Explore every episode of the podcast Little Mandarin: Learn Chinese through conversations
Dive into the complete episode list for Little Mandarin: Learn Chinese through conversations. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Flirting in Mandarin 😏 Playful Expressions S01E55【ENG】暧昧中文 💫
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Flirting in Mandarin 😏 Learn playful Chinese expressions, from “thinking of you” to “want to grab coffee together?” 💫 Perfect for fun daily chats, bar talk, or texting with someone special.
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Learn how to give cute compliments in Mandarin 💕 From “you’re so cute” to “your smile is so bright,” this episode will teach you natural, everyday expressions that make conversations warmer. Perfect for friends, partners, and anyone you want to make smile!
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🍢🍜 After karaoke comes the best part — midnight snacks! In this episode, we explore Chinese 夜宵 culture, from BBQ skewers to hot dry noodles. Learn how to use “要不要…?” to invite friends, plus key Mandarin words you can use at a late-night food stall. Perfect for learners who want real-life, tasty Mandarin! 🌙✨
English translation: After singing, we went to eat late-night snacks. 🎤🍢 There were many food stalls: skewers, hot dry noodles, spicy hotpot. We ordered some lamb skewers and beer. Everyone was eating and chatting at the same time. Even very late at night, there were still many people on the street. That night, we felt tired, but also very happy.
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🎤 Ready to sing your heart out? In this episode, we dive into karaoke nightlife in China — also known as KTV! Learn how to say “I want to sing,” how to order songs, and some fun cultural details about Chinese karaoke. Perfect for beginners (HSK1–3) who want to practice Mandarin in a fun, real-life context. Don’t miss Thursday’s follow-up episode on late-night snacks after karaoke! 🍢🍜
English translation: Last night, I went to karaoke with my friends. 🎤 First, we ordered songs, and each person chose one. I sang a Chinese song, they sang English songs. Some people sang really well, some didn’t, but everyone was happy. We drank some beer and ate some snacks. 🍟🍺 We sang until very late, still laughing, still singing. That night, we were tired, but very happy.
Sweet or Salty? 🍡🥟 Mandarin Snack Talk S01E53【ENG】甜还是咸
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🍡🥟 Sweet or salty? In this episode, we compare China’s favorite snacks — tanghulu, jianbing, baozi, and youtiao. You’ll learn how to make comparisons in Mandarin, expand your snack vocabulary, and enjoy a cozy reflection on how these little foods connect people.
Actually, whether it’s sweet or savory, street snacks always carry a special vibe. Eating tanghulu in winter makes your mouth sweet, grabbing a jianbing in the morning feels convenient and warm, or sharing soy milk and fried dough with a friend. These snacks are simple, but behind them is connection between people. What you taste isn’t just the flavor, but also the feeling of the moment.
Autumn Street Food Vibes 🌰🍂 Learn Mandarin S01E53【ENG】街头小吃
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🍠🌰🌽 Let’s talk about the cozy street foods of autumn in China — roasted sweet potatoes, corn, and chestnuts! In this episode, you’ll learn useful Mandarin words, how to say your “favorite,” and enjoy a warm reflection on why these simple snacks make life feel so comforting.
You know, these street snacks are really simple, but they always make people happy. In winter, holding a hot roasted sweet potato and eating it while walking makes you feel warm all over. Chestnuts too — peeling the shell slowly while chatting with friends makes time feel slower. It’s not really about the special taste, but about how these little things make the whole day feel more comfortable.
Polite Mandarin 🌸 Talking with Seniors S01E52【ENG】礼貌尊敬的表达
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🌸 In this episode, we learn polite and respectful ways to talk with seniors in Mandarin. Practice using “请” with “您,” review 又 and 再, and discover expressions full of warmth and care.
In China, when we talk with seniors, we often add a little more politeness. For example, saying “nín hǎo,” or “please sit” — it’s not only about being polite, it’s about showing care. When elders hear it, they feel warm inside. Most of the time, they don’t need big gifts, they just hope you can spend more time with them and say things like “please take care” or “please walk safely.” These small sentences are simple and everyday, but they mean a lot to elders.
Autumn Activities 🍂 Chongyang Festival in Mandarin S01E52【ENG】秋天活动与重阳节
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Let’s talk about autumn activities in Mandarin and the Chongyang Festival (重阳节). Learn new seasonal words, practice grammar with 又 and 再, and discover the meaning of this traditional festival.
In China, the Chongyang Festival is not really a “big and noisy” holiday. It feels more like a reminder — that the elders at home need our company. Many people are busy, but on this day, they remember to make a phone call, to go back for a visit. Climbing a mountain, eating cake, drinking tea — these all seem like small things, but really, they’re reasons to bring family together. Doing it again every year — that’s the meaning of a festival.
Life’s Flavors 🌶️🍋 Talking About Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy, Salty in Mandarin S01E51【ENG】酸甜苦辣咸
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Let’s explore the five flavors of Chinese food — sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty! In this episode, you’ll learn how to describe taste in Mandarin, practice the grammar 很 / 有点, and discover how flavors are also a metaphor for life.
English translation: Have you noticed that sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty are not just flavors? In life, we also experience them. Sour is when you feel sad and want to cry; sweet is those happy, joyful moments; bitter is when you work late or study hard — tired, but you keep going; spicy is like facing challenges — a little painful, but unforgettable; and salty is the daily routine, sometimes plain, but it’s the foundation of life. Just like hotpot needs many different seasonings, life also needs all these flavors mixed together to be complete.
Hotpot Time 🍲🔥 Talking About Chinese Hotpot in Mandarin S01E51【ENG】火锅
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🍲🔥 Let’s talk about Chinese hotpot (火锅 huǒguō)! In this episode, you’ll learn fun and useful Mandarin words to describe hotpot, practice the grammar 一边…一边… (doing two things at the same time), and discover why hotpot is not just food, but also a way of connecting with friends. Cozy, warm, and delicious!
In China, hotpot is not only food, it’s also a way of socializing. Friends gather together, chatting slowly, eating slowly. When eating hotpot, you don’t need to rush, because the most important thing is the company.
Sweet Autumn Treats 🍰🌰 Desserts in Mandarin S01E50【ENG】秋天的甜品
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🍰🌰 Autumn isn’t just about fruits — it’s also dessert season! In today’s episode, we explore autumn sweets in Mandarin, from roasted chestnuts and pumpkin cakes to red bean soup and osmanthus cake. You’ll learn new words, a fun grammar point, and how Chinese people enjoy these cozy treats.
English One of the most common autumn treats in China is roasted chestnuts. When you walk on the street, you often smell that aroma — it really feels like autumn. There are also red bean soup and pumpkin cakes, which are simple homemade snacks. Mooncakes are, of course, part of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but many people still buy them later in autumn and enjoy them with tea. Osmanthus cake is also special, because autumn is exactly when osmanthus flowers bloom.
Autumn Fruits 🍐🍂 Talking About Autumn Fruits in Mandarin S01E50【ENG】秋天的水果
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Autumn is here! In today’s episode, we talk about autumn fruits in Mandarin — apples, grapes, persimmons, pears, and more. You’ll learn how to say them, plus some fun cultural details about how Chinese people enjoy fruit in daily life.
Autumn fruits are really interesting. When you walk through the market, you’ll see bunches of grapes hanging there — purple ones, green ones, all fresh and shiny. Persimmons also start to appear, some soft, some firm, and Chinese people love buying them in autumn. Apples don’t even need an introduction — almost every family has them on the table, ready to grab and eat. Pears are also delicious in autumn, but you have to be careful if you give them as a gift, because the word for pear, lí, sounds the same as lí meaning “to separate.” That’s why people usually avoid giving pears to couples. So you see, autumn fruits in China are not only tasty, they’re also connected to daily habits and cultural traditions.
Mid-Autumn Festival 🌕🥮 Celebrate the Full Moon Together S01E49【ENG】中秋节
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
It’s Mid-Autumn Festival time! 🌕🥮 In this episode, we talk about family reunions, mooncakes, and why the full moon is so special in Chinese culture. You’ll learn simple Mandarin words and sentences to describe this beautiful festival. ✨
我跟家人一起吃月饼。 I eat mooncakes together with my family.
我和家人一起吃饭。 I eat meals with my family.
我喜欢跟朋友聊天。 I like to chat with friends.
我喜欢和朋友看电影。 I like to watch movies with friends.
Key Vocabulary with Examples
月亮 (yuèliàng) – moon 今天晚上月亮很圆。 The moon is very round tonight.
月饼 (yuèbǐng) – mooncake 我们在中秋节吃月饼。 We eat mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival.
家人 (jiārén) – family 我喜欢和家人在一起。 I like being with my family.
灯笼 (dēnglóng) – lantern 孩子们在公园里看灯笼。 The children watch lanterns in the park.
团圆 (tuányuán) – reunion 中秋节是家人团圆的节日。 Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival for family reunion.
节日 (jiérì) – festival 春节是中国最重要的节日。 Spring Festival is the most important festival in China.
吃饭 (chīfàn) – to eat a meal 我每天七点吃饭。 I eat meals at seven o’clock every day.
Short Mandarin Paragraph (Profound Content)
中秋节的时候，我常常想起小时候。家人一起坐在院子里，看月亮，吃月饼。月亮很圆，我们的心也很圆。
During Mid-Autumn Festival, I often think of my childhood. My family would sit together in the yard, watching the moon and eating mooncakes. The moon was round, and so were our hearts.
How Many Days Off Do We Get? 🗓️ Holidays in China S01E48【ENG】假期
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
How many holidays do people in China really get? 🗓️ From one-day breaks like Tomb-Sweeping Day to the famous week-long Golden Week, this episode explains all the official holidays in China. You’ll also learn how to say “only if” in Mandarin, plus key words about vacations and festivals. 🎆✈️
(Translation: China has seven public holidays in a year, such as Spring Festival, National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Labor Day, and New Year’s Day. The longest holidays are Spring Festival and National Day, which people call “Golden Week.” But during this time, there are so many travelers, it’s extremely crowded. If you want to visit China, it’s better to come outside of these holidays — it will be easier and cheaper.)
China’s Big Birthday 🎉 National Day Explained S01E48【ENG】国庆节
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
China’s National Day 🎉 is celebrated every year on October 1st. In this episode, we’ll explore how people celebrate, what “Golden Week” means, and why it’s the busiest travel season of the year. Plus, learn key Mandarin words and phrases you can use when talking about holidays and travel! 🗓️✈️
📝 Grammar of the Day
…的时候 (… de shíhòu) – “when…” Used to describe when something happens.
国庆节的时候，很多人去旅游。 During National Day, many people travel.
小时候，我去看过国庆节的阅兵。 When I was little, I went to see the National Day parade.
🗂️ Key Vocabulary with Examples
国庆节 – National Day 十月一日是中国的国庆节。 October 1st is China’s National Day.
阅兵 – military parade 北京的国庆节阅兵很壮观。 The National Day parade in Beijing is spectacular.
烟花 – fireworks 晚上有很美的烟花表演。 There is a beautiful fireworks show at night.
放假 – have a holiday / time off 国庆节我们会放假。 We have a holiday on National Day.
假期 – holiday, vacation 国庆节有七天假期。 National Day has a seven-day holiday.
旅行 – to travel 很多人利用假期去旅行。 Many people use the holiday to travel.
人山人海 – huge crowds 景点常常人山人海。 Tourist sites are often extremely crowded.
订酒店 – to book a hotel 最好提前订酒店。 It’s best to book a hotel early.
票价 – ticket price 假期票价很贵。 Ticket prices are expensive during holidays.
Example Sentences
十月一日是中国的国庆节。 October 1st is China’s National Day.
北京的国庆节阅兵很壮观。 The National Day parade in Beijing is spectacular.
国庆节我们会放假。 We have a holiday on National Day.
很多人去旅游景点，常常人山人海。 Many people go to tourist attractions, and it’s often extremely crowded.
如果你想旅行，最好早点订酒店。 If you want to travel, it’s best to book a hotel early.
假期的时候，票价很贵。 During holidays, ticket prices are very expensive.
有的人请假，加上周末，可以休息更久。 Some people ask for leave and, with the weekend, can rest even longer.
(Translation: Nowadays, many people like to travel during National Day. But at this time, tourist attractions are often super crowded, and ticket prices are also higher. If you want to come to China, it’s better to avoid National Day and book hotels early. That way your trip will be easier and cheaper.)
Are You Addicted to Stationery? 🖊️ Cute Mandarin Words Inside S01E47【ENG】文具控
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Are you a stationery addict? 🖊️ In this episode, we explore the world of 文具 (wénjù – stationery) and learn how to talk about your favorite pens, notebooks, and cute supplies in Mandarin. You’ll also discover the slang word 控 (kòng), used to describe being “crazy about” something, and practice the super useful grammar word 喜欢 (xǐhuān) — to like. Don’t forget to review Tuesday’s episode too! ✏️📒
喜欢 (xǐhuān) — to like Structure: Subject + 喜欢 + Object
我喜欢买笔记本。 Wǒ xǐhuān mǎi bǐjìběn. I like buying notebooks.
你喜欢文具吗？ Nǐ xǐhuān wénjù ma? Do you like stationery?
✏️ Key Vocabulary with Examples
文具 (wénjù) – stationery 我很喜欢文具。 Wǒ hěn xǐhuān wénjù. I really like stationery.
笔记本 (bǐjìběn) – notebook 我的房间里有很多笔记本。 Wǒ de fángjiān lǐ yǒu hěn duō bǐjìběn. There are many notebooks in my room.
彩色笔 (cǎisè bǐ) – colored pens 她喜欢用彩色笔画画。 Tā xǐhuān yòng cǎisè bǐ huà huà. She likes to draw with colored pens.
胶带 (jiāodài) – tape / washi tape 我买了一卷很可爱的胶带。 Wǒ mǎi le yì juǎn hěn kě’ài de jiāodài. I bought a very cute roll of tape.
明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) – postcard 旅行的时候我会买明信片。 Lǚxíng de shíhou wǒ huì mǎi míngxìnpiàn. I buy postcards when I travel.
文具控 (wénjù kòng) – stationery addict/fanatic 她是个文具控，买了很多笔和本子。 Tā shì gè wénjù kòng, mǎi le hěn duō bǐ hé běnzi. She is a stationery addict; she bought lots of pens and notebooks.
收藏 (shōucáng) – to collect 我喜欢收藏贴纸。 Wǒ xǐhuān shōucáng tiēzhǐ. I like collecting stickers.
可爱 (kě’ài) – cute 这本小笔记本很可爱。 Zhè běn xiǎo bǐjìběn hěn kě’ài. This little notebook is very cute.
Fun Dialogue
A: 你喜欢买文具吗？ Nǐ xǐhuān mǎi wénjù ma? Do you like buying stationery?
B: 喜欢啊，我有很多笔记本和彩色笔。 Xǐhuān a, wǒ yǒu hěn duō bǐjìběn hé cǎisè bǐ. Yes! I have many notebooks and colored pens.
A: 都写完了吗？ Dōu xiě wán le ma? Did you finish writing in all of them?
B: 没有，我只是收藏。😂 Méi yǒu, wǒ zhǐshì shōucáng. No, I just collect them. 😂
A: 哈哈，你真是个文具控！ Hāhā, nǐ zhēn shì gè wénjù kòng! Haha, you really are a stationery addict!
B: 对啊，但是它们都很可爱。 Duì a, dànshì tāmen dōu hěn kě’ài. Yes, but they’re all so cute.
What’s in My Pencil Bag? ✏️ Stationery in Mandarin S01E47【ENG】笔袋
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
What’s hiding inside your pencil bag? ✏️ In this episode, we open it up together and learn how to say common stationery items in Mandarin. From pencils to rulers to colorful pens, you’ll also practice the super useful grammar word 有 (yǒu) — “to have / there is.” Don’t forget to check Thursday’s episode: Are You Addicted to Stationery? 🎒✨
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Math stereotype time ➗🤔! In this episode, we explore the famous cliché: Are Chinese people really good at math? From exam pressure 📚, logic thinking 🧠, to competition and family expectations 👨👩👧👦 — let’s break down the stereotype and learn some useful Mandarin along the way.
(Translation summary after) People often ask: Are all Chinese people good at math? Actually, it’s just a stereotype. China has over a billion people — not everyone can be good at math! Some people love it, some people hate it. In China, math is very important because of exams like the Gaokao, but that doesn’t mean everyone likes it or is good at it.
Math, History, English… 📖 School Subjects in Mandarin S01E46【ENG】学科
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
It’s back-to-school season 📚! In this episode, let’s learn how to say school subjects in Mandarin — from English, Math, and History, to Philosophy, Law, and even Art. 🎨 Don’t forget to check Thursday’s episode where we talk about the cliché: Are Chinese people really good at math? ➕
📌 Grammar of the Day
👉 我喜欢 / 不喜欢 + [学科] = I like / don’t like [subject]
👉 你最喜欢什么课？ = What’s your favorite subject?
🗂️ Key Vocabulary List
英语 – English 我喜欢学英语。 I like studying English.
数学 – Math 数学很难，但是很重要。 Math is difficult, but very important.
语文 – Chinese (subject) 我的语文老师很好。 My Chinese teacher is very nice.
化学 – Chemistry 化学实验很有趣。 Chemistry experiments are interesting.
物理 – Physics 我不太懂物理。 I don’t really understand physics.
生物 – Biology 生物课要记很多词。 Biology class requires memorizing many words.
历史 – History 我喜欢中国历史。 I like Chinese history.
地理 – Geography 地理可以帮助我们了解世界。 Geography helps us understand the world.
政治 – Politics 我们明天有政治考试。 We have a politics exam tomorrow.
法律 – Law 她在大学学习法律。 She studies law at university.
哲学 – Philosophy 哲学让我思考人生。 Philosophy makes me think about life.
宗教 – Religion 他在大学学习宗教。 He studies religion at university.
经济学 – Economics 经济学很实用。 Economics is very practical.
心理学 – Psychology 心理学帮助我们理解别人。 Psychology helps us understand others.
音乐 – Music 我会唱很多音乐课的歌。 I can sing many songs from music class.
美术 – Art 美术课让我很放松。 Art class makes me feel relaxed.
体育 – P.E. 我最喜欢体育课。 I like P.E. class the most.
信息技术 / 电脑 – I.T. / Computer Science 他对电脑很感兴趣。 He is very interested in computers.
外语 – Foreign Language 我在学一门外语。 I am learning a foreign language.
Hidden Holidays 🎉 Festivals You May Not Know in China S01E45 【ENG】中国冷门节日
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
🎉 China’s calendar is full of surprises! In this episode, we’ll explore some hidden holidays you may not know—like Laba Festival with warm porridge, Children’s Day just for kids, the spooky Ghost Festival, and more. Learn how to say “festival” in Mandarin, review key words, and practice with a fun dictée at the end! ✏️
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
It’s Teacher’s Day in China! Join me to learn how students celebrate this special day, discover cultural traditions, and practice some essential Mandarin phrases to say “thank you, teacher.” Don’t miss it—you’ll walk away with new words, grammar, and a little inspiration too! ✨
English: Dear Teacher, What you’ve taught us is not only what’s written in books, but also a way of seeing the world. You turn questions into keys, and curiosity into light—helping us notice the small, shining moments, and also guiding us toward a wider world. Wishing you a Happy Teacher’s Day.
《Back to School》 Mode ✏️ Last Chance for Resolutions S01E44【ENG】开学啦！
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Back to School ✏️ September isn’t just for students — it’s for all of us! Think of it as your second New Year 🎉 … maybe the last chance to restart (or actually start) your resolutions before December arrives. In this episode, we’ll learn Mandarin words for school, study, and goals, and talk about how to make September feel like a fresh start. 📚
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
Back to work 🥲 Emails, meetings, coffee machines… September is here and our holidays are officially over! In this episode, let’s make the “back to work” season a little less painful by learning small talk in Mandarin about office life, meetings, coffee, and even complaining in a cute way.
📘 Grammar of the Day
要 (yào) + Verb = need to / going to
我要上班。 I need to go to work.
我们要开会。 We are going to have a meeting.
老板要加班。 The boss wants us to work overtime.
👉 Super easy: 要 + verb = something you’re going to do or need to do.
🗂️ Key Vocabulary + Examples
上班 – shàngbān – to go to work 我每天八点上班。 I go to work at 8 every day.
下班 – xiàbān – to get off work 六点下班，太开心了！ Getting off work at 6, so happy!
加班 – jiābān – overtime 今天要加班。 Today I need to work overtime.
请假 – qǐngjià – to ask for leave 我想请假一天。 I want to take one day off.
同事 – tóngshì – colleague 我的同事很友好。 My colleague is very friendly.
老板 – lǎobǎn – boss 老板要开会。 The boss wants a meeting.
开会 – kāihuì – to have a meeting 我们十点开会。 We have a meeting at 10.
报告 – bàogào – report 我要写一个报告。 I need to write a report.
截止日期 – jiézhǐ rìqī – deadline 截止日期是明天！ The deadline is tomorrow!
项目 – xiàngmù – project 我们有一个新项目。 We have a new project.
电脑 – diànnǎo – computer 我的电脑很慢。 My computer is very slow.
咖啡 – kāfēi – coffee 没有咖啡，我不能上班。 Without coffee, I can’t go to work.
累 – lèi – tired 上班五分钟，累一天。 Five minutes at work, tired all day.
工资 – gōngzī – salary 工资到了！ Salary arrived!
假期综合症 – jiàqī zōnghé zhèng – holiday syndrome 我有假期综合症。 I have holiday syndrome.
Everyday Superstitions in Chinese Life 👻 Don’t Cut Your Nails at Night! S01E43【BILIGO】中国人生活里的小迷信
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
From mirrors facing your bed to whistling in the dark — today’s episode is all about the small but powerful superstitions in daily Chinese life. We’ll talk about why you shouldn’t cut your nails at night, why dried flowers are unlucky, and even why some people avoid taking out the trash after sunset. 🌙🧹🪞
In this bilingual episode, you’ll learn natural Mandarin phrases for describing these everyday "rules," and how to sound more local when talking about life, home, and nighttime habits.
💬 Perfect for HSK2–3 learners who want to go beyond the textbook and understand real Chinese life.
🧧 8 Superstitions You Should Know
1. 晚上不要剪指甲 – Don’t cut your nails at night. In old times, cutting nails in the dark was seen as dangerous. Today, people say it can attract bad luck — or even 招来鬼 (zhāo lái guǐ) — attract spirits.
晚上不要剪指甲，会招来鬼。 Don’t cut your nails at night — it might attract ghosts.
2. 晚上不要吹口哨 – Don’t whistle at night. Whistling is believed to call spirits — especially during 鬼月 (Ghost Month). Even today, many parents tell children: “No whistling after sunset!”
晚上吹口哨不吉利，会引来不干净的东西。 Whistling at night brings bad luck — it attracts unwanted things.
3. 晚上不能倒垃圾 – Don’t take out the trash at night. Some people believe that taking out the trash after dark means throwing away your wealth or luck, especially around festivals or the start of the lunar month.
晚上倒垃圾会把好运也倒掉。 Taking out the trash at night might throw away your good luck too.
4. 不要送钟 – Don’t give someone a clock. 送钟 (sòng zhōng) sounds like 送终 (sòng zhōng) — meaning to attend someone’s funeral. This is especially avoided when visiting older people or celebrating birthdays.
送钟=送终，太不吉利了。 Giving a clock sounds like sending someone off to die — very unlucky.
5. 不要用红笔写名字 – Don’t write names in red. In traditional culture, red ink was used on tombstones or death documents. Writing someone’s name in red is considered unlucky or disrespectful.
千万别用红笔写我名字。 Please don’t write my name in red!
6. 卧室里不能放镜子，尤其是对着床。 In feng shui, mirrors reflect energy. A mirror facing your bed is believed to disrupt your sleep, weaken your energy, or even attract spirits at night.
卧室里最好不要放镜子对着床。 It’s better not to put a mirror facing your bed in the bedroom.
7. 房间里不要放干花。 Dried flowers represent dead energy (死气 sǐqì). They look pretty, but in feng shui, they’re associated with stagnation, sadness, or unlucky love.
干花代表死气，不适合放在房间里。 Dried flowers carry dead energy — not suitable for your living space.
8. 房间角落要打扫干净。 Corners collect 灰尘 (dust) and 晦气 (stagnant energy). Keeping your room tidy — especially the corners — is seen as a way to invite 好运气 (good luck).
家里要常常打扫角落，才会有好运。 You need to clean the corners regularly to keep good luck in your home.
✏️ Grammar of the Day
Today’s structure is simple and very useful in daily speech:
不要 + Verb = Don’t do something 晚上不要 + Verb = Don’t do something at night [Place] 不能 + Verb = You shouldn’t do [something] in [place]
🧠 Examples:
晚上不要剪指甲。 Don’t cut your nails at night.
卧室不能放镜子对着床。 You shouldn’t put a mirror facing your bed.
不要用红笔写名字。 Don’t write names in red.
Attention! why Some Numbers Are Lucky (or Cursed) in China 👻 S01E43【ENG】数字在中国的运气秘密
Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙
From lucky eights to cursed fours — today we explore why numbers in Chinese aren’t just for counting. Some can bring fortune… others, misfortune. 🚪💰 In this episode, we go from 1 to 100, revealing the hidden meanings behind everyday numbers in Chinese culture — and how to talk about them in Mandarin too!
🧧 Don’t forget: Thursday’s episode is the second part of our Superstition series — we’ll explore ghost month, nail-cutting taboos, and more!
一 (yī) — the first, the best. Being 第一 (dì yī) = number one 🥇 Used in awards, school, success. Also means beginnings — simple, clear, powerful.
他是第一名。 He got first place.
二 (èr) — double, couple, harmony. In Chinese culture, good things come in pairs. So 二 often means balance and luck in marriage.
二人世界 A world for two (romantic couple)
喜事成双 Good things come in pairs
三 (sān) — neutral. Often used in idioms, like: 事不过三 — bad things don’t happen more than three times. Also in set phrases: 天地人 (heaven, earth, people) = 3 elements of life.
我们已经讲了三次了。 We’ve already said it three times.
四 (sì) — the spooky one. Sounds like 死 (sǐ) — death. Often avoided in buildings, elevators, hospitals. 14, 24, and 514 = very unlucky
我不住十四楼。 I won’t stay on the 14th floor. 514号房没人住。 No one stays in Room 514.
五 (wǔ) — flexible meaning. On its own, it’s neutral. But paired in slang or dates:
520 (wǔ èr líng) = 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) — I love you 💗 514 = 我要死 — I want to die 😬
今天是520，你跟她表白了吗？ It’s 520 — did you confess to her today?
六 (liù) — very lucky! Sounds like “流 (liú)” = smooth Great for business, exams, weddings 666 is considered awesome (not evil!)
一路顺利！ Hope everything goes smoothly!
他超爱六六六的车牌。 He loves his 666 license plate.
七 (qī) — unlucky in many cases. 七月 = Ghost Month 七年之痒 = the 7-year relationship crisis Also related to traditional mourning rituals
七月不要讲鬼故事。 Don’t tell ghost stories in July.
八 (bā) — king of lucky numbers 💰 Sounds like 发 (fā) — to get rich Used in weddings, phone numbers, business names Also linked with prosperity and growth
她的手机号有很多八。 Her phone number has lots of 8s.
88号房很受欢迎。 Room 88 is super popular.
九 (jiǔ) — long-lasting love 💘 Sounds like 久 (jiǔ) = forever Used in romantic phrases, weddings, and lucky gifts 99 roses = forever love 999 = triple love, maximum luck
他送了她九十九朵玫瑰。 He gave her 99 roses.
十 (shí) — symbol of completeness. Ten fingers, ten points = perfection Getting 满分 (mǎn fēn) = full score = 100%
十全十美 Perfect in every way
💥 Combo Numbers
Let’s talk about some two-digit “combo numbers” that people love — or avoid.
22 (èr èr) Double = balance, good luck Used in addresses and sometimes weddings Aesthetically pleasing number — cute and neat
她喜欢22号楼。 She likes Building 22.
44 (sì sì) ⚠️ Bad! Double death (死死) Very unlucky — strongly avoided in hospitals
这个小区没有44号。 There’s no No. 44 in this neighborhood.
66 (liù liù) Very lucky — “everything goes smoothly” People love to say: 六六大顺！ = Super smooth and successful!
祝你六六大顺！ Wishing you everything goes well!
88 (bā bā) Double fortune! Also used online to say “bye bye” (because “bā bā” sounds like “bye bye”)
她的微信号是88开头的。 Her WeChat starts with 88.
99 (jiǔ jiǔ) Ultimate love number Often used in messages, love letters, flower bouquets
我爱你到99岁。 I’ll love you until you’re 99.
100 (yì bǎi) A perfect score 💯Used for praise, exams, or describing someone you really admire
我考试得了一百分！ I got 100 on my test!
Noodles or Rice? 🍚 Talk Like a Local Foodie in Mandarin S01E42【ENG】米饭还是面？你选哪个？
English Translation: I grew up in the south, and I ate rice every day. Later, I moved to the north and started eating all kinds of noodles. Now I like both. In winter, having a hot bowl of noodle soup is just so comforting.
Order Like a Pro! 🍜 Speak Mandarin at Restaurants S01E42【ENG】点菜怎么说？
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
🐭🐯 From clever rats to sleepy pigs — what does your Chinese zodiac say about you? In this episode, we dive into the legendary zodiac race, how to ask someone’s sign in Mandarin, and how to use simple grammar like “first,” “second,” and “third.” Perfect for beginner learners and curious minds!
🧠 Grammar of the Day: Ordinal Numbers
Today we’ll learn how to say “first,” “second,” “third” in Mandarin.
The pattern is super easy: 第 (dì) + number = ordinal number
第一 – first 第二 – second 第三 – third
Examples:
老鼠是第一名。 The rat is first place.
牛是第二名，因为它很努力。 The ox is second because it worked hard.
这是我第一次来中国。 This is my first time coming to China.
🌏 Cultural Background & Zodiac Story
In Chinese culture, we use the 十二生肖 (shí'èr shēngxiào)—the twelve zodiac animals. Each year in the calendar is assigned one animal in a repeating 12-year cycle.
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
🍂 It’s still hot outside — but in China, autumn has already begun! In this episode, we’ll explore how Chinese seasons work through the lunar calendar and 24 solar terms, starting with today’s special one: 立秋 (lìqiū). You’ll learn practical Mandarin expressions, useful seasonal vocabulary, and fun traditions like 贴秋膘 (eating meat on the first day of autumn!). Plus, a quick preview of the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival 🥮 Let’s welcome autumn the Chinese way!
Grammar – 虽然…但是… (suīrán… dànshì…)
Structure: 虽然 A，但是 B – "Although A, but B"
Example: 虽然今天是立秋，但是天气还很热。 "Although today is lìqiū, the weather is still very hot."
Now try this one: 虽然我很忙，但是我还是想学中文。 "Although I’m busy, I still want to learn Chinese."
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
🌤️ Spring, summer, autumn, winter—how do you talk about your favorite season in Mandarin? In this episode, we’ll cover essential seasonal vocabulary, weather expressions, and grammar patterns to help you chat about the time of year like a local. Plus, a little sneak peek into how Chinese culture defines seasons using the Lunar calendar! Grammar of the Day Here are three sentence structures you can use:
现在是 + season = It’s currently...
Example: 现在是夏天。It’s summer now.
我最喜欢 + season = I like ... the most
Example: 我最喜欢春天。I like spring the most.
Season + 的时候，我喜欢... = During..., I like to...
Example: 秋天的时候，我喜欢去公园。In autumn, I like to go to the park.
Simple Vocabulary
春天 – chūntiān – spring
夏天 – xiàtiān – summer
秋天 – qiūtiān – autumn/fall
冬天 – dōngtiān – winter
天气 – tiānqì – weather
冷 – lěng – cold
热 – rè – hot
舒服 – shūfu – comfortable
下雨 – xiàyǔ – to rain
下雪 – xiàxuě – to snow
Example Sentences
今天是晴天，天气很好。 Today is sunny. The weather is nice.
夏天很热，我每天喝冰水。 It’s hot in summer. I drink ice water every day.
冬天我喜欢喝热茶。 In winter I like to drink hot tea.
秋天的天气很舒服。 The weather in autumn is very comfortable.
春天的时候，我每天去跑步。 In spring, I go jogging every day.
Head Spa Heaven: Why Washing Hair Feels So Good in China 💆♀️ S01E39【ENG】洗头，不只是洗头
31 juil. 2025
00:17:17
🚀 Love learning Mandarin like this? Let’s level up together! Join my 1-on-1 Mandarin classes on Preply — personalized, fun, and built around real-life topics like food, travel, culture, and daily life. 💬🎒🥟
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
What if “washing your hair” didn’t mean rushing through shampoo at home—but lying down in a quiet room, wrapped in a blanket, getting your scalp massaged with ginger water?
In today’s episode, we walk you through a traditional Chinese hair-washing & massage spa routine—all in beginner-friendly Mandarin. You’ll learn practical vocabulary for daily life (like shampoo, scalp, towel) and natural sentence patterns that help you describe a relaxing experience step-by-step.
✨ Grammar of the day: using “先...然后...” (first..., then...) to describe sequences 💡 Vocabulary: shampoo 洗发水, scalp 头皮, massage 按摩, ginger water 生姜水 💬 All sentences include pinyin and translation for easy review.
🧖♀️ Trust me, this is a kind of relaxing Mandarin input you don’t want to miss.
💬 Mandarin and English Transcript (with Pinyin)
你会安排在一个独立的小房间，躺下，店员会帮你盖上一个小毯子，开始帮你梳头，按揉头皮放松。 Nǐ huì ānpái zài yí gè dúlì de xiǎo fángjiān, tǎng xià, diànyuán huì bāng nǐ gài shàng yí gè xiǎo tǎnzi, kāishǐ bāng nǐ shūtóu, ànróu tóupí fàngsōng. You’ll be arranged in a private room and lie down. The staff will cover you with a small blanket, comb your hair, and gently massage your scalp to relax.
用一个木头梳子在干发时清理一下头皮，这样头皮屑、灰尘、油脂会和头皮分开。 Yòng yí gè mùtou shūzi zài gānfà shí qīnglǐ yíxià tóupí, zhèyàng tóupíxiè, huīchén, yóuzhī huì hé tóupí fēnkāi. They use a wooden comb on your dry hair to clean the scalp. This helps separate dandruff, dust, and oil from your scalp.
接下来开始洗头，一般可以选择温水或者生姜水。 Jiē xiàlái kāishǐ xǐtóu, yìbān kěyǐ xuǎnzé wēnshuǐ huòzhě shēngjiāng shuǐ. Then the hair wash begins. Usually, you can choose between warm water or ginger water.
我喜欢生姜水，因为可以生发，而且热热的很舒服。 Wǒ xǐhuān shēngjiāng shuǐ, yīnwèi kěyǐ shēngfà, érqiě rè rè de hěn shūfu. I like ginger water because it helps with hair growth, and the warmth feels very comfortable.
这时候会在按摩头发，用洗发梳。 Zhè shíhou huì zài ànmó tóufà, yòng xǐfà shū. At this point, they massage your hair using a shampoo brush.
充分湿润头皮之后，先清洁头皮，然后用洗发露开始洗全部的头发。 Chōngfèn shīrùn tóupí zhīhòu, xiān qīngjié tóupí, ránhòu yòng xǐfàlù kāishǐ xǐ quánbù de tóufà. After fully wetting your scalp, they first clean the scalp, then wash all the hair with shampoo.
我喜欢洗头发时的泡泡，很舒服。 Wǒ xǐhuān xǐ tóufà shí de pàopào, hěn shūfu. I really like the bubbles during the wash—it feels so nice.
洗完第一遍冲去油脂和污垢之后，会洗第二遍。 Xǐ wán dì yī biàn chōng qù yóuzhī hé wūgòu zhīhòu, huì xǐ dì èr biàn. After the first round removes oil and dirt, they’ll do a second wash.
这一遍会更加按摩整个头部，后脑勺，特别舒服。 Zhè yí biàn huì gèngjiā ànmó zhěnggè tóubù, hòunǎosháo, tèbié shūfu. This round focuses more on massaging the whole head, including the back—super comfortable.
冲干净之后，会抹上护发素，热蒸一会儿。 Chōng gānjìng zhīhòu, huì mǒ shàng hùfàsù, rè zhēng yíhuìr. After rinsing, they apply conditioner and steam the hair for a few minutes.
这个时候店员会帮你按摩肩和胳膊，我特别喜欢按摩。 Zhège shíhou diànyuán huì bāng nǐ ànmó jiān hé gēbo, wǒ tèbié xǐhuān ànmó. At this time, they massage your shoulders and arms—I really enjoy this part.
你也可以要热毛巾放在眼睛上热蒸。 Nǐ yě kěyǐ yào rè máojīn fàng zài yǎnjīng shàng rè zhēng. You can also ask for a hot towel over your eyes for a steam treatment.
最后冲洗干净，会坐在沙发上吹干头发。 Zuìhòu chōngxǐ gānjìng, huì zuò zài shāfā shàng chuīgān tóufà. Finally, they rinse everything and let you sit on the sofa to blow-dry your hair.
大概需要四十分钟。我特别喜欢。 Dàgài xūyào sìshí fēnzhōng. Wǒ tèbié xǐhuān. It takes about 40 minutes. I really love it.
Don’t Cry After Your Haircut 💇♀️ – Mandarin Survival Guide! Speak Up at the Salon S01E39【ENG】别剪哭了：理发店实用中文表达
29 juil. 2025
00:17:54
🚀 Love learning Mandarin like this? Let’s level up together! Join my 1-on-1 Mandarin classes on Preply — personalized, fun, and built around real-life topics like food, travel, culture, and daily life. 💬🎒🥟
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
✂️ Getting a haircut in a foreign country can be... terrifying. In this episode, we’ll make sure you walk out of the salon in China smiling — not crying 😅 Learn how to describe your hairstyle, say "just a little bit!", and avoid common haircut disasters — all in Mandarin.
This episode is perfect for HSK1–3 learners who want real, useful, and funny Mandarin for everyday life.
[Grammar of the Day – 4–5 min] Here are two grammar patterns you need to survive the salon:
想 (xiǎng) + Verb – to want to do something
我想剪头发。I want to cut my hair.
我想换一个发型。I want to change my hairstyle.
一下 (yīxià) – to soften a request
我想问一下。I’d like to ask something.
可以看一下颜色吗？Can I quickly see the color?
再 (zài) + Verb – do something more
再剪一点点。Cut just a tiny bit more.
With just these, you can already start sounding more polite and more natural.
Let’s break it down. I’m giving you the real words that will actually save your hair.
💇♀️ Basic Actions
剪头发 – jiǎn tóu fa – to cut hair 我想剪头发。I want a haircut.
洗头 – xǐ tóu – to wash hair 请洗一下头。Please wash my hair.
吹头发 – chuī tóu fa – blow-dry 要吹干吗？Do you want it blow-dried?
染头发 – rǎn tóu fa – to dye hair 我想染头发。I want to dye my hair.
挑染 – tiāo rǎn – highlights 可以挑染一点吗？Can I get a few highlights?
🎨 Describing Style & Length
发型 – fà xíng – hairstyle 我想换一个发型。I want a new hairstyle.
刘海 – liú hǎi – bangs 刘海不要太短。Don’t cut the bangs too short.
层次 – céng cì – layers 剪一些层次。Add some layers.
修一点点 – xiū yì diǎn diǎn – trim a little 只修一点点，真的一点点。Just trim a tiny bit. Really.
不要太短 – bú yào tài duǎn – not too short 上次太短了，我哭了。Last time was too short... I cried.
自然一点 – zì rán yì diǎn – more natural 可以自然一点吗？Can it be a bit more natural?
柔顺 – róu shùn – soft and smooth 我想做一个柔顺。I want a smoothing treatment.
🚫 What You Don’t Want
不要太蓬 – bú yào tài pēng – not too puffy 我头发已经够蓬了。My hair is already too puffy.
不要太卷 – bú yào tài juǎn – not too curly 卷一点，但不要太卷。Some curls, not too much.
不要染太亮 – bú yào rǎn tài liàng – not too bright 要自然，我还要上班呢。I still have to go to work.
不要动刘海 – bú yào dòng liú hǎi – don’t touch the bangs 刘海我自己剪的，不要动！I cut my bangs myself. Don’t touch them!
🙋♀️ Polite & Helpful Phrases
你觉得我适合什么发型？ What do you think suits me?
帮我看一下哪里要剪。 Can you help me see where to cut?
我觉得这里不对称。 This part seems uneven.
[Survival Tips – 2–3 min]
💡 Survival Tip 1: Bring a photo. Always. Mandarin or not, a picture is the real universal language. 💡 Survival Tip 2: Say what you don’t want, even more than what you do. 💡 Survival Tip 3: If you’re really nervous, say: “剪一点点就好。” “Just a little bit, please.” And say it twice. With eye contact.
5 A.M. Light ☕️🌅 – A Morning Routine That Grounds Me in Summer S01E38【ENG】夏天，从早上五点开始
24 juil. 2025
00:21:18
🚀 Love learning Mandarin like this? Let’s level up together! Join my 1-on-1 Mandarin classes on Preply — personalized, fun, and built around real-life topics like food, travel, culture, and daily life. 💬🎒🥟
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
What does a peaceful 5 a.m. summer morning look like? In this episode, I share my full morning routine—from lemon water to French grammar to journaling with iced coffee. You’ll first hear the whole story in Mandarin, then we break it down sentence by sentence with English translation and tips.
We’ll also review two useful grammar points: 👉 “然后” (ránhòu) – then 👉 “一边…一边…” (yìbiān... yìbiān...) – doing two things at the same time
Feel free to pause and repeat as you listen. 🌿 Slow mornings are for coffee, quiet time, and… a little Mandarin.
🔍 Check the episode description for all key vocabulary and grammar with English, Pinyin, and Chinese characters!
我早上五点起床。 I get up at 5 a.m.
然后先喝一杯柠檬蜂蜜水。 Then I drink a cup of lemon honey water to start the day.
我用多邻国学习二十分钟的法语。 I study French on Duolingo for 20 minutes.
然后我做二十分钟的瑜伽。 Then I do 20 minutes of yoga.
有时候会时间长一点，但不能超过六点二十分。 Sometimes I do it a bit longer, but it must not go past 6:20.
然后我开始学习法语的语法。 Then I begin studying French grammar.
我有一本法语书，每天早上学习一个单元，每周学习三次。 I have a French textbook. I study one unit each morning, three times a week.
我大概学习一个小时左右。 I usually study for about one hour.
然后我一边听音乐，一边洗澡，化妆，需要三十分钟。 Then I shower and put on makeup while listening to music. It takes about 30 minutes. 👉 Grammar highlight: “一边……一边……” = doing two actions at the same time
早上八点，我会做一杯咖啡。 At 8 a.m., I make myself a coffee.
冬天喝热咖啡，夏天喝冰咖啡。 I drink hot coffee in winter, iced coffee in summer.
我喜欢美式，加一点点椰奶。 I like Americano with just a splash of coconut milk.
我一边喝咖啡，一边写今天的日记，大约二十分钟。 I write in my journal while drinking coffee, for about 20 minutes.
然后我会用十分钟检查今天的日程，然后开始一天的工作。 Then I take 10 minutes to review my to-do list and begin the workday.
RISE AND SHINE! 🌞 Build Your Mandarin Morning Routine S01E38【ENG】你早上做什么？
22 juil. 2025
00:26:09
🚀 Love learning Mandarin like this? Let’s level up together!Join my 1-on-1 Mandarin classes on Preply — personalized, fun, and built around real-life topics like food, travel, culture, and daily life. 💬🎒🥟
Let’s make Mandarin your favorite part of the day. 🌞🎧
What’s the first thing you do in the morning? 🌅 Do you hit snooze, go for a run, or grab your favorite matcha? In this episode, we’ll learn how to talk about your daily morning routine in Mandarin – from brushing your teeth to drinking lemon water 🍋☕.
You’ll learn essential HSK1–2 vocabulary, an easy sentence structure using time and action words, and practice real-life examples like “I get up at 7” or “I drink coffee while checking my phone.” Whether your mornings are calm or chaotic, let’s build your Mandarin morning routine together!
✨ Don’t forget: On Thursday’s Mandarin episode, I’ll share my full morning routine using the words from today — perfect for review and listening practice!
[Grammar of the Day] – Time + Actions + Linking Words In Mandarin, a very useful structure is:
👉 Subject + Time + Verb + Object Use these connectors:
以后 (yǐ hòu) – after
然后 (rán hòu) – then
最后 (zuì hòu) – finally
一边…一边… (yì biān… yì biān…) – doing two things at once
Let’s try an example: 我早上七点起床。然后，我刷牙。 I get up at 7 a.m. Then, I brush my teeth.
起床以后，我喝一杯柠檬水。 After getting up, I drink a glass of lemon water.
最后，我出门去上班。 Finally, I go out to work.
[Vocabulary Time] Let’s go through the core morning routine words with easy examples:
🛏️ 起床 – qǐ chuáng – get up 我每天六点半起床。 I get up at 6:30 every day.
🪥 刷牙 – shuā yá – brush teeth 起床以后我刷牙。 After getting up, I brush my teeth.
🚿 洗脸 – xǐ liǎn – wash face 然后我洗脸。 Then I wash my face.
👕 穿衣服 – chuān yī fu – get dressed 我穿衣服以后吃早饭。 I get dressed, then eat breakfast.
🍳 吃早饭 – chī zǎo fàn – eat breakfast 我喜欢吃鸡蛋和水果。 I like eating eggs and fruit.
☕ 喝咖啡 – hē kā fēi – drink coffee 我每天都要喝一杯咖啡。 I need a cup of coffee every day.
🍵 喝抹茶 – hē mǒ chá – drink matcha 我不喝咖啡，我喝抹茶。 I don’t drink coffee, I drink matcha.
🍋 喝柠檬水 – hē níng méng shuǐ – drink lemon water 我早上喝柠檬水，加一点姜。 In the morning, I drink lemon water with a bit of ginger.
🏃 跑步 – pǎo bù – run / go jogging 他每天早上跑步三十分钟。 He runs for 30 minutes every morning.
🧘 冥想 – míng xiǎng – meditate 我喜欢冥想五分钟。 I like to meditate for five minutes.
🪞 照镜子 – zhào jìng zi – look in the mirror 她每天照镜子化妆。 She looks in the mirror and does her makeup every day.
🚪 出门 – chū mén – go out 八点我出门。 I leave at 8 o’clock.
🏢 上班 – shàng bān – go to work 我坐地铁去上班。 I take the metro to work.
[Bonus Sentences & Practice]
我一边吃早饭，一边看手机。 I check my phone while eating breakfast.
我喜欢早上安静的时间。 I enjoy quiet time in the morning.
我每天做一样的事。 I do the same thing every day.
✅ With Linking Words: 以后 / 然后 / 最后
起床以后，我刷牙，然后喝一杯柠檬水。 After getting up, I brush my teeth, then drink a glass of lemon water.
我每天七点起床，然后去跑步三十分钟。 I get up at 7 a.m. every day, then go for a 30-minute run.
冥想以后，我洗脸，最后喝一杯抹茶。 After meditating, I wash my face, and finally drink a cup of matcha.
我穿衣服以后，吃早饭，然后出门上班。 After getting dressed, I eat breakfast, then leave for work.
刷牙以后，我坐在阳台喝咖啡。 After brushing my teeth, I sit on the balcony and drink coffee.
我一边吃早饭，一边看手机。 I eat breakfast while checking my phone.
他一边喝抹茶，一边听音乐。 He drinks matcha while listening to music.
我妈妈一边做早饭，一边看新闻。 My mom cooks breakfast while watching the news.
我每天早上七点半起床，然后去洗澡。 I get up at 7:30 every morning, then take a shower.
有时候我早上不吃早饭，只喝一杯柠檬水。 Sometimes I don’t eat breakfast in the morning, I just drink lemon water.
✅ With Grammar: 一边…一边… (do two things at the same time)✅ With Time Words: 每天 / 早上 / 有时候
Tipsy Summer 🍸 What’s Your Favorite Drink (with alcohol)? S01E37【CHN】边喝边学中文！
17 juil. 2025
00:14:27
🍹 Summer is here—and it’s getting toasty! In this chilled-out episode of Little Mandarin, we’re diving into everyone’s favorite summer boozy beverages, from beer and plum wine to rosé and sparkling cocktails. Learn how to say them in Mandarin, discover cultural drinking habits in China, and pick up fun vocabulary along the way (no hangover, promise!). This episode is explained in English—perfect for beginners and curious drinkers. 干杯！Cheers! 🥂
📚 Grammar of the Day:
“最……的之一” – one of the most… Use this to express favorites or top picks.
🧾 Example Sentences:
啤酒是我夏天最喜欢的酒水之一。 Beer is one of my favorite summer drinks.
法国是我最想去的国家之一。 France is one of the countries I most want to visit.
🧃 Key Vocabulary List (with pinyin + examples):
啤酒 (píjiǔ) – beer 我爸最喜欢喝啤酒。 My dad loves drinking beer.
鸡尾酒 (jīwěijiǔ) – cocktail 这家店的鸡尾酒超好喝！ The cocktails at this place are amazing!
白葡萄酒 (bái pútaojiǔ) – white wine 夏天喝白葡萄酒很清爽。 Drinking white wine in summer feels refreshing.
红葡萄酒 (hóng pútaojiǔ) – red wine 我不太喜欢红葡萄酒。 I don’t really like red wine.
玫瑰红葡萄酒 / 粉红葡萄酒 (méiguīhóng / fěnhóng pútaojiǔ) – rosé wine 她点了一杯粉红葡萄酒。 She ordered a glass of rosé wine.
香槟 (xiāngbīn) – champagne 我们开香槟庆祝她的生日。 We popped champagne to celebrate her birthday.
清爽 (qīngshuǎng) – refreshing 这个鸡尾酒味道很清爽。 This cocktail tastes very refreshing.
干杯 (gānbēi) – cheers 来，干杯！夏天快乐！ Come on, cheers! Happy summer!
烧烤 (shāokǎo) – BBQ 晚上吃烧烤配啤酒真的太爽了。 BBQ with beer at night is the best.
苏打水 (sūdáshuǐ) – soda water / sparkling water 有时候我也只喝苏打水。 Sometimes I just drink soda water too.
冰块 (bīngkuài) – ice cubes 帮我多加点冰块。 Add more ice cubes for me, please.
🗣️ Short Dialogue
A: 今晚你想喝点什么？ What do you want to drink tonight?
B: 我想喝点清爽的～来一杯玫瑰红葡萄酒？ I want something refreshing. How about a glass of rosé?
A: 好啊，我也想微醺一下～ Sure! I want to get a little tipsy too.
What’s Your Favourite Summer Drink? 🧋☀️ Learn to Say It in Mandarin! S01E37【ENG】夏天你喝什么？
15 juil. 2025
00:15:00
☀️ Summer is here — and so is your iced latte, bubble tea, or smoothie! In this fun and refreshing episode of Little Mandarin, we’ll learn how to talk about your favourite drinks in Mandarin: from milk tea to soda, iced coffee to fruit juice. You’ll get to know useful vocabulary, everyday sentences, and one easy grammar pattern to help you say what you love to drink.
Whether you’re a coffee fan or a smoothie lover — let’s toast to learning Mandarin together! 🧋🍹
🎙️ Don’t forget to check out Thursday’s episode where we talk about summer alcohol drinks — and yes, it’ll have English explanations too, so beginners can join the fun! 🍺
🧃 You can check today’s key vocabulary and key grammar in the description directly. It will help you to review.
Grammar of the Day Let’s learn how to ask and answer that question.
你喜欢喝什么？ nǐ xǐhuān hē shénme? What do you like to drink?
Let’s break it down:
你 (nǐ) – you
喜欢 (xǐhuān) – to like
喝 (hē) – to drink
什么 (shénme) – what
Other examples: 我喜欢喝茶。 I like to drink tea.
我不喜欢喝咖啡。 I don’t like to drink coffee.
To express your favorite, we use: 最 (zuì) – the most
我最喜欢喝可乐。 My favorite thing to drink is cola.
You can also say: 我更喜欢喝水。 I prefer drinking water.
Vocabulary Time Let’s learn some easy drink vocabulary in Mandarin!
水 (shuǐ) – water
茶 (chá) – tea
咖啡 (kāfēi) – coffee
冰咖啡 (bīng kāfēi) – iced coffee
可乐 (kělè) – soda / cola
奶茶 (nǎichá) – milk tea
果汁 (guǒzhī) – juice
奶昔 (nǎixī) – smoothie / milkshake
牛奶 (niúnǎi) – milk
冰的 (bīng de) – iced
热的 (rè de) – hot
🎯 Example Sentences 我想喝果汁。 I want to drink juice.
我每天早上喝咖啡。 I drink coffee every morning.
我不喝可乐。 I don’t drink soda.
你喜欢喝热的还是冰的？ Do you like hot or iced?
我要一杯冰奶茶。 I want a cup of iced milk tea.
夏天我最喜欢喝奶昔。 In summer, I love drinking smoothies.
Mini Conversation A: 你要喝什么？ nǐ yào hē shénme? What do you want to drink?
B: 我要一杯热咖啡。你呢？ wǒ yào yì bēi rè kāfēi. nǐ ne? I want a cup of hot coffee. And you?
A: 我最喜欢奶茶，我每天都喝！ wǒ zuì xǐhuān nǎichá, wǒ měitiān dōu hē! I love milk tea. I drink it every day!
Try this with a friend or record yourself!
Slang You’ll Never Learn from a Mandarin Textbook S01E36【CHN】📖课本vs现实
10 juil. 2025
00:11:55
Feeling confident with your Mandarin… until you hear teens talking and suddenly feel like a tourist in your own vocabulary? 😅 In this episode, we break down the hilarious, emotional, and expressive slang that young people actually use — from “发疯文学” to “嘴替” and “搭子.” You’ll hear real examples, fun comparisons with textbook Chinese, and small dialogues to help you actually sound like someone who lives in Mandarin — not just studies it.
📖 vs 🧃 Textbook says: “I’m tired.” Real life says: “我快炸了！” (I’m about to explode.)
✨ Don’t miss this fun and practical breakdown of slang you’ll never learn in class — but absolutely need in real life.
🔑 Vocabulary and grammar in the description. 🗓️ And don’t miss Tuesday’s episode: “Talk Like a Teen.”
Let’s start with a simple greeting.
📖 Textbook Chinese: 你好。nǐ hǎo – Hello. 我很高兴认识你。wǒ hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nǐ – I’m happy to meet you.
🧃 Real-Life Teen Talk: 哟，你来啦？yō, nǐ lái la? – Yo, you showed up! 你也太社恐了吧！nǐ yě tài shè kǒng le ba! – You’re soooo socially awkward (playfully teasing).
“你好” is too formal in real life. If you use it too seriously, people might think you’re either joking… or working in customer service.
What the textbook says… vs. what young people actually say
📖 Textbook
🧃 Real-Life Slang
Explanation
你想做什么？– What do you want to do?
咋整？– What’s the move? / What now?
Super casual, usually when people are bored or indecisive.
他生气了 – He’s angry
他要发疯了 / 他有点离谱 – He’s about to lose it / He’s ridiculous
Adds drama or judgment to make it funnier.
我很忙 – I’m busy
我快炸了 / 排满到明年 – I’m about to explode / Booked till next year
Makes “busy” sound more chaotic and relatable.
不好意思 – Sorry / Excuse me
社死了 – I died socially / 笑死我了 – I’m dead (from embarrassment)
Expresses how awkward it felt, not just saying “sorry.”
我不确定 – I’m not sure
我脑子没转过来 / 我大脑宕机 – My brain’s lagging / I can’t process
Expresses confusion in a tech-humor kind of way.
我不喜欢 – I don’t like it
有点下头 / 不行我拒绝 – It’s a turnoff / Nope, I reject this
More emotionally charged and performative.
我很尴尬 – I’m embarrassed
太社死了 / 我要瞬移 – This is social death / I want to teleport away
Very visual and expressive!
我很困 – I’m sleepy
我要直接睡死 / 睡觉保命 – I’ll just pass out / Sleeping to survive
Often used to brush things off or react with humor.
加油 – You can do it!
冲！ / 搞起来！– Go for it! / Let’s get it!
These are like Chinese hype phrases – full of energy and online vibes.
真的吗？– Really?
啥玩意儿？/ 不会吧？– What the heck? / No way?
Adds surprise or disbelief in a more expressive way.
Teen Talk in Mandarin 😎 | Real-Life Words, Not from Your Textbook S01E36【ENG】中文流行语怎么说？
08 juil. 2025
00:20:11
Are you tired of learning Mandarin only from textbooks? 😩 In this episode, we dive into real-life teen slang that Chinese young people use every day — online and in person. From phrases like emo to yyds, we’ll show you how to speak the way people actually talk.
Perfect for anyone who wants to sound native, relaxed, and cool 😎 📚 Spoiler: “我很高兴认识你” is not how teens greet each other.
✨ Stay tuned for Thursday’s episode, where we’ll compare more textbook expressions with the real slang used in daily life. You don’t want to miss it!
🧠 Grammar of the Day
Structure: 有点 + adjective / noun Used to express subtle feelings, emotions, or add a soft/casual tone.
🧾 Examples:
今天有点累。 I’m a bit tired today.
他讲话有点怪。 He talks kind of weird.
这首歌有点上头。 This song is kind of addictive.
我最近有点emo。 I’ve been feeling kinda down lately.
💬 Key Vocabulary & Sentence Examples
1. 上头 – shàng tóu – addictive / gets into your head
这剧太上头了，我停不下来！ This drama is so addictive, I can’t stop watching!
2. emo – feeling down / depressed
最近工作太累了，我有点emo。 Work’s been exhausting — I feel kinda emo.
我们公司好内卷，晚上10点都还在加班。 Our company is so toxic — people are still working at 10pm.
5. 搭子 – dā zi – buddy for a specific activity
谁是我今天的奶茶搭子？ Who’s my bubble tea buddy today?
6. 发疯 – fā fēng – go crazy / emotionally collapse
我明天要交五份作业，我快发疯了！ I have five assignments due tomorrow — I’m about to lose it!
7. 工具人 – gōng jù rén – someone being used
他对你根本没感情，你只是他的工具人。 He doesn’t care about you — you’re just someone he uses.
8. 笑死我了 – xiào sǐ wǒ le – LOL / dying of laughter
你讲的笑话真的笑死我了。 Your joke totally killed me — I’m dying!
9. 绝绝子 – jué jué zǐ – iconic / amazing / slay
你这穿搭，绝绝子！ Your outfit is iconic!
10. 好家伙 – hǎo jiā huo – whoa / wow / damn
好家伙，这手机要一万块？ Whoa — this phone costs 10,000 yuan?!
🔴Wearing Red in China? What You Should and Shouldn’t Do S01E35【CHN】 Mandarin Listening 红色衣服可以乱穿吗？
03 juil. 2025
00:10:28
Why is red such a big deal in Chinese culture? ❤️ In this episode, we’ll explore what red really means in daily life—from lucky socks to major taboos. You’ll learn when you should wear red… and when you really shouldn’t. 🎧 A great chance to boost your Mandarin listening with cultural tips, useful expressions, and real-life stories.
📚Grammar of the Day: “最好 + verb” = It’s best to… / You’d better…
A useful structure to give advice or polite warnings. It appears in many situations involving cultural rules or etiquette—just like our red color discussion!
Example sentences:
重要场合你最好不要穿红色。 It’s best not to wear red on formal occasions.
你本命年，最好戴一个红色的饰品。 It’s best to wear something red in your zodiac year.
去医院探病，最好不要送红花。 You’d better not bring red flowers when visiting someone in the hospital.
🧧Key Vocabulary List with Examples
1. 红色 – red 我最喜欢穿红色，因为很显气色。 I love wearing red because it brightens my complexion.
2. 本命年 – one’s zodiac year of birth 她今年本命年，所以她穿红色袜子转运。 She’s in her zodiac year, so she wears red socks for good luck.
3. 喜庆 – festive, joyful 结婚是很喜庆的事情，当然要穿红色。 Weddings are festive, so of course you wear red.
4. 避讳 – taboo; to avoid 在中国文化里，穿红衣参加葬礼是大忌，要避讳。 In Chinese culture, wearing red at a funeral is a major taboo.
5. 寓意 – implied meaning, symbolism 红包的寓意是祝你新年发财。 The red envelope symbolizes wishes for prosperity in the new year.
6. 吉利 – lucky; auspicious 红色是一种很吉利的颜色，特别是在节日里。 Red is considered a very lucky color, especially during festivals.
7. 禁忌 – taboo 你知道在中国有哪些颜色的禁忌吗？ Do you know which colors are taboo in China?
Why Do People Wear Red? ❤️ A Cultural Color in Chinese Daily Life S01E35【ENG】为什么大家都爱穿红色？中国日常生活里的文化色彩
01 juil. 2025
00:16:46
Why do people wear red in China? ❤️ In today’s episode of Little Mandarin, we’ll explore why red is more than just a color—it’s a symbol of luck, happiness, and tradition. From birthdays to weddings, New Year to work meetings, red shows up everywhere in Chinese daily life! We’ll teach you how to talk about colors and clothes in Mandarin, explain how to say “wear,” and share a few cultural tips you don’t want to miss. Stay till the end for a sneak peek at our Thursday Mandarin episode: Red Culture: Do and Don’t 🔴
🎧 Suitable for HSK1–3 learners. 📘 Don’t forget to check the episode notes for vocabulary and grammar!
📘 Grammar of the Day
穿 (chuān) – to wear (clothes, shoes, socks)
Structure: Subject + 穿 + Color + 的 + Item
Examples:
我穿红色的衣服。 Wǒ chuān hóngsè de yīfu. I wear red clothes.
她今天穿了一条红裙子。 Tā jīntiān chuān le yì tiáo hóng qúnzi. She wore a red dress today.
📚 Key Vocabulary with Sentence Examples
红色 – hóngsè – red 我喜欢红色。 I like red.
衣服 – yīfu – clothes 你的衣服很好看。 Your clothes look nice.
穿 – chuān – to wear 你今天穿什么？ What are you wearing today?
漂亮 – piàoliang – pretty 她穿红色很漂亮。 She looks pretty in red.
生日 – shēngrì – birthday 他生日那天穿了一件红衣服。 He wore red on his birthday.
新年 – xīnnián – New Year 新年的时候我穿红色的衣服。 I wear red clothes during New Year.
好运 – hǎo yùn – good luck 穿红色可以带来好运。 Wearing red can bring good luck.
颜色 – yánsè – color 你最喜欢的颜色是什么？ What’s your favorite color?
Summer Heat Talk: Level Up Your Mandarin☀️S01E34【CHN】今天太热了，我不想上班
26 juin 2025
00:11:47
It’s 35°C outside, and your brain is melting... so let’s cool down with a light and funny Mandarin episode all about summer weather small talk 😎☀️
In this episode, we’ll learn how to say things like “It’s boiling!”, “I’m melting!”, and “The air feels like plastic wrap.” You’ll hear daily expressions, fun vocab, and some truly relatable Chinese phrases to describe a hot summer day — all in Mandarin, great for HSK3–5 learners.
Grab your iced drink, sit by the fan, and let’s enjoy a chill 25-minute Mandarin break together! 🍉🧊
📍Key Vocabulary: summer heat expressions you won’t find in your textbook!
1. 热成狗了
rè chéng gǒu le “So hot I feel like a dog.”
📌 意思：形容非常非常热，已经到了崩溃、想躺下不动的状态。这个说法带点搞笑和夸张的语气。
📎 例句： 今天真的热成狗，我一点工作的心情都没有。 Jīntiān zhēn de rè chéng gǒu, wǒ yìdiǎn gōngzuò de xīnqíng dōu méiyǒu. It’s so hot today, I don’t even feel like working.
2. 热得像在蒸桑拿
rè de xiàng zài zhēng sāngná “So hot it feels like I’m in a sauna.”
📌 意思：形容空气又湿又热，就像在桑拿房里一样。
📎 例句： 出门走了五分钟，感觉自己被塞进了蒸包子的大锅里。 Chūmén zǒu le wǔ fēnzhōng, gǎnjué zìjǐ bèi sāi jìn le zhēng bāozi de dà guō lǐ. I walked outside for five minutes and felt like I’d been stuffed into a giant steamer full of dumplings.
3. 太阳太毒了
tàiyáng tài dú le “The sun is vicious.”
📌 意思：不是说太阳有毒，而是说阳光非常强烈、刺眼甚至让人不舒服。带点夸张感。
📎 例句： 就像老天爷在用激光笔对着你脑门儿猛照。 Jiù xiàng lǎotiānyé zài yòng jīguāng bǐ duìzhe nǐ nǎoménr měng zhào. It’s like the heavens are shining a laser pointer straight at your forehead.
📎 日常句子： 我今天真的不想出门，太阳太毒了。 Wǒ jīntiān zhēn de bù xiǎng chūmén, tàiyáng tài dú le. I really don’t want to go out today — the sun is brutal.
4. 流汗流到脚踝
liú hàn liú dào jiǎohuái “Sweating all the way down to the ankles.”
📌 意思：形容全身都在流汗，从头到脚，非常真实的夏日体验。
📎 例句： 我走了一段路，汗直接从后背流到鞋子里。 Wǒ zǒu le yí duàn lù, hàn zhíjiē cóng hòubèi liú dào xiézi lǐ. I walked a bit, and sweat literally ran from my back into my shoes.
📎 文化补充：这个说法很生动，也很“有画面感”，在口语中很常见。
5. 空气像保鲜膜一样裹着我
kōngqì xiàng bǎoxiānmó yíyàng guǒzhe wǒ “The air feels like cling film wrapping around me.”
📌 意思：空气非常湿热、粘人，让人觉得喘不过气。带点夸张和形象感。
📎 例句： 不是我想装文艺，是我真的感觉自己被糊住了。 Bù shì wǒ xiǎng zhuāng wényì, shì wǒ zhēn de gǎnjué zìjǐ bèi hú zhù le. It’s not that I want to sound poetic — I really feel like I’m stuck inside something sticky.
🧊句子练习句 (with Pinyin + English)
我今天真的不想出门，太阳太毒了。 Wǒ jīntiān zhēn de bù xiǎng chūmén, tàiyáng tài dú le. I really don’t want to go outside today — the sun is vicious.
我感觉我整个人都要融化了。 Wǒ gǎnjué wǒ zhěnggè rén dōu yào rónghuà le. I feel like I’m about to melt.
现在的天气就适合宅着，吹空调、喝冰可乐。 Xiànzài de tiānqì jiù shìhé zhái zhe, chuī kōngtiáo, hē bīng kělè. This weather is perfect for staying home, turning on the AC, and drinking iced Coke.
Weather or Not: Talking About the Sky in Mandarin ☁️🌞🌧️S01E34【ENG】 今天天气怎么样？🌤️ 用中文聊聊天气！
24 juin 2025
00:22:43
☁️🌞 How’s the weather where you are? In this episode of Little Mandarin, we’ll chat about one of the easiest and most universal small talk topics — the weather! You’ll learn how to ask and answer questions like “How’s the weather today?” and pick up useful Mandarin words for rain, sun, wind, and more.
We’ll also take a peek at how weather small talk works in Chinese culture — sometimes, it’s not just about the sky, it’s about showing care. 🌤️
🎧 Perfect for beginners (HSK1–3) with bonus poetic expressions for intermediate learners! 📝 Key vocabulary and grammar of the day are in the description below — don’t forget to review!
🧠 Grammar of the Day
今天天气怎么样？ (Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?) “How is the weather today?”
✅ Sentence structure: [Time] + 天气 + 怎么样？ → used to ask about the weather.
✅ Example Sentences:
今天天气怎么样？ How is the weather today?
明天天气怎么样？ How is the weather tomorrow?
今天不冷也不热。 It’s neither cold nor hot today.
🌈 Key Vocabulary & Example Sentences
天气 – Weather 今天天气很好。 The weather is nice today.
热 – Hot 今天很热，我出汗了。 It’s very hot today, I’m sweating.
冷 – Cold 外面很冷，穿多一点。 It’s cold outside, wear more.
下雨 – To rain 下雨了，别忘了带伞。 It’s raining — don’t forget your umbrella.
下雪 – To snow 北京冬天常常下雪。 It often snows in Beijing in winter.
刮风 – Windy 今天刮风了，树都在动。 It’s windy today, the trees are swaying.
阴天 – Cloudy 阴天的时候我喜欢喝热茶。 I like drinking hot tea on cloudy days.
太阳 – Sun 今天有太阳，很暖和。 It’s sunny today and quite warm.
凉快 – Cool and refreshing 晚上挺凉快的，开窗睡觉刚刚好。 It’s cool at night, perfect for sleeping with the window open.
【Special】Twist Your Tongue! 🌀 Mandarin Fun with Chinese Po-Song S01E33【CHN】舌头打结啦！一起跟着《中国话》来练绕口令！
19 juin 2025
00:21:38
Ready to challenge your Mandarin muscles? In this special episode, we warm up with tongue twisters from S.H.E’s iconic pop song《中国话》—a fast, fun, and fierce test of your pronunciation skills! We break down three classic Chinese tongue twisters featured in the lyrics, explain their meanings, and help you practice them step-by-step.
Whether you're learning for fun or aiming for fluency, this episode is your playful workout for better tones, rhythm, and confidence. 🌀🎶
💡 Translation: The shoulder pole is wide, the bench is long. The pole wants to tie itself to the bench. But the bench won’t let it. The pole insists. The bench refuses. So—who’s longer, the pole or the bench?
🎙 Try saying it slowly with me. Then try again a bit faster.
🧠 Tip: This one really helps you practice b vs. p, and your nasal endings!
弟弟说白白的鹅，鹅要过河，河要渡鹅。 Dìdi shuō bái bái de é, é yào guò hé, hé yào dù é.
不知是那鹅过河，还是河渡鹅。 Bù zhī shì nà é guò hé, hái shì hé dù é.
💡 Translation: Big brother and little brother are sitting by a slope. There’s a goose lying on the hill, and a river flowing down below. The brother says: “Such a wide river.” The little one says: “Such a white goose.” The goose wants to cross the river. The river wants to carry the goose. But no one knows—was it the goose who crossed the river, or the river who carried the goose?
🎧 Try reading it like you're telling a fast story.
飞了鹰，跑了兔，洒了醋，湿了布。 Fēi le yīng, pǎo le tù, sǎ le cù, shī le bù.
💡 Translation: A little kid named Xiao Du went to the market to buy vinegar and cloth. He bought the cloth and vinegar, and then saw an eagle grabbing a rabbit. He put down the cloth and vinegar, and chased the eagle and the rabbit. But the eagle flew away, the rabbit ran away, the vinegar spilled, and the cloth got soaked.
🤯 This one is wild. You’ve got verbs, action, rhymes—and all at a crazy speed.
🎤 If you can say this three times in a row, you’re officially a Mandarin tongue master.
Tongue-Tied? Try These Mandarin Twisters!🌀S01E33【ENG】绕口令挑战来了！
17 juin 2025
00:15:00
Ready to train your Mandarin pronunciation and have a good laugh along the way? In this fun and bite-sized episode, we twist our tongues through three classic Chinese 绕口令 (rào kǒu lìng) — the ones Chinese kids grew up with! Practice your tones, work on your rhythm, and challenge yourself to say: 四是四，十是十 without turning “four” into “death.” 😅 Perfect for beginners, and anyone who wants to boost fluency and confidence in a fun way.
🔸 Level 1 – Fun but Friendly 四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十。 Sì shì sì, shí shì shí, shí sì shì shí sì, sì shí shì sì shí.
Four is four, ten is ten, fourteen is fourteen, forty is forty.
If you’ve ever said “sì” when you meant “shí,” or “死” when you meant “十”… Yeah. You know the struggle.
The moment your “si” becomes “shi,” it’s over. Like… real over. Try saying this one slowly — then say it faster, and suddenly you’re not sure if you said “fourteen” or “death.”
But hey — that’s how we improve. One 四十 at a time.
Black fertilizer turns grey, grey fertilizer turns black.
Yes, we’re talking about fertilizer now. No, I don’t know why this was on every kid’s list — but we all said it, over and over again, usually in front of a teacher who was way too amused.
This one’s all about your f sounds and h tones: fēi / fā, hēi / huī — those little switches make a big difference. Get this one right and you’ll sound fluent even if you don’t feel fluent yet.
And let’s be honest — it lowkey sounds poetic. A little eco-drama. Mandarin edition.
Eat grapes without spitting the skin, don’t eat grapes but spit out the skin.
This one’s got it all: juicy sounds, repeated rhythm, and a whole mood. Honestly? This is for the drama queens. Or the friend who fake-eats at parties and leaves the mess.
Try saying it with emotion. Like: “你不吃葡萄… 你还吐皮？！？” I feel betrayed. Grapes feel betrayed. Language is spiraling. But your Mandarin? Getting better every second.
Paws, Phrases & Mandarin 🐾: Talking to Your Pet Like a Pro S01E32【CHN】🐶猫语狗语变中文：今天也在家练口语！
12 juin 2025
00:11:23
Ever talk to your cat like it understands you? (It probably does... in attitude.) This episode turns your daily pet talk into practical Mandarin practice. Learn how to praise, scold, and baby-talk your pets — all in Chinese! Whether you’ve got a dog, cat, bunny, or imaginary hedgehog, you’ll walk away with real phrases and better tones. Let’s practice Mandarin in the fluffiest way possible 🐶🐱
📌 Grammar of the Day, key vocabulary, and sentence examples are included in the description!
📘 Grammar of the Day
1. 命令句 (Imperative sentences)
在中文里，命令句通常直接省略主语 + 使用动词原形，有时会加上一些语气词加强感情。
例句：
坐下！(Sit down!)
不要动！(Don’t move!)
快点过来！(Come here quickly!)
🔍结构说明：
Verb + 吧（表示建议或轻微命令） → 我们出去走走吧。(Let’s go for a walk.)
不要 + Verb（表示禁止） → 不要咬拖鞋！(Don’t bite the slippers!)
📚 Vocabulary List with Examples
🐾 毛孩子 – furry child (nickname for pets) 我家毛孩子每天早上五点叫我起床。 My fur baby wakes me up at 5 a.m. every morning.
🐶 乖 – well-behaved / good 你今天好乖，奖励小饼干一块！ You were so good today — here’s a treat!
🐱 不许 – not allowed to 不许上桌子，你知道的。 You're not allowed on the table — you know that.
🐕 咬 – yǎo – to bite 你又咬我的袜子了！ You bit my socks again!
🛁 洗澡 – xǐ zǎo – to take a bath 今天洗澡，别跑！ Bath time today, don’t run!
🦴 零食 – líng shí – snacks 你不是刚吃过零食吗？别装可怜。 Didn’t you just have treats? Don’t act pitiful.
🌞 太阳 – tài yáng – the sun / sunlight 你又在晒太阳啦？小懒猪。 Sunbathing again? Lazy little pig.
😤 生气 – shēng qì – to be angry 你生气了吗？我不是故意的。 Are you mad? I didn’t mean it.
🐾 拉粑粑 – lā bā bā – poopoo (baby talk) 拉粑粑了吗？今天拉了就有奖励！ Poopoo today? You’ll get a treat if you did!
📣 命令 – mìng lìng – command / order 用中文发命令，让狗狗听得懂哦！ Give commands in Mandarin — your dog might just understand!
🐾 第一部分：宠物日常动词 + 情绪表达
我们先来看几个常用的动词（verbs）和表达情绪的形容词（adjectives）：
过来 – guò lái – come here 坐下 – zuò xià – sit down 躺好 – tǎng hǎo – lie down properly 不许动 – bù xǔ dòng – don’t move 闻一闻 – wén yi wén – smell it 吃饭啦 – chī fàn la – it’s mealtime 你最乖 – nǐ zuì guāi – you’re the best boy/girl 小坏蛋 – xiǎo huài dàn – naughty one 不许咬 – bù xǔ yǎo – no biting 给我出来 – gěi wǒ chū lái – come out (a little angry tone)
🔑 重点词汇解释：
乖 guāi = well-behaved, good
不许 bù xǔ = not allowed to
坏蛋 huài dàn = “bad egg” – playful way to scold pets (naughty one)
🐱 第二部分：猫咪语言专属语气
你要知道，猫是一种非常有个性的动物，很多猫奴都是边宠边骂、边骂边笑。
例句来了：
你怎么又跑到键盘上？ Why are you on my keyboard again?
下来啦，我在上班耶。 Come down, I’m working.
别装死，我看到你在动耳朵。 Don’t play dead, I saw your ear twitch.
谁让你去翻垃圾桶的？ Who told you to go through the trash bin?
你怎么又掉毛了？我刚吸的地！ You’re shedding again?! I just vacuumed the floor!
我亲你一下嘛～别躲～ Let me kiss you~ Don’t hide~
🐶 第三部分：狗狗专属表达
狗狗是另一种世界——它们爱你、听你、黏你，每一个表情都像在说：“你是我唯一的家。”
要出去玩了吗？去公园！ Are we going out? To the park!
等一下啦，我穿鞋子～ Wait a second, I need to put on my shoes!
走啦走啦～遛弯去～ Let’s go, walk time~
你今天拉粑粑了吗？很棒欸！ Did you poop today? Good job!
不许咬沙发啊，听见没？ Don’t bite the couch, ok?
握手！再来一次！你最棒！ Shake hands! Again! You’re the best!
Talk to Your Pet in Mandarin 🐱: Yes, Really S0E32【ENG】用中文跟猫猫狗狗说话 ：认真地说。
10 juin 2025
00:14:50
Do you talk to your cat? Your dog? Your goldfish? In this fun and practical episode, we’re learning how to speak Mandarin… to our pets. 🐾 From “Don’t bite me!” to “Are you hungry?”, these real-life sentences are perfect for daily review. Whether you're a beginner or just love animals, this is your excuse to speak Mandarin every day — no judgment.
Key grammar: how to say “Don’t…” using 不要.
Bonus: tons of cute and useful phrases to yell when your pet is knocking things off the table 🐾
Check the description below for today’s grammar and vocabulary. You’ll use these more than you think.
📘 Grammar of the Day
Structure: 不要 + Verb Used to say “Don’t do [something]” — super useful for both pets and people.
This structure is direct, simple, and perfect for commands.
🐾 Key Vocabulary + Sentence Examples
宠物 – pet 我家有两只宠物。 Wǒ jiā yǒu liǎng zhī chǒngwù. (I have two pets at home.)
猫 – cat 我的猫很懒，每天都在睡觉。 Wǒ de māo hěn lǎn, měitiān dōu zài shuìjiào. (My cat is lazy and sleeps all day.)
狗 – dog 这只狗太爱跑了！ Zhè zhī gǒu tài ài pǎo le! (This dog loves to run too much!)
咬 – to bite 不要咬我！ Bù yào yǎo wǒ! (Don’t bite me!)
吃饭 – to eat / eat a meal 你要不要吃饭？ Nǐ yào bù yào chīfàn? (Do you want to eat?)
跑 – to run 不要乱跑。 Bù yào luàn pǎo. (Don’t run around.)
洗澡 – to take a bath 今天要洗澡哦。 Jīntiān yào xǐzǎo o. (Time for a bath today.)
过来 – come over here 过来，我给你吃的。 Guòlái, wǒ gěi nǐ chī de. (Come here, I’ve got food for you.)
听话 – obedient / behave 听话，就给你小鱼干。 Tīnghuà, jiù gěi nǐ xiǎo yúgān. (Behave, and I’ll give you a fish snack.)
乖 – good / well-behaved 乖乖，真棒！ Guāiguāi, zhēn bàng! (Good boy/girl, great job!)
🌙 Late-Night Snacks in China – Who’s Still in Line at Midnight? S01E31【CHN】中国夜宵文化：谁在深夜还在排队？
05 juin 2025
00:11:02
🍢 Late-night skewers, spicy hotpot, a bowl of beef noodles at 1 a.m… Why are late-night snacks so popular in China?
In this episode, we share real stories and personal memories of eating yèxiāo (夜宵), compare Chinese and French eating habits, and explore why street food at midnight is more than just food — it’s emotion, stress relief, and sometimes even friendship.
You'll also learn useful Mandarin phrases and grammar for talking about food, feelings, and daily routines in Chinese cities. Let’s talk snacks and feelings — in Chinese. 🌙
🎧 Vocabulary & grammar summary included at the end of the episode.
Useful Grammar for Intermediate Students (HSK3–5)
不是……而是…… 👉 Not..., but rather...
我**不是饿了，而是累了。* I'm not hungry, just tired.
一边……一边…… 👉 Do two actions at the same time
他一边吃烤串，一边抱怨工作。 He ate skewers while complaining about work.
虽然……但是…… 👉 Although..., but...
虽然很晚了，但是很多人还在排队。 Although it was late, many people were still in line.
越……越…… 👉 The more..., the more...
城市越大，夜宵摊越多。 The bigger the city, the more night snack stalls.
连……都…… 👉 Even... (for emphasis)
连冬天零下十度，都有人站在烧烤摊前。 Even in -10°C winter, people line up for barbecue.
📚 Vocabulary List with Example Sentences
夜宵 yè xiāo – late-night snack 我最喜欢的夜宵是牛肉面。 My favorite late-night snack is beef noodles.
撸串 lū chuàn – to eat barbecue skewers 周五晚上我们去撸串吧。 Let’s go eat skewers Friday night.
火锅 huǒ guō – hotpot 他们吃火锅吃到凌晨一点。 They had hotpot until 1 a.m.
加班 jiā bān – to work overtime 很多人下班晚，因为他们加班。 Many people finish work late because they work overtime.
放松 fàng sōng – to relax 吃一碗热汤面让我放松了很多。 A bowl of hot noodles helped me relax.
排队 pái duì – to line up 大家都在排队买麻辣烫。 Everyone was lining up for spicy soup skewers.
情绪 qíng xù – emotion, mood 夜宵是很多人发泄情绪的方式。 Late-night food is a way for many people to release emotions.
满足 mǎn zú – satisfied 吃完以后，我觉得特别满足。 After eating, I felt totally satisfied.
Snack Attack! 🌮 Learn Street Food Words in Mandarin S01E31【ENG】街头小吃大作战！🍢 一起学好吃的中文词汇
03 juin 2025
00:20:26
Street food lovers, this one’s for you! 🍢 In this tasty episode, we explore some of the most popular Chinese snacks — from 煎饼 (pancake) to 糖葫芦 (candied hawthorn) — and learn how to talk about them in Mandarin. You’ll also review two super useful grammar points and practice with real example sentences. Perfect for beginner and intermediate learners who want to build tasty vocabulary with bite-sized grammar!
✨ Grammar of the Day: "在 + place + verb" and "想 + verb" 🎯 Vocabulary focus: everyday street snacks you’ll actually use 📌 Don’t forget to check the description for today’s key words and grammar points!
📚 Grammar of the Day Recap
在 + place + verb – used to say what someone is doing at a location
我在街上买了饼。 wǒ zài jiē shàng mǎi le bǐng I bought a pancake on the street.
想 + verb – used to say “want to do something”
我想吃小吃。 wǒ xiǎng chī xiǎo chī I want to eat street food.
🍢Key Vocabulary Recap
小吃 (xiǎo chī) – street food/snack 我想吃小吃。I want to eat street food.
煎饼 (jiān bǐng) – Chinese pancake 她买了一个煎饼。She bought a pancake.
包子 (bāo zi) – steamed bun 包子很好吃。Steamed buns are very tasty.
肉串 (ròu chuàn) – meat skewer 他吃了两个肉串。He ate two meat skewers.
汤 (tāng) – soup 这碗汤很热。This bowl of soup is hot.
糖葫芦 (táng hú lu) – candied hawthorn 我在夜市吃了糖葫芦。I ate candied hawthorn at the night market.
巧克力可丽饼 (qiǎo kè lì kě lì bǐng) – chocolate crêpe 我想吃巧克力可丽饼。I want to eat a chocolate crêpe.
饮料 (yǐn liào) – beverage/drink 我买了一杯饮料。I bought a drink.
很好吃 (hěn hǎo chī) – very tasty 这个煎饼很好吃！This pancake is very tasty!
Chillchat: My Top 5 Films S01E30【CHN】我最爱的五部电影清单 🍿
29 mai 2025
00:20:58
In this episode, we’re cozying up for some honest talk about five films that stayed with me through the years 🎬. These aren’t just movies — they’re pieces of life, full of quiet moments, tough choices, and real feelings. From Norwegian coming-of-age stories to Chinese historical dramas, you’ll hear why I love these films, what they taught me, and how they reflect everyday life.
This episode is great for HSK2–5 learners who want to improve their listening while hearing natural, conversational Mandarin. Don’t forget to check the vocabulary and grammar notes below to help with your review 📚
🎞️ Movie List / 电影清单
《最糟糕的人》 (The Worst Person in the World)
《活着》 (To Live)
《爱在黎明破晓前》三部曲 (Before Sunrise Trilogy)
《末代皇帝》 (The Last Emperor)
《醉乡民谣》/《Drunk》 (Another Round)
🧠 Grammar for Intermediate Learners
不是…而是… Used to correct or contrast two things. 例句：她不是没有能力，而是还没找到自己的方向。 It’s not that she lacks ability, but that she hasn’t found her direction yet.
一…就… Shows immediate reaction. 例句：我一看到那个画面，就特别有感觉。 As soon as I saw that scene, I really felt something.
不一定…但… Used to express nuance or partial truth. 例句：生活不一定每天都要很有趣，但你不能完全没感觉。 Life doesn’t have to be exciting every day, but you can’t feel nothing at all.
…的时候 Used to indicate time. 例句：我第一次看这部电影的时候，是一个下雨的晚上。 When I first saw this movie, it was a rainy evening.
📚 Vocabulary List with Example Sentences
选择 – Choice 她做了很多不同的选择。 She made many different choices.
方向 – Direction 有时候，我们需要时间去找方向。 Sometimes, we need time to find direction.
聊天 – Chat 他们整晚都在聊天。 They chatted all night.
感觉 – Feeling 我对这部电影特别有感觉。 I really felt something with this film.
自己 – Oneself 她慢慢变成了真正的自己。 She gradually became her true self.
改变 – Change 生活的改变常常是从小地方开始的。 Life changes often begin with small things.
普通人 – Ordinary person 他从皇帝变成了一个普通人。 He went from being an emperor to an ordinary person.
日子 – Days / Life 他就是一步步把日子过下来。 He simply lived day by day.