Today’s question comes from Ashley, who asks us how we managed to learn Chinese.

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact: From zero skyscrapers in 1978 to 283, how Shenzhen got put on the map.
• Hollie’s news: Thousands hunt for mysterious creature, hearing dragon’s humming.

The Mistakes We Made:

1. 1 word = 1 Chinese character

2. Saying things too slowly

3. Trying to translate from English

4. Ignoring Chinese characters / trying to memorize by writing them over and over again

5. Being worried about speaking and understanding

6. Sticking to comfortable environments

7. Avoiding communicating until I’ve studied more

• Our word of the episode is ‘study’ 学习 (xué xí)
• You can support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new Chinese character course.
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below!

• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC145 – All the Ridiculous Mistakes We’ve Made Trying to Learn Chinese, Episode 145 appeared first on Written Chinese.

Today’s question comes from Mike. He asks, ‘Is it common for Chinese families not to tell a loved one that they have cancer?’

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact: An update with some actual concrete info regarding China’s latest visa expert policies.
• Hollie’s news: Hebei farmer has spent 17 years growing trees into chairs.
• We discuss some of the themes of The Farewell, also known as 别告诉她 (bié gào su tā) ‘Don’t Tell Her’, including:
  • individualism vs collectivism
  • how cancer and death is dealt with in China and Chinese families
  • the ethics of lying
  • the doctor’s dilemma
• Listen to our episode on honoring the dead in China
• Our word of the episode is ‘don’t’ 别 (bié)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new Chinese character course.
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC144 – The Farewell, Episode 144 appeared first on Written Chinese.

Today’s question comes from William. He asks, ‘What’s a typical Chinese wedding ceremony like, and is it different for weddings between foreigners and Chinese?’

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact: Fun Taobao Stats
• Hollie’s news: New Craze over Headphone Wire Waist Challenge

• A ‘typical’ Chinese wedding
• Chris’s wedding in Australia
  • Follow Chris on Instagram @chrisedwards_au.
  • Listen to the previous episodes with Chris:
    • TWCC09 – Meeting the Chinese-in-laws
    • TWCC24 – Chinese Etiquette
• The 6 Etiquettes of a Traditional Chinese Wedding Ceremony
• Chris’s Wedding Song:

• Our word of the episode is ‘wedding’ 婚礼 (hūn lǐ)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC143 – Your Chinese Wedding, Episode 143 appeared first on Written Chinese.

Today’s question comes from Melissa. She asks, ‘How do you bake in China without an oven?’

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact about China: Chinese Woman Drops in on Work Colleagues from a Height of 300 Metres
• Hollie’s news: Woman discovers hidden camera inside Uniqlo dressing room in Shenzhen

• Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners using the toaster oven
• Baking cakes and bread
• Making stock for soups, homemade hummus, salsa, etc
• Making ‘taco’ and fajita mix
• Lack of DIY culture in China
  • Handicrafts emerging slowly
  • The emergence of ‘Maker’ movement
  • Most people don’t even have a toolbox at home

• Our word of the episode is ‘oven’ 烤箱 (kǎo xiāng)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC142 – Bread and Cake When There are No Ovens to be Found, Episode 142 appeared first on Written Chinese.

Today’s question comes from Charmaine. She asks, do young Chinese people still spend money on luxury brands? Or are they spending more on travelling?

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact about China: What China’s Arcade-Game Obsession Says About the Future of Retail Gamification
• Hollie’s news: Jiangsu driver fails breathalyzer test after eating durian
• What young and married Chinese spend money on
• Luxury shoppers in China
• China’s hard-working millennials see luxury as their reward
• Young couples with children
• Our word of the week is ‘to spend money’ 花钱 (huā qián)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC141 – Money Spending Habits in China, Episode 141 appeared first on Written Chinese.

Today’s question comes from Christian. He asks, What Western products do you miss from home? What do you usually bring back to China from home when you go?

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact about China: Luckin’ Coffee’s IPO ‘ The Starbucks of China’
• Hollie’s news: Taiwanese man swallows Airpod while sleeping, still uses it after pooping it back out
• A few things we bring back to China
• Our word of the week is ‘product’ 产品 (chǎn pǐn)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC140 – Things You Still Can’t Get in China, Episode 140 appeared first on Written Chinese.

This week, our question comes from Donna, who asked us what it’s like to live in a city during the hot months.

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Nora’s fact about China: Another Tesla spontaneously combusts, this time in China
• Hollie’s news: Would You Wait in Line with 7,000 People for Dinner?!
• Learn more about China’s Three Furnaces
• Top 10 Furnace Cities in China
• How people stay cool in cities
• Ancient China Ways to Keep Cool
• All about FAN DEATH
• Our word of the week is ‘air conditioning’ 空调 (kōng tiáo)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• Written Chinese is our sponsor
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC139 – China’s Furnace Cities, Episode 139 appeared first on Written Chinese.

This week, Nora and Hollie get on a call to catch up during the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• What Shenzhen looks like during the virus
• Restrictions and rules
• Some myths about the coronavirus
• How people feel about the virus in the U.S. and small-town America
• Thank you for everyone who has supported us and we really appreciate everyone for staying subscribed.
• You can support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• Written Chinese is our sponsor
• To learn Chinese, try out our Online Dictionary.
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post BONUS EPISODE 3 – COVID-19 Coronavirus: Inside China and Out, Bonus 3 appeared first on Written Chinese.

This week, well…join us for some background madness whilst we come clean about what on earth has been going on for the last 7 months…

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• What the heck happened!
• Thank you for everyone who has supported us and we really appreciate everyone for staying subscribed.
• You can support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• Written Chinese is our sponsor
• To learn Chinese, try out our Online Dictionary.
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Or download to your Android device using Podbean.
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review wherever you’re listening!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post BONUS EPISODE 2 – WHAT HAPPENED…, Bonus 2 appeared first on Written Chinese.

This week, our topic comes from Kathy, who asks us about the preferred accent in China.

If you want to ask us a question just go to our voicemail page and leave us your question!

• Easy to read little facts about Chinese culture that Nora mentioned
• Hollie’s news: Shareable makeup booths are now a thing in China
• Difference between dialect and accent
• The Beijing accent
• Focusing on pronunciation when learning Chinese
• Check out MandarinHQ to perfect your accent
• Our word of the week is ‘accent’ 口音 (kǒu yin)
• You can now support us on Patreon!
• Check out our new ‘Ultimate Packing List for China‘ (contains affiliate links)
• DON’T FORGET TO CLAIM YOUR FREE WRITTEN CHINESE DICTIONARY FLASHCARDS! Use the promo code ‘twowhitechicks’ for your free set of dating flashcards. Read these instructions to claim your Chinese flashcards!
• If you have a question for us, please send us a voicemail or leave us a message below! People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show
• Written Chinese is our sponsor
• To learn more Chinese words, you can try out our Online Dictionary, or alternatively, you can check out our Written Chinese Dictionary app!
• Send us a Voicemail!
• Visit us and give us a ‘like’ on our Two White Chicks Facebook page!

• Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for our next topic and another question from one of our listeners!

• Direct Download: Right-click here and click “Save As” for a direct download
• Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast player for free!
• Or download to your Android device using Stitcher
• Download the Chinese app 荔枝FM (Lizhi FM) and search for Two White Chicks in China or FM854237. Follow the instructions for using Lizhi here.
• If you enjoyed this episode, leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts!
• Alternatively, you can leave us a comment below!

Thanks for listening, guys! – Hollie & Nora

The post TWCC138 – What’s the Sexiest Chinese Accent?, Episode 138 appeared first on Written Chinese.