilingual Mandarin and English episode filled with Christmas nonsense, food talk, and some heavier life planning.We talk about UK food labels, sugar overload, and why buying cheese feels like a health exam. Then we drift into real life. Stress. Pressure. Planning the next five to ten years. And why that feels very different when you have kids, bills, and responsibilities.Tom talks through moving to Taiwan with almost no plan. Ula talks about goals and why planning triggers old student stress. We look at how to balance enjoying the moment with taking care of future you.If you want to practise listening to natural Mandarin and English in a real conversation, this episode is perfect. You can book a free trial lesson at mandarinmonkey.com.Send your emails for the Friday mailbag to [email protected] 0:00 Intro 0:33 Christmas, turkeys, and the turducken problem 2:20 Giblets, guts, and Taiwanese menus 3:40 UK Christmas decorations and candy canes 5:15 Sugar, food labels, and supermarket misery 7:30 Comparing food labels in Taiwan and the UK 8:20 Sleeping positions and being the big spoon 10:50 Christmas hats, hoodies, and decorating the house 11:24 The smoke machine debate 12:40 Christmas lights and buying more nonsense 13:48 Teaching our daughter Mandarin 14:50 Talking about old homes and old decisions 16:10 How planning shapes the next 10 years 18:00 What peace, fun, and goals mean 20:00 Moving to Taiwan with no plan 22:30 Making mistakes when you’re young 24:40 Why planning feels heavier as an adult 27:00 Arriving in Taiwan with total freedom 30:00 Mixing living in the moment with long-term goals 33:00 Having things to look forward to 35:00 December Hangouts and lesson schedule 36:00 How to book lessons and send mailbag emails Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday mailbag. Mandarin and English. Real listener questions.We start with a chat about long-term goals. Safety, peace, fun, love and connection. Where we want the kids to be in ten years. Where we want to live. How to build something bigger than “exercise more”.Then the mailbag.A night-shift worker in Leeds knows the vocab but freezes when building sentences. A Birmingham listener orders bubble tea in Taichung without the cashier switching to English. A software engineer in Dublin wants real conversations, not grammar workshops. A listener in Seattle can hear J, Q and X but cannot say them. A teacher in Wellington reads well but loses everything without subtitles.We talk about progress, language habits, relationships, pronunciation, listening skills and how to keep going even when it feels slow.Send your stories or questions to [email protected] lessons or hangouts, visit mandarinmonkey.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode starts in the strangest way possible, then turns into a full life update. We talk about Kairi wanting to learn Chinese, Dragon Ball socks, why none of us sleep, work changes, and the chaos of parenting three young kids.We also get into • How bad nights ruin your brain • Why our youngest saves all his wee for nighttime • New directions in our work • Whether to make a movie at home • How animation voiceovers actually work • Moving abroad and the career gap problem • New plans for Mandarin Monkey • Our goal to set up a separate studio and a new company • What’s coming next for usIt’s real, chaotic, and very us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We skip the small talk and jump straight into chaos. One of us wears noise-cancelling headphones with brown noise blasting. The other says sentences in Mandarin and English. The goal is simple. Lip read the line. No clues. No questions.The results are a mess. “You squeezed it before I was ready,” becomes cheesecake. 羊羹 becomes “some kind of rat.” Twice becomes twat. And a totally normal Chinese sentence turns into Argentina.If you enjoy Mandarin learning mixed with confusion, misread lips, and unearned confidence, this game delivers.Send your sentences or game ideas to [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrong day, wrong week, right podcast. Today’s mailbag episode starts with that weird moment when your brain swears Friday arrived, but the calendar says otherwise, then drifts into lottery fantasies, nannies who only speak Mandarin, and baldness fear. Standard Mandarin Monkey energy.Then listener stories:• Daniel in Manchester used Mandarin to survive lockdown loneliness and asks how to practice speaking when nerves block every sentence.• John in Southern California listened to the whole podcast three times and still wants more. Respect.• Debbie in Lagos started Mandarin because C-drama subtitles missed the point and now fights double audio and dodgy subs.• Olivia fell in from the short clips, forgets new words in days, and wants to keep going without burnout.• Vivi did “immersion” in Kaohsiung, made international friends, defaulted to English, and now only understands Mandarin with heavy context.We talk about:• Why tutors hear every mistake already and still support learners• How mirroring and shadowing native speakers trains tones and rhythm• Why motivation fades and discipline keeps progress alive• How to use scripts, news, and audio to train listening without subtitles• Single-channel brains, overwhelm, and why context helps more than people admitBilingual as always. Ula speaks Mandarin, Tom speaks English, you follow along.Send your story or question to:[email protected] DM on Instagram / Facebook.Your email might show up in the next mailbag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We put on noise-canceling headphones, blasted brown noise, and tried to read each other’s lips in Chinese.Spoiler: “Are you the king of Mandarin Monkey?” turned into “Are you licking a mandarin monkey?”We also talk about Tom’s 3D-printed bust mini-movie, the “shi” tongue twister that broke him, and why bringing back the silly side of Mandarin Monkey might be the best idea yet.Send your stories for Friday Mailbag: [email protected] and more at mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mailbag time. Phoebe’s moving to China in a week, Jasmine’s torn between Simplified and Traditional, Mark nails his first all-Mandarin order, Anna shares tonal research, and Katie reminds us to slow down. We talk avoiding the foreigner bubble, finding a “language parent,” sleep habits, and why progress feels slow, until it doesn’t. Send your story: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Practice Mandarin listening with a native Taiwanese Mandarin speaker and English support. We cover cold-weather camping at 3°C, off-grid power, food, health, and planning a sensible motorbike tour through Europe. Great for beginners to intermediate, HSK prep, and heritage Chinese/Taiwanese learners keeping both languages fresh.You’ll learn: camping and travel vocab, opinion phrases, modal verbs for suggestions, health/food terms, and natural Taiwanese rhythm.Resources• Free transcripts/clips on our YouTube (search “Mandarin Monkey listening practice”)• Book a lesson with a Taiwanese teacher (all levels)• Mailbag: send a short story (Mandarin or English) to [email protected] for feedback Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s Listener Mailbag is stacked: Mandarin at the bus stop, writing a sky-lantern wish in Pingxi, ordering dinner in Kunming with zero English, the strange peace of visa lines with a podcast in your ears, and a market auntie gifting a spring onion for luck. Plus: dogs, Edinburgh place names, and whether American English secretly makes more sense. Perfect for immersive Mandarin listening practice - Ula in Mandarin, Tom in English - so you can follow along and pick up real phrases in context.Send your story for a future episode: [email protected] lessons / join the community: mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hump day chat with bilingual Mandarin + English listening practice baked in. We tackle a parenting standoff over toys at school, how “Thrill of the Fight” in VR turned into a 12-round sweat fest, whether gua sha helps or just hurts, Halloween safety (and trunk-or-treat), British politeness vs Taiwanese directness, and a surprisingly decent side hustle: cleaning garages for cash.Send us a story for Friday’s Listener Mailbag: [email protected], hangouts, intensives: mandarinmonkey.comTopics: Mandarin listening practice, VR boxing, gua sha scraping, UK vs Taiwan culture, Halloween UK, trunk or treat, side hustles, bilingual conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever tried to learn Mandarin while you sleep?One listener did — and his girlfriend woke up to him whispering “māma” all night.In this episode, we read your wildest Mandarin stories: 🧠 Sleep-learning experiments gone wrong 🐟 The “train station” that turned into a pet shop 💔 The couple arguing about the third tone 🙊 Why Chinese speakers don’t say “bless you” and much more from our Listener Mailbag.This is real Mandarin listening practice — with jokes, accents, and stories from actual learners.📬 Send us your story: [email protected] 🎧 Listen anywhere: mandarinmonkey.com/podcast 🗣️ Book lessons: mandarinmonkey.com/lessons 🎥 Shorts & clips: @MandarinMonkey#LearnMandarin #MandarinPodcast #MandarinListening #ChineseTones #LanguageLearning #MandarinMonkey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one’s part London adventure, part Mandarin listening practice.Tom celebrated his birthday and 10-year anniversary with Ula — a surprise visit from Auntie Kara, a Studio Ghibli stage show (“My Neighbour Totoro”), London’s best steak at Steak & Company, and an escape-room fail that turned into a win… with only 18 seconds left on the clock.It’s a bilingual Chinese–English episode, so you’ll get real, natural Chinese with clear English context — perfect for learners who want genuine Mandarin conversation, not classroom scripts.🎧 What’s inside:Life in the UK told in Mandarin + EnglishReal couple conversation for natural listening practiceStudio Ghibli, London travel, and the best wagyu steak we’ve ever hadWhy escape rooms are secretly relationship testsHow to use fun topics like these to learn real-life Chinese📍 Chapters: 0:00 – Hump Day & intro chaos 2:45 – Birthday surprise & planning 6:40 – London trip + Totoro show 12:30 – Japanese restaurant adventure 17:40 – Theatre review 22:00 – Covent Garden wander + 5G rant 25:10 – Best steak in London: Steak & Company 30:20 – Underground games & escape-room fail 39:00 – Alice in Puzzleland redemption 43:50 – Westfield, mystery board game & wrap-upWant to learn Mandarin with us?Book a free trial lesson: https://mandarinmonkey.comSay hi: [email protected]#ChinesePodcast #MandarinListening #LearnChinese #BilingualPodcast #LondonTravel #StudioGhibli #EscapeRoom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listener Mailbag is back. This week your stories cover first Mandarin wins, night market fails, and everything in between. We read your emails about dreaming in tones, KTV redemption songs, taxi mistakes, and the joy of ordering food without pointing. You’ll hear how small slips turn into lasting lessons, why confidence matters more than beer bravery, and how to keep learning when tests and tones trip you up.Send your story: [email protected], hangouts, and intensives: mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn Mandarin through real conversations. Episode 422 covers wild camping, from rain and wind in the UK to snakes and bears in Taiwan. Pick up camping words in Chinese, hear how to talk about fishing and food, and enjoy bilingual chat in English and Mandarin.Key Mandarin words from this episode:野营 (yě yíng) – wild camping帐篷 (zhàng péng) – tent篝火 (gōu huǒ) – campfire蚊子 (wén zi) – mosquito獾 (huān) – badger蛇 (shé) – snake熊 (xióng) – bear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your emails, your questions, your Mandarin struggles. In this first Listener Mailbag, we tackle: • Tone panic ordering 牛肉麵 • How to pronounce 出去 without tripping • ü vs u, and why “iu” sounds like “yo” • Zhuyin vs Pinyin — which works in Taiwan • Why HSK tests don’t prepare you for street speed • Training your ears to real Mandarin • Karaoke learning, flashcard guilt, and moreEmail your questions to [email protected] and we might answer them next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.