Did you know there are “rules” when eating in Taiwan? 🥢🍚 In this episode, Mindy talks about what’s considered polite — and impolite — at the Taiwanese dinner table. From how to hold your bowl and chopsticks, to sitting posture and when to use 公筷母匙 (public chopsticks and spoons), you’ll learn the habits that shape how people eat together in Taiwan.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
– What “餐桌” (dining table) means in Mandarin
– Chopstick rules: why you shouldn’t stick them in your rice or food
– Proper posture and polite table behavior
– How 合菜 (shared dining) changes dining etiquette
– The meaning behind 公筷母匙 (public chopsticks and spoons)

🗣 Listener Challenge:
What about your culture? Are the dining rules similar or totally different from Taiwan’s? Share your thoughts in Mandarin on Instagram and tag us @bitesize.chinese — we’d love to hear your stories!

☕️ About Bitesize Talks:
Welcome to ☕️ 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 ☕️ — a podcast series designed for A1–A2 level Mandarin learners who want a bit more challenge! Join Mindy and Joeru as they share casual, real-life stories in natural Mandarin, helping you grow your confidence one conversation at a time. 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese or Facebook for this week’s key vocabulary and tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

How do you eat your meal — with chopsticks or a fork? 🥢🍴 In this episode, Mindy and Joeru explore the everyday Mandarin words for tableware — from chopsticks and spoons to plates, bowls, and cups. You’ll learn how to use the simple yet powerful pattern 用 + [餐具] + [動作] to describe what you do at the table in natural Mandarin.

🎯 Today’s Topic: Common tableware words and how to say what you do with them

🗝 Key Sentence: 我用筷子夾菜。(Wǒ yòng kuàizi jiá cài.) – I use chopsticks to pick up food.

🗣 Listener Challenge:
你吃飯的時候，會用什麼餐具？ What tableware do you usually use when you eat? Try making one sentence in Mandarin — for example:
👉 我喜歡用筷子吃麵。(I like to use chopsticks to eat noodles.)
👉 我常用杯子喝咖啡。(I often use a cup to drink coffee.)
Share your sentence on Instagram and tag us @bitesize.chinese!

🍰 About Bitesize Basics 🍰
Welcome to 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 — a podcast series for beginner Mandarin learners (A1)! Each episode teaches one useful grammar point or vocabulary set through fun, practical conversations. Learn with Mindy and Joeru and build your Mandarin step by step! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for this week’s vocabulary recap and practice tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

What’s it like to share an apartment with roommates? In this episode, Mindy and Joeru talk about 合租 hézū — shared renting, and what it’s like to live with other people under one roof.
They discuss common rental types in Taiwan, like 套房 (studio) and 雅房 (shared room), and explore the real-life ups and downs of roommate life — from keeping shared spaces clean, splitting chores, to dealing with different personalities.
You’ll also learn practical Mandarin for talking about conflicts, communication, and coordination — all essential topics if you live with others or want to describe your own living situation in Chinese!

In this episode, you’ll learn:
– Vocabulary for describing rental types and roommate relationships
– How to talk about house chores, habits, and shared spaces
– Useful expressions for conflicts, communication, and compromise

🗣 Listener Challenge:
What kind of roommate are you — quiet, tidy, or messy?
Describe your ideal roommate in Mandarin and tell us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese!

🎙️ The Bitesize Chinese Podcast helps you bridge the gap between classroom Mandarin and how people actually speak — with all the quirks, slang, and culture that come with it. Each bi-weekly episode is a bite-sized challenge designed to stretch your skills and bring you from intermediate to almost advanced — one conversation at a time. Tune in, take a bite, and keep growing with us! 🎧💬

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

Looking for a place to live in Taiwan? 🏠 In this week’s episode, Mindy and Joeru chat about how to describe your apartment in Mandarin — from cozy studios and shared rooms to words you’ll need when signing a lease. From 套房 to 房東, this episode covers all the essential words you’ll need when renting in Taiwan — including what 頂樓加蓋 really means.

🎯 Today’s Topic: Real-life Mandarin for describing apartments

🗝 Key Sentence: 我租了一間套房。(Wǒ zū le yì jiān tào fáng.) — I rented a studio.

🗣 Listener Challenge: Which kind of apartment sounds most like you? Try saying it in Mandarin and share it with us @bitesize.chinese!

🍰 About Bitesize Basics 🍰
Welcome to 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 — a podcast series for beginner Mandarin learners (A1)! Each episode teaches one useful grammar point or vocabulary set through fun, practical conversations. Learn with Mindy and Joeru and build your Mandarin step by step! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for this week’s vocabulary recap and practice tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

What’s it like to rent an apartment in Taiwan? In this episode, Mindy shares her real-life renting experiences — from her very first tiny studio near university to her favorite loft apartment (and even a rooftop room that was way too hot!). She also breaks down the most common housing types in Taiwan, including 整層公寓 (whole apartment), 套房 (studio), 雅房 (shared room), and 頂樓加蓋 (rooftop apartment) — and offers practical tips for apartment hunting, like what to check before signing a contract and how to ask what’s included in your rent.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
– The most common types of rental housing in Taiwan
– Practical Mandarin phrases for renting and signing contracts
– Mindy’s personal renting stories (and lessons learned!)

🗣 Listener Challenge:
Have you ever rented a place in another country?
What’s your dream apartment like?
Tell us in the comments on Instagram @bitesize.chinese!

☕️ About Bitesize Talks:
Welcome to ☕️ 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 ☕️ — a podcast series designed for A1–A2 level Mandarin learners who want a bit more challenge! Join Mindy and Joeru as they share casual, real-life stories in natural Mandarin, helping you grow your confidence one conversation at a time. 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese or Facebook for this week’s key vocabulary and tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

In this episode, Mindy and Joeru talk about all the fees you need to know when renting an apartment in Mandarin — from rent and deposit to monthly bills like water, electricity, and internet. You’ll learn how to say common “XX 費” words and useful sentences for daily conversations about housing costs.

🎯 Today’s Topic: Talking about rental costs and common “XX 費” words in Mandarin

🗝 Key Sentence: 房租多少錢？（Fángzū duōshǎo qián？）— How much is the rent?

🗣 Listener Challenge: What kind of fees do you pay for your apartment? Try saying it in Mandarin using today’s new words and tell us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese!

🍰 About Bitesize Basics 🍰
Welcome to 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 — a podcast series for beginner Mandarin learners (A1)! Each episode teaches one useful grammar point or vocabulary set through fun, practical conversations. Learn with Mindy and Joeru and build your Mandarin step by step! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for this week’s vocabulary recap and practice tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

200 episodes?! We honestly can’t believe it. This special episode is all about you — our amazing listeners. In this episode, we answer your questions, share some behind-the-scenes stories, and reflect on what we’ve learned from creating Bitesize Chinese over the years. Whether you’ve been with us since episode 1 or just found us last week, thank you for learning with us. 💛

In this episode, we cover:
– How Bitesize Chinese got started and how Mindy and Joeru met!
– How to stay motivated without a classroom
– Listener appreciation + our favorite messages
– What we’ve learned from teaching and podcasting
– Future plans: podcast notes, higher-level content, current events & more!

🎙️ The Bitesize Chinese Podcast helps you bridge the gap between classroom Mandarin and how people actuallyspeak — with all the quirks, slang, and culture that come with it. Each bi-weekly episode is a bite-sized challenge designed to stretch your skills and bring you from intermediate to almost advanced — one conversation at a time. Tune in, take a bite, and keep growing with us! 🎧💬

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

Did you know that one little word like 聽 (tīng) can express seven different meanings in Mandarin? 👂 In this episode, Mindy and Joeru break down the differences between 聽, 聽了, 沒聽, 聽到, 沒聽到, 聽得到, and 聽不到

You’ll learn how to tell the difference between:
✅ listening vs. hearing
✅ completed vs. failed actions
✅ ability vs. result
And you’ll walk away ready to describe what you can (and can’t!) hear — all in Mandarin.

🎯 Today’s Topic: the different meanings of 聽, 聽了, 沒聽, 聽到, 沒聽到, 聽得到, and 聽不到

🗣 Listener Challenge:
What can you hear from your window right now? Describe it in Mandarin and tag us @bitesize.chinese — we’d love to hear what your world sounds like! 🌏👂

🍰 About Bitesize Basics 🍰
Welcome to 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 — a podcast series for beginner Mandarin learners (A1)! Each episode teaches one useful grammar point or vocabulary set through fun, practical conversations. Learn with Mindy and Joeru and build your Mandarin step by step! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for this week’s vocabulary recap and practice tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

🎉 🎉 🎉
We’re celebrating 200 episodes — and we want you in it!
Bitesize Chinese is turning 200 episodes, and we’re making a special episode featuring your voice.
Send us a short voice message (10–20 seconds) to:
– Share a funny or meaningful learning story
– Tell us your favorite episode
– Or ask us anything — about Chinese, teaching, or Holden the cat 🐈
🧡 Submit your voice via DM or check the “Ep.200” Story Highlight on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for details!
Submission Deadline: Nov 6, 2025

---

Every country has its unique soundtrack — and Taiwan’s everyday sounds are full of memories and stories. In this episode, Joeru takes us on an audio journey through the sounds that define life in Taiwan — from morning cicadas and buzzing scooters to the evening garbage trucks that play cheerful tunes.

In this episode, we cover:
– Why cicadas mean “summer has arrived” ☀️
– The sounds that fill Taipei mornings: scooters, alarms, and busy streets 🛵
– Iconic tones from FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, and the MRT 🎶
– Why Taiwan’s musical garbage trucks surprise so many foreigners 🗑️
– A night call from the black-crowned night heron, Taiwan’s slow-walking park bird 🐦

🗣 Listener Challenge:
What sound reminds you of home? 🎧 Share it with us on Instagram — @bitesize.chinese

☕️ About Bitesize Talks:
Welcome to ☕️ 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 ☕️ — a podcast series designed for A1–A2 level Mandarin learners who want a bit more challenge! Join Mindy and Joeru as they share casual, real-life stories in natural Mandarin, helping you grow your confidence one conversation at a time. 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese or Facebook for this week’s key vocabulary and tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting

🎉 🎉 🎉
We’re celebrating 200 episodes — and we want you in it!
Bitesize Chinese is turning 200 episodes, and we’re making a special episode featuring your voice.
Send us a short voice message (10–20 seconds) to:
– Share a funny or meaningful learning story
– Tell us your favorite episode
– Or ask us anything — about Chinese, teaching, or Holden the cat 🐈
🧡 Submit your voice via DM or check the “Ep.200” Story Highlight on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for details!
Submission Deadline: Nov 6, 2025

---

Have you ever wondered how animals “speak Chinese”? 🐶🐱🦟 In this episode, Mindy and Joeru explore some of the cutest (and funniest) sound words in Mandarin. You’ll learn how these onomatopoeic words are used in real sentences and how they make Mandarin storytelling come alive.

🎯 Today’s Topic: Animal sounds and human noises (onomatopoeic)

🗝 Key Sentence: Holden不常喵喵叫。(Holden bù cháng miāo miāo jiào。)

🗣 Listener Challenge:
What’s a fun sound word in your language? Share it with us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese!

🍰 About Bitesize Basics 🍰
Welcome to 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 — a podcast series for beginner Mandarin learners (A1)! Each episode teaches one useful grammar point or vocabulary set through fun, practical conversations. Learn with Mindy and Joeru and build your Mandarin step by step! 📱 Follow us on Instagram @bitesize.chinese for this week’s vocabulary recap and practice tips!

🔅 Buy us a coffee｜贊助我們一杯咖啡
🔅 Leave a comment | 留言給我
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Website
🪷 Bitesize Chinese 一口中文 Instagram
🪷 Learn Chinese with us | 跟我們學中文

Powered by Firstory Hosting