Mandarin Blueprint

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The Mandarin Blueprint Podcast focuses primarily on The Mandarin Blueprint Method online curriculum. Creators Luke Neale & Phil Crimmins answer questions and comments, discuss topics related to China and Mandarin learning and have special guests.

This blog post explains the theory behind props and Chinese character components.

CHAD RESSLER ON PICK A PROP 彳

Since I already had Bruce Lee, I had to go with Steven Seagal.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 半

I picked half of a brain. It has almost the same look with the sulci and gyri. It has textures – squishy (hence a great sound effect) and invokes a somewhat “ewww, gross!” emotion. And location-wise it’s anatomically close to the horns.

ELARY HALL ON PICK A PROP 乞

I think that this goes really well with a Jack in the box, there’s this lid, and then the component underneath really looks like a J.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 只

I picked a tiger because the first time I heard about zhi as a measure word was from 两只老虎 (a children’s song). And my ONLY daughter was born in the year of the Tiger.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 七

A junk sailboat sailing the seven seas。 ~~~七

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 氵

I picked …. saliva. Such a fun prop. It has smell, texture, sound and evokes emotions.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 从

The Minions. They’re cute, have personalities, borderline annoying and will follow you everywhere.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 代

Packets of Splenda.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 化

I picked Son Goku.

A person, who’s searching for 7 dragon balls and able to transform into a Super Saiyan.

IJA AMRAHI ON PICK A PROP 乚

I picked Maui’s fish hook (from Moana)

This blog post explains the theory behind actors and Pinyin Initials.

JAY ANDERSON ON CASTING CALL FU- 34/55

Fawlty, Basil (John Cleese in Fawlty Towers)

LINNEA ON CASTING CALL ZH- 10/55

Jim Carrey

IJA AMRAHI ON CASTING CALL DU- 15/55

I picked Doraemon.

Other close choices:

IJA AMRAHI ON CASTING CALL KU- 22/55

The only character that I could relate with “ku-” is Po from Kungfu Panda. There’s a potential confusion with “pu-” but Pikachu is a much vivid “pu-” actor for me.

IJA AMRAHI O