I'm Learning Mandarin

Five Mandarin phrases I've learned navigating daily life in Taiwan


Listen Later

Links:


My blog: https://imlearningmandarin.com/


Mandarin Retreats: https://imlearningmandarin.com/uk-mandarin-immersion-retreats/


--


New vocabulary learned:


  • 1. 甜筒
    Pinyin: tián tǒng
    English: Ice cream cone

    • = sweet

    • = tube/cone (refers to the cone shape)

    • Together, this means an ice cream cone.


  • 2. 中焙 / 中深焙 (used in the context of coffee roasting)

    • 中焙
      Pinyin: zhōng bèi
      English: Medium roast

      • = middle / medium

      • = to roast (especially coffee or tea)

      • This is a medium roast — a balanced roast level often used for drip coffee.


  • 3. 原路折返
    Pinyin: yuán lù zhé fǎn
    English: To return by the original route / retrace one’s steps

    • 原路 = original path / the same road

    • 折返 = to turn back / go back

    • Often used in navigation, or metaphorically in life to mean going back the way you came.


  • 4. 知难而退
    Pinyin: zhī nán ér tuì
    English: To retreat in the face of difficulties / to back off when realizing something is too hard

    • = to know

    • = difficulty

    • = and / yet / but (classical-style connector)

    • 退 = to retreat / withdraw

    • Refers to making a wise decision to step back after recognizing a challenge is too tough to overcome. Sometimes used to describe prudence, sometimes cowardice, depending on context.


  • 5. 隐眼 (shortened form of 隐形眼镜)
    Pinyin: yǐn yǎn
    English: Contact lenses

    • = hidden

    • = eye

    • Short for 隐形眼镜 (yǐn xíng yǎn jìng) = invisible (contact) lenses

    • Colloquial and very commonly used in Taiwan and among young people.

  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    I'm Learning MandarinBy Mi Kai

    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    5 ratings


    More shows like I'm Learning Mandarin

    View all
    You Can Learn Chinese by Jared Turner

    You Can Learn Chinese

    121 Listeners

    大人的Small Talk by 大人學

    大人的Small Talk

    251 Listeners

    ChinesePod - Beginner by ChinesePod LLC

    ChinesePod - Beginner

    101 Listeners

    MaoMi Chinese by MaoMi Chinese

    MaoMi Chinese

    54 Listeners

    TeaTime Chinese 茶歇中文 by Nathan Rao

    TeaTime Chinese 茶歇中文

    86 Listeners

    TED中文 by TED

    TED中文

    16 Listeners