ChinesePod - Beginner
674 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★ - 11 ratingsChinesePod makes learning Mandarin fun and easy. It isn't your typical language learning resource - we think you'll be entertained as well!
If you’re just trying to learn some survival Chinese or looking to start a lifelong relationship with the language, this ChinesePod - Beginner Level Podcast Channel is where to start.
Expand your Mandarin Chinese learning experience by also SUBSCRIBING to ChinesePod - Intermediate and ChinesePod - Advanced Podcast channels.
For more lessons, go to www.chinesepod.com and take us for a spin.
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Episodes
Newbie | Dirty Little Hands
June 17, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 26.4 MBSubway poles, dirty money, bajillions of people... perhaps the fact that hand shaking is not so popular yet has saved the Chinese race from germ decimation. China--not the place for those with hypochondriacal tendencies. In this podcast, learn how to make sure those you share hand space with have washed their dirty little hands. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1005
Elementary | Basketball
June 15, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 29.3 MBJohn promised to stop singing the Curtis Blow hit (”We’re playin’ baaaaaaasketbaaaaaaallllllll….”) if you promise to listen and use this lesson on verbs and cheers any basketball fan might need. In this podcast, learn how to cheer on your team in Mandarin Chinese. At least you’ll make Yao Ming feel at home. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0392
Newbie | Have You Eaten?
June 13, 2022 08:00 - 7 minutes - 17.6 MBIn New York it’s “how ya doin’,” but here your well-being can be measured by your belt notch. So what say you to the classic “have you eaten” greetin’? It’s all inside. Listen to this podcast and learn how to ask it, and how to answer, all in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0389
Elementary | A Very Special Day
June 10, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 40.3 MBThe days of our lives. Like sands through the hourglass. Today, on this most momentous of days, let us all listen to this podcast, rekindle, reminisce, kiss passionately, sing kumbaya, and vow eternal love to each other. If you don't know what day it is, do not admit it. Either way, join in the celebrations of this auspicious day for Chinese learners everywhere... and figure out what the heck is going on! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1000
Newbie | Is so-and-so there?
June 08, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 28.9 MBYou know you need to speak to “Li,” but don’t know how to ask if he’s there. So you simply say “Li?” to whomever answers. Her name isn’t “Li” and she keeps trying to tell you that; so you say “No…Li!” which ends up in anger--and we’re a peaceful podcast. So in this podcast learn how to ask if “(so-and-so) is there”, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0386
Elementary | Dress Warmly
June 06, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 32.2 MBYou’re not cold, but it doesn’t matter. Your Chinese friends know you’re here without your mother, so along with feeding you, there’s also the ongoing fear that you’ll catch cold. So what would a lesson on “dressing warmly” sound like? Erm… this. In this podcast, learn how to tell someone it’s cold outside and to put on some more clothes, using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0385
Newbie | Who's That Over There?
June 03, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 29 MBYou spot a familiar figure on the street. Well it's best you know how to describe that person if you're trying to point them out from a busy crowd. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2657
Elementary | Fake Beggars?
June 01, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 39.7 MBWhen going out in the evening in Chinese cities, one is likely to run into ragged looking beggars soliciting change from passersby. And while some of these beggars have experienced terrible misfortunes, for others it's just an act to make easy money. In his lesson, learn how to talk about beggars and if you think one is just faking it. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2057
Newbie | Noodles Without Cilantro
May 30, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 27.4 MBAt ChinesePod, we not only care about helping you learn Mandarin, we also want to help your social standing…and, to be honest, herbs in the teeth a cool cat do not make. So, in this podcast, here’s what we can do: teach you how to order those tasty noodles, but without the either loathed or loved cilantro/coriander. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0383
Elementary | Directions with a Map #2
May 27, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 24 MBSo, you dug the previous “left/right” lesson (or enjoyed taking “orders” from Jenny) so much, we decided to make another. But in this podcast, instead of “left/right,” we’re taking you north/south/east/west. Watch, listen, learn Mandarin Chinese and love. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0379
Newbie | If Not You, then Who?
May 25, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 24.7 MBWe all have those tasks that no one wants to do, so you often end up getting into a war of attrition with your interlocutor. Today we hear lots of common sentence structures and phrases repeated and will teach you all about giving instructions, asking questions, and telling someone that you don't want to do it. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2652
Elementary | Directions with a Map #1
May 23, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 28.4 MBYes, we know you’d love nothing more than a “map to Jenny,” but until our ratings drop (yeah, right), we’ll hang onto that. What we can do is offer up “Jenny and a map.” In this visionary-of-a-lesson, keep your eye on the map and your ear on “The Zhu.” In this podcast, learn how to get around, using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0371
Newbie | Boba Tea
May 20, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 36 MBOrdering tea from a tea shop can be a little daunting, but it's also a great chance to practice some of the Chinese you've been learning. We're here to guide you with the tools necessary to get some of that lovely bubble tea inside you. We also talk a little about some useful tone change rules which will help you with your pronunciation. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2644
Elementary | Pens And Notebooks
May 18, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 24.3 MBPens and notebooks are essential for any student, especially a student of Chinese. For many students of Chinese, mastering all of those characters requires writing and re-writing them over and over. In this lesson, learn how to go buy yourself some pens and notebooks and get started. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2054
Newbie | Simple Toasts
May 16, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 26.5 MBThey. Toast. Everything. …it’s a lesson you can learn from us, or learn the hard way. So, how about you turn the tables and offer up some Mandarin Chinese “drinking words” of your own? In this podcast, learn how to spread some “cheers”. (Premium subscribers will learn the whole swapping-the-baijiu-for-Sprite trick). Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0381
Elementary | Getting Ready for a Dinner Party
May 13, 2022 08:00 - 18 minutes - 42.8 MBStart cleaning the living room and getting busy in the kitchen, you're about to have a dinner party. In this lesson, learn how to discuss how many people will be eating and how many dishes to make to prepare for the dinner party. And as someone plans for a dinner party with their housekeeper, you'll also learn how to apologize for causing them extra trouble. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2050
Newbie | Asking the Bus Destination
May 11, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 27.9 MBIf ABBA can take a chance on you, then you can take a chance on the bus. But, unless it’s heading to a mountain, you won’t be able to read the characters. So, listen to this podcast, dig deep, pull out exact change, and ask the driver where that bus is going in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0376
Elementary | American Breakfast
May 09, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 36.2 MBWhile the writer cannot believe “grits” and “biscuits and gravy” were not included on the list of an “American Breakfast,” his contract stipulates that he still has to write this. So, (begrudgingly) here’s a lesson on that oh-so-important first meal. And if you don’t fancy having rice or noodles with your morning coffee, listen carefully to this podcast to learn how to ask for what you’re craving in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0364
Newbie | Movie Preference
May 06, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 31.7 MBWhat kind of movies do you like watching. Do you prefer romantic comedies, or perhaps sci-fi movies. Listen in to these two friends discuss their favourites. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2639
Elementary | Time For A Holiday
May 04, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 31.6 MBEveryone's always looking forward to their next holiday, but when is it again? Next month? Next week? To help figure it out, in this lesson, we discuss holidays and how to talk about dates and time. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2048
Newbie | What Are You Doing?
May 02, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 24.2 MBWe’re all about the classics here – Chuck Taylors, Pong, New Coke, the lot. So why not help you out with the classic question: “what are you doing?” Why not, indeed! Listen to this podcast and learn it in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0372
Elementary | Rice With Soy Sauce
April 29, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 37.8 MBDoes steamed white rice have taste? Well, some of us seem to think so. However, there are those who just can't resist drizzling a bit of soy sauce over it to add a bit of flavor. In this elementary lesson, two friends discuss putting soy sauce on rice. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2046
Newbie | This Haircut Please
April 27, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 35.8 MBTo some, a trip to the hair salon is a delight. To others, it's a nerve-racking experience with a good chance of coming out with some awful haircut. Add to this the fact that this might be your first experience having to converse entirely in Chinese. Fear not; with ChinesePod, we can make your visit to the salon an enjoyable one. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2630
Elementary | Making Copies
April 25, 2022 08:48 - 12 minutes - 27.7 MBAgain, you don’t have to use ChinesePod for everyday tasks, but it helps. Take, for instance, making copies. The putting down of said document next to blank document and using a finger to indicate (with a dramatic arch) what is on one, needs to go on the other could work, Mr. “Arching-Finger Hidden-Embarrassment” (1/2 of our staff didn’t get that), or you could just listen in to this podcast to learn how to use Mandarin Chinese with the photocopy man. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com...
Newbie | House Hunting
April 22, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 34.8 MBWhen you first venture to a foreign country, the first thing you'll need to do is find somewhere to live. This lesson will arm you with all the vocabulary that you will need to haggle with your Chinese landlord, or at least the basics. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2620
Elementary | Tone Rule: Two Third Tones
April 20, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 34 MB“It’s not what you said; it’s the tone in which you said it!” By now, you’ll know the importance (and occasional frustration) of the tones in Mandarin Chinese, but even the best find themselves in a pickle when 2 third tones in a row causes a tone change… Confused? Good thing we decided to make a lesson out of it. Listen to this podcast to become the Chinese tone master you always dreamed of being. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0353
Newbie | I Can't Sing
April 18, 2022 07:35 - 16 minutes - 38.1 MBOh sure, we say “karaoke” and you laugh and think about making a fool out of yourself in front of 200 others at the bar who all chimed in on the chorus to “Proud Mary.” But here it’s serious business. So how in the world can you explain in Mandarin Chinese to your demanding hosts that you really can’t, won’t and don’t sing? By listening to this podcast. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0368
Elementary | Where's My Takeout?
April 15, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 34.9 MBIf you haven't been in this situation, you haven't been in China long. There are just some times when you wait and you wait, but the food you order never arrives. So when you call to inquire, you're told that it's coming "right away." Learn all the key language in this Chinese lesson. How tough you want to get is up to you. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2026
Newbie | I Got Married
April 13, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 26.5 MB“Soooo… who’s the eye-candy on your arm?” See, ChinesePod is used to these questions, as we only hire “hot-cakes.” So, what do you say to an old acquaintance when you’re seen hand in hand with your spouse? (This is your cue to press play). In this podcast, learn how to tell someone that you got hitched, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0365
Elementary | Dealing With Praise
April 11, 2022 08:00 - 20 minutes - 47.5 MB“Thanks,” you say (in Chinese). “Goodness me! Your ability to master the language is amazing!” comes the response. So now what do you say? “Yes, actually it’s all due to ChinesePod”? As much as we’d like to think you’d promo us, we’re quite sure a podcast with a Chinese lesson on “playing down” your Mandarin would be more appropriate. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0348
Newbie | New Breadmaker!
April 08, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 28 MBInvented in Japan in the 80's, these marvels of human ingenuity have become more and more popular in recent years, especially with the food scandals of late. Listen in as a friend discusses her new purchase. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2615
Elementary | Lessons Per Week
April 06, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 31.9 MBSure, you're studying Chinese. We all know that. But are you a casual learner, or are you hardcore? And by that, I mean, "how many lessons do you have per week?" Learn what every student needs to be able to answer in this lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2023
Newbie | Asking For Help
April 04, 2022 07:58 - 10 minutes - 25.2 MBYes, you’re a go-getter, self-starter, and outside-the-box thinker. But even you might need the occasional hand… especially at the office. So, not that you need it, but here’s a podcast with a Mandarin Chinese lesson on asking someone if they have time to give you a hand. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0361
Elementary | Which Train Station?
April 01, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 39.3 MBWhen catching a train in a Chinese city, you need to know which train station you're leaving from. Cities will often have several train stations, and they are often nowhere near each other. In this lesson, a traveler in Shanghai is surprised to find that his taxi driver asks him which train station he wants to go to. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2042
Newbie | Want To Lose Weight?
March 30, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 40.2 MBIt's that time of the year when you step on the scales and realise you have piled on the pounds. But don't worry. You have a whole year to drop that extra tire. Listen to this lesson and learn all about losing weight in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2610
Elementary | Terracotta Warriors
March 28, 2022 08:09 - 15 minutes - 35.1 MBDo you know how to say "terracotta warriors" in China? Any studious student has to know this word, and be warned, the Chinese is quite different from the English. History buffs also take note: Xi'an is a Chinese city that demands your attention. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2017
Newbie | Hot Dogs And Fried Rice
March 25, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 29 MBChina's known for its fried rice; it's not known for its hot dogs. Still, there are plenty of spots in the Middle Kingdom to grab one these days. Of course, not everybody has an appetite for them... Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2044
Elementary | Washing Clothes On The Road
March 23, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 34.7 MBNobody likes taking too much with them when traveling. However, some of us just don't like washing their clothes when on the road. This lesson concerns to friends discussing how much clothing they're bringing on a trip and why. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2040
Newbie | I'm Really Full!
March 21, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 27.5 MBWhile on your side of the world a “waving one hand while the other rests on the belly” gesture indicates “no more,” here it’s taken more as a challenge. Now, feel free to either use the previous lesson on “throwing up,” or perhaps unbutton that brain for one more helping of ChinesePod. In this podcast, learn how to insist, in Mandarin Chinese, that you’re really, really full. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0358
Elementary | Rich And Poor
March 18, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 36.3 MBAh the income gap - a prevalent issue in China and many other parts of the world. Most of us are struggling forward to rise to the next income bracket (and studying Chinese might just be the boost you need to get there!). In this lesson we will be discussing differences between the rich and the poor. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2035
Newbie | Feeling Nauseous
March 16, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 25.7 MBSo, you got a little sick being flung around the backseat of that cab on the way over? Now, some poor cab driver is freezing his long-nailed fingers off washing off that back right side of his car, since you didn’t give him a heads up you were about to throw up. So, listen to this podcast. Yes, only at ChinesePod, a Mandarin Chinese lesson on hurling. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0354
Elementary | Which Friend?
March 14, 2022 10:22 - 13 minutes - 30.6 MB“So… you’ll never guess who I bumped into! You know, about 5′8″, dark hair….” Yeah, good luck with that. We’re thinking that a lesson on describing people would help out– and we’re all about helping. In this podcast, learn how to describe people, using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0341
Newbie | Do You Want To Go Together?
March 11, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 31.5 MBIt's time for a coffee break. In this lesson, learn how to ask your friend if they want to go with you on a trip to the convenience store for some coffee. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2059
Elementary | Common Measure Words
March 09, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 27.9 MBWhile “how much” is usually reserved for all the bargaining you do here, it can also be used for “quantifying things,” meaning that you need to understand “measure words,” which means we need to make you a lesson on it… lest your retort to “how far is it” be “too expensive!” Listen in and expand your knowledge of this especially fun element of the Mandarin Chinese language. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0335
Newbie | Being Seated In A Restaurant
March 07, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 26.9 MBThe maître d’ asks (in Chinese) “how many “--but you don’t understand, and resort back to your old days of “greasing the palm.” So she sees the 100 kuai note and assumes that you’re dining with 99 others. You’re more than welcome to book the place, or perhaps a quick Mandarin Chinese lesson on “how many?” would aid. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0351
Elementary | Good Cops And Bad Thieves
March 04, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 34.8 MBChildren are well-known for their boundless curiosity. It can be heartwarming and wonderful to behold on occasion, but if you're a parent, you're well aware that endless questions with no simple answers can get old quick. Today's dialogue features one such Chinese parent's predicament. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2030
Newbie | How Old Is Your Brother?
March 02, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 27 MBYounger brothers can sometimes be a nuisance, breaking your things or asking you an endless amount of questions (kids are curious, after all). But more often than not, we can't help but feel proud for them. In this lesson we learn how to introduce our younger brother and tell his age. Younger brothers can sometimes be a nuisance, breaking your things or asking you an endless amount of questions (kids are curious, after all). But more often than not, we can't help but feel proud for them. In ...
Elementary | The Olympic Marathon
February 28, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 39.6 MBOh, you’ll find yourself in that uncomfortable situation, the one where you come here to visit us, and the guy next to you starts talking (in Chinese) about the upcoming Olympic marathon. Do you really want to be that person who just ends up saying “xie xie” the whole time? No. You don’t. In this podcast, learn to talk marathons with the best of them, in Mandarin Chinese Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0320
Newbie | A Self-Introduction
February 25, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 32.2 MBToday's newbie lesson will teach all of you who've just started learning Chinese how to give a basic self-introduction. We admit, this framework may not knock you off your feet with its scintillating content, but hey, it's functional and will get your point across. Learn how to let people know where you're from and what you do in Mandarin Chinese today! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2027
Elementary | Beijing Olympics: Opening Ceremony
February 23, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 34.3 MBYou’ve been waiting for this moment for years. Finally, the Olympics are here and you won’t have to hear about them anymore. No, but really, the Olympic opening ceremonies are a grand spectacle that is amazing to witness. Learn to talk about them in Mandarin Chinese, and about trying to buy tickets (good luck!) in this podcast. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0287