Learning a new language can become a gateway to exploring an undiscovered side of yourself. Find out how in this lesson. In the dialogue, Xiao-Li (小李) and A-Ming (阿明) realize there's nothing to drink in Xiao-Li's apartment.

Whether we like it or not, a lot of things happen in life just by accident. Some talents, skills, or passions may lie dormant, just because we never had the opportunity to uncover them. Learning a new language can be a second chance to explore what intrigues you, and to do so from an entirely different angle -- and in an entirely different language! 

In this episode, I talk about how learning Mandarin broadened my taste in music, and taught me the joy of singing. 

Here are a couple of my favorite 王菲 songs:

• 我願意
• 百年孤獨

Lesson Outline:

1. [00:21] How can learning Mandarin help you explore an undiscovered new side of yourself? 
2. [07:17] Introduction to the dialogue
3. [07:45] Dialogue (normal speed)
4. [08:47] Slow version (and repeat)
5. [11:37] Useful vocabulary and phrases from the dialogue
6. [18:03] Dialogue again (normal speed) 

Words and phrases from the dialogue, with examples (中文 only):

1. 終於
   1. 終於到了！
   2. 終於看到你了！
   3. 你終於來了！
2. 整理 
   1. 我要整理行李 
   2. 麻煩你整理一下
   3. 你可以幫我整理嗎？
3. 而且 
   1. 這家餐廳很好吃，而且很便宜！
   2. 今天下雨，而且很冷 
   3. 美國的火車很貴，而且很慢！
4. 出汗
   1. 我出了很多汗 
   2. 我很愛出汗 
5. 記得
   1. 記得多喝水哦！
   2. 記得練習中文！
   3. 你要記得我！
   4. 我不記得了 
6. 其實 
   1. 其實，我不知道 
   2. 其實，我覺得還不錯 
   3. 其實，我都可以 
7. 常、常常、很常 
   1. 台北常常下雨 
   2. 你常常遲到 
   3. 你常常問我這個問題 
8. 剛剛 
   1. 我剛剛在想... 
   2. 我剛剛看到他！
   3. 你剛剛說什麼？
9. 而已 
   1. 一百塊而已！很便宜！
   2. 你剛剛來而已！
   3. 其實，我要你記得我，這樣而已 
10. 一瓶 
    1. 一瓶水 
    2. 一瓶冰水 
    3. 一瓶冰茶 
    4. 兩瓶冰水 
    5. 四瓶咖啡 
11. 關掉 
    1. 電視要關掉 
    2. 記得關燈 
    3. 音樂可以關掉 

Words and phrases from the dialogue, with examples (w/ pinyin and translation):

1. 終於 / zhōngyú / finally
   1. 終於到了！/ zhōngyú dàole! / (We've) finally arrived!
   2. 終於看到你了！/ zhōngyú kàn dào nǐle! / I finally saw you / found you!
   3. 你終於來了！/ nǐ zhōngyú láile! / You finally came!
2. 整理 / zhěnglǐ / to organize, to pack, to tidy up
   1. 我要整理行李 / wǒ yào zhěnglǐ háng lǐ / I want to organize my luggage
   2. 麻煩你整理一下 / máfan nǐ zhěnglǐ yīxià / Please tidy up a bit
   3. 你可以幫我整理嗎？/ nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ zhěnglǐ ma? / Can you help me tidy up?
3. 而且 / érqiě / moreover, but also
   1. 這家餐廳很好吃，而且很便宜！/ zhè jiā cāntīng hěn hào chī, érqiě hěn piányí! / This restaurant isn't just delicious, it's also cheap!
   2. 今天下雨，而且很冷 / jīntiān xià yǔ, érqiě hěn lěng / It didn't just rain today, it's also really cold.
   3. 美國的火車很貴，而且很慢！/ měiguó de huǒchē hěn guì, érqiě hěn màn! / American trains aren't just expensive, they're also slow!
4. 出汗 / chū hàn / to sweat
   1. 我出了很多汗 / wǒ chūle hěnduō hàn / I sweat a lot (at a specific time)
   2. 我很愛出汗 / wǒ hěn ài chū hàn / I sweat a lot (in general)
5. 記得 / jìdé / to remember
   1. 記得多喝水哦！/ jìdé duō hē shuǐ ó! / Remember to drink lots of water!
   2. 記得練習中文！/ jìdé liànxí zhōngwén! / Remember to practice Chinese!
   3. 你要記得我！/ Nǐ yào jìdé wǒ! / You must remember me!
   4. 我不記得了 / Wǒ bù jìdéle / I don't remember
6. 其實 / qíshí / actually
   1. 其實，我不知道 / qíshí, wǒ bù zhīdào / Actually, I don't know
   2. 其實，我覺得還不錯 / qíshí, wǒ juédé hái bùcuò / Actually, I feel it's not bad
   3. 其實，我都可以 / qíshí, wǒ dū kěyǐ / Actually, I'm OK with whatever
7. 常、常常、很常 / cháng, chángcháng, hěn cháng / often
   1. 台北常常下雨 / táiběi chángcháng xià yǔ / Taipei often rains
   2. 你常常遲到 / nǐ chángcháng chídào / You often arrive late
   3. 你常常問我這個問題 / nǐ chángcháng wèn wǒ zhège wèntí / You often ask me this question
8. 剛剛 / gānggāng / just now
   1. 我剛剛在想... / wǒ gānggāng zài xiǎng... / I was just thinking...
   2. 我剛剛看到他！/ wǒ gānggāng kàn dào tā! / I just saw him!
   3. 你剛剛說什麼？/ Nǐ gānggāng shuō shénme? / What did you just say?
9. 而已 / éryǐ / only, merely
   1. 一百塊而已！很便宜！/ yībǎi kuài éryǐ! Hěn piányí! / Only 100 dollars! So cheap!
   2. 你剛剛來而已！/ nǐ gānggāng lái éryǐ! / You just got here!
   3. 其實，我要你記得我，這樣而已 / qíshí, wǒ yào nǐ jìdé wǒ, zhèyàng éryǐ / Actually, I want you to remember me, that's all.
10. 一瓶 / yī píng / one bottle (measure word)
    1. 一瓶水 / yī píng shuǐ / One bottle of water
    2. 一瓶冰水 / yī píng bīng shuǐ / A bottle of ice water
    3. 一瓶冰茶 / yī píng bīng chá / A bottle of iced tea
    4. 兩瓶冰水 / liǎng píng bīng shuǐ / Two bottles of ice water
    5. 四瓶咖啡 / sì píng kāfēi / Four bottles of coffee
11. 關掉 / guān diào / To close, to turn off
    1. 電視要關掉 / diànshì yào guān diào / Turn off the TV
    2. 記得關燈 / jìdé guān dēng / Remember to turn off the light
    3. 音樂可以關掉 / yīnyuè kěyǐ guān diào / You can turn off the music

Thanks for listening! 

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