ChinesePod - Beginner

Never thought we'd one day be just another illiteracy statistic, but, alas, learning Mandarin can be a humbling undertaking. If you just wrote down your name and the squinting clerk is turning the paper upsidedown, sideways and backward, this podcast is for you. Do not be daunted! Listen and learn how to get someone to write a Chinese character for you. And do not despair--literacy initiatives have worked in developing countries. There's hope for us yet. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0616

Men everywhere know about the fury of the woman scorned, but that holds nothing in comparison to that of a hormone-raging, pubescent, Sweet Valley High novel-reading youth. In this podcast we revisit our Chinese friend Yang Jie, and this time, she's furious. Follow along as the diary leaves the page and turns into a reality-show-gone-bad lesson in Mandarin. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0806

Since 'politically correct' is getting kind of old, ChinesePod today teeters on the edge of controversy with a purely shallow Mandarin Chinese lesson on looks. In this podcast, learn all about making disparaging comments about a person's appearance. Of course, we at ChinesePod do not advocate judging a person by their physical attributes... but jerks learn Chinese too, so we hereby discharge our duty to the meanies of the Chinese-learning world. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0612

In this excerpt from Yang Jie aka the Princess' Diary, we get to see how a library date pans out for the under-appreciated Wang Wei. Will he make a move while pretending to be reaching for a book on a shelf? Will he impress with his knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System? Let's see if it works, as you listen to this podcast with some Mandarin Chinese love in the library. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0718

Let's face it. With the rising temperatures of summer, some of those around you may not realize that they are a little bit stinky. Today we are going to give a lesson on how to give a subtle (or not-so-subtle) hint in Chinese regarding that certain funk wafting in your direction. Learn in Mandarin how to tell someone to take a shower. You can thank us later. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0606

You know the old adage: if they don't find you handsome, they better find you brainy. It's revenge of the nerds in this episode of Diaries of our Lives. We hear from Wang Wei as he breaks out into Mr. Popularity with exam time looming. Listen to this podcast, and hope that some of his brains rub off on you, too, as you attempt this Mandarin lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0698

How to win over Chinese friends and wrangle more dinner invites? It's all about the compliments, people. Learning how to wax poetic about food bodes well for your future popularity with your new-found partners in calories. In this podcast, learn to rhapsodize in Mandarin over the cookery, and secure your future place at the dinner table. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0603

The romance seems to be escalating. Things are getting juicy. They've gone from studying to eating to... utterly scandalous... watching movies together. Where will our two lovers go from here... listen to this podcast and read along with us as Li Yan continues to bare her deep thoughts, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0689

You're in the place aptly dubbed "Book City," and the masses of Chinese characters overwhelm you like the masses of humanity you just jostled through to find the information counter. Not an ABC in sight. So, how to get the elusive English book you seek (or at least a procurable substitute)? Listen to this podcast, and learn how to ask for English books, using Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0601

It's about time the nerds of the world got some respect. Bookworm Wang Wei seems to be trying to win the heart of fair Yang Jie. What does Yang Jie really think of this scholarly specimen? Is the way to her heart through the library? Let's snoop, in this podcast, where we look into a girl's not-so-deep thoughts, in Mandarin Chinese. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/0670