ChinesePod makes learning Mandarin fun and easy. It isn't your typical language learning resource - we think you'll be entertained as well! If you’re just trying to learn some survival Chinese or looking to start a lifelong relationship with the language, this ChinesePod - Beginner Level Podcast Channel is where to start. Expand your Mandarin Chinese learning experience by also SUBSCRIBING to ChinesePod - Intermediate and ChinesePod - Advanced Podcast channels. For more lessons, go to www.chinesepod.com and take us for a spin.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 14:38
So you've just had an hour-long argument with your landlord about the electricity bill or exchanged a few hundred texts with your significant other; either way your phone is out…
Sep 25, 2026 · 15:59
Each person has his own preferences, but the Chinese way to finding a good restaurant is -- no, not Yelp or Dianping -- asking friends, face to face, the good old-fashioned way!…
Sep 23, 2026 · 18:45
Why bother to even ask for directions at all, when you can just hop in a cab, call your Chinese friend, and have her tell the driver where you want to go? In this lesson, our…
Sep 21, 2026 · 14:53
You'd normally just check online for the fastest route via public transportation to get to your destination, but you're out of data on your smartphone and can't find wireless.…
Sep 18, 2026 · 14:01
Afternoon meetings are a fact of life in many offices, but in many companies they're on a dangerous collision course with the Chinese "afternoon nap" custom. In this lesson,…
Sep 11, 2026 · 12:50
No, Boxing Day has nothing to do with the big fight on Pay-Per-View. It's that semi-mystical holiday celebrated by the loyal subjects of the queen. Apparently it's all about…
Sep 9, 2026 · 15:30
If you intend to claim something as an expense in China, you need an "official receipt" (AKA "fapiao"). So don't just fight over the bill -- make sure you get this…
Sep 7, 2026 · 16:13
You've had a long day and finally arrive at your hotel, ready for some much needed R&R. But alas, the room you desire isn't available! What is to be done? Today's unlucky…
Sep 4, 2026 · 17:01
If you're going to treat men like objects, it's important to be able to compare them like objects. In this Chinese lesson, a group of ladies in the office compare two of their…
Sep 2, 2026 · 12:58
So you slept in until noon, and NOW it's convenient for you to have housekeeping clean your room? That's fine... you're the guest after all. Find out what both the request and…
Sep 1, 2026 · 12:14
We revisit Ms. Wu's saga in New York in today's elementary lesson as we follow on a handbag shopping excursion. Will she be able to find one that suits her? Learn how to shop for…
Aug 28, 2026 · 20:09
We're back with another useful lesson for the hotel-staffing Chinese learner. Hotel guests highly value their breakfast. Today's lesson will teach you how to direct guests to…
Aug 26, 2026 · 20:08
Everyone forgets the essentials sometimes when they travel. What's a poor traveler to do without their toothbrush? Listen in as a forgetful hotel guest asks hotel staff for vital…
Aug 24, 2026 · 18:11
Our hospitality saga continues with an encounter between a young woman and a hotel clerk. Learn how to talk about room reservations and China Union Pay bank cards in today's…
Aug 21, 2026 · 22:42
Imagine that you work at the Hilton in New York City, and you're tasked with welcoming Chinese guests in Mandarin. You better know exactly what to say, and this Chinese lesson…
Aug 19, 2026 · 14:24
In recent years, China's stunning economic progress has propelled it into the ranks of "nations that pretend to use dental floss to appease their dentists." Many Chinese people…
Aug 17, 2026 · 17:02
That Manager Li is a busy, powerful woman. You can't expect to just pull her aside next to the water cooler; you're going to need to schedule your precious face time with her. In…
Aug 14, 2026 · 6:20
Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and…
Aug 12, 2026 · 8:23
Learn Mandarin From Movies Series aims to increase awareness of fun Chinese movies that can help you improve your Mandarin Chinese level. Episode link:…
Aug 10, 2026 · 7:33
Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and…
Aug 7, 2026 · 9:01
Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and…
Aug 5, 2026 · 16:27
Learning how to hand-write characters can be a daunting task for those of us just starting to learn Chinese; how often have you forgotten how to write a character? The answer is…
Aug 3, 2026 · 13:09
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are teaching you an important topic that always comes up when you meet somebody for the first time - talking about your hometown. Let's check it out!…
Jul 31, 2026 · 18:51
Thanksgiving means "turkey day" to most Americans. While the Chinese can get behind the whole idea of a day giving thanks, they also have a few less-than-enthusiastic opinions…
Jul 29, 2026 · 19:27
Most successful professionals are excellent planners, or at least have a responsible secretary to take care of all their scheduling needs! Learn how to delegate your scheduling…
Jul 28, 2026 · 7:03
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 12th lesson Carly will give you a final recap of the last set of characters…
Jul 24, 2026 · 17:05
Sports are a popular topic of discussion all over the world, and China is no exception. In this podcast, learn how to discuss which sports you like to play. Episode link:…
Jul 22, 2026 · 6:52
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 11th lesson Carly will give you details for characters used for other…
Jul 20, 2026 · 16:46
Marriage and divorce. We hope you'll be talking much more about one over the other, but just in case, tune into this lesson to learn how to talk about getting married and…
Jul 17, 2026 · 6:58
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 10th lesson Carly will give you details for characters used for other…
Jul 15, 2026 · 19:16
If you've ever had the fortune of being "taken care of" by a Chinese friend while in China, then you know how truly hospitable the Chinese can be. When it comes time to say…
Jul 13, 2026 · 6:47
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 9th lesson Carly will give you details for characters used for common…
Jul 10, 2026 · 23:28
We hope you're ready for some slightly higher numbers, because these are plane tickets we're talking about; the numbers 1-100 aren't going to cut it. Learn how to ask about…
Jul 8, 2026 · 6:57
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 8th lesson Carly will give you details for characters used on public signs.…
Jul 6, 2026 · 18:44
We're sure many of our subscribers, tech-savvy or not, have experienced the joys of shopping online. In today's lesson, learn about one of China's biggest online shopping site,…
Jul 3, 2026 · 6:59
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 7th lesson Carly will give you details for characters used for…
Jul 1, 2026 · 15:21
Your Chinese friends will be delighted to learn that you lived in China for a while, and that you speak Chinese. But they're going to want to know immediately: where in China?…
Jun 29, 2026 · 7:45
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 6th lesson Carly will give you some shopping advice and point out specific…
Jun 26, 2026 · 16:55
You may not be up to reading novels in Chinese just yet, but you can certainly express your opinion on whether or not a book is good. In this lesson, all your bookworms can learn…
Jun 24, 2026 · 6:34
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 5th lesson Carly will give a quick RECAP on what you learned from the…
Jun 22, 2026 · 16:36
With this lesson, we did our best to distill the most cliché Chinese breakup lines into one simple dialog. This way, should you ever have the misfortune of needing to understand…
Jun 19, 2026 · 6:45
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 4th lesson Carly will give you the details on everyday popular drinks like…
Jun 17, 2026 · 12:12
There are times when one must depend upon the kindness of strangers. This Chinese lesson revolves around one such case: a young lady could use a hand getting her heavy luggage up…
Jun 15, 2026 · 8:40
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 3rd lesson Carly will give you the details of dates & times and when they…
Jun 12, 2026 · 21:15
You may know one way to ask for a phone number, but can you beg shamelessly for one? Or can you deflect the request like a true ice queen? This lesson provides some simple but…
Jun 10, 2026 · 9:08
Join Carly as she explains 88 common & simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 2nd lesson Carly will give you the details of number characters and where…
Jun 5, 2026 · 14:59
Gym rats love to be told that their efforts are noticed, and they may just want to share how often they work out. Even if working out is not your thing, this lesson has you…
Jun 3, 2026 · 6:49
Join Carly as she explains 88 common and simple Chinese characters you will find all over China. In this 1st lesson Carly will give you the details of characters found on…
Jun 2, 2026 · 14:15
Networking done the traditional way involves stacks of business cards. Nowadays, though, a cell phone is all you need to make that connection. Just be aware that even if you have…
May 29, 2026 · 9:51
In this Newbie lesson, Brian and Penny will teach us on how to talk about when something is wrong or asking people when something's wrong. Episode link:…
May 28, 2026 · 13:06
So you're wandering in a scary dark forest, and you realize that you keep seeing this same patch of woods over and over... you're lost! In this Chinese lesson, learn how to admit…
May 22, 2026 · 9:17
In this Newbie lesson, Brian and Rena will help you how to tell your friend who moves in a slow pace and always turn out late to hurry up! Episode link:…
May 20, 2026 · 17:14
When a co-worker is making an ice cream run, it's time to speak up or forever dwell in ice cream-less regret. We'll talk about popsicles, cones, and a few other important…
May 19, 2026 · 12:28
In this Newbie lesson, Brian and Abby will take you for breakfast and show you how to order your desired meal. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4554
May 15, 2026 · 18:33
"Aggressive" would be a kind way to describe the driving style you'll witness on the streets of mainland China. For the most part, the pedestrian population regards this driving…
May 13, 2026 · 9:27
In this Newbie lesson, Josh and Julia will present unavoidable situations where accidents and mistakes may occur and how to deal with them. Episode link:…
May 11, 2026 · 17:39
If you're staying in a Chinese apartment, sooner or later something is going to go wrong, and you'll need to find the right person to fix the problem. In this Chinese lesson, our…
May 9, 2026 · 14:32
In this lesson, Charlie and Mary will teach you how to say some words when receiving a package. Let's check it out! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4547
May 6, 2026 · 15:07
The mere mention of baijiu, the "white alcohol," strikes fear into the hearts of those foreigners who have tasted the fearsome liquid. Fortunately, it's usually not the only…
May 4, 2026 · 12:10
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn will talk about those little fights you might have with people that are close to you. Let's check it out! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4544
Apr 29, 2026 · 14:04
So you're at a club, getting into the beat, and you kinda feel like dancing. You can dance, right? What style of dance? Wait, what? Ballet? Ummm, that's cool, but maybe not best…
Apr 27, 2026 · 12:29
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn will talk about the weather. Let's check it out! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4539
Apr 24, 2026 · 20:39
Ah, kids. They love to play, but they also love to steal from each other and smack each other around for no reason. (Come to think of it, they're not that different from adults.)…
Apr 22, 2026 · 13:56
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are taking you to the restaurant to learn how to ask easy questions, make an introduction and some suggestions on how to make small talk. Let's check…
Apr 20, 2026 · 16:28
Renting a boat and going for a little row on the lake is quite common in China's parks. If you're here for a visit, you, too, may find yourself rowing a boat. So cover the…
Apr 17, 2026 · 13:14
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are taking you to the cinema and showing useful sentences you can use to find your seat. Let's check it out! Episode link:…
Apr 15, 2026 · 14:08
If you come to China, you're going to be offered a cigarette. While you can get by on context and gestures, it's nice to know how to politely decline. While you're at it, you…
Apr 14, 2026 · 12:18
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are teaching you one of the most important sentences that you should know as a Chinese beginner! This phrase comes in handy in when you go to a…
Apr 10, 2026 · 17:31
Just by being a foreigner in China, you're a fair target for all sorts of personal questions. So don't be surprised when you're asked how tall you are, or how much you weigh. In…
Apr 8, 2026 · 13:31
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are teaching you how to make "small talk" when you meet somebody for the first time. Let's check it out! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4519
Apr 7, 2026 · 19:02
Do you know how many years of history China is sporting? In case you have no Chinese friends around to remind you, we have created this lesson to fill you in on this critical…
Apr 3, 2026 · 12:23
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn are teaching you one of the most important sentences that you should know as a Chinese beginner! This phrase comes in handy in the "I have no idea…
Apr 1, 2026 · 14:18
So you think that "push" and "pull" are the only options for opening a door? Think again! With this Chinese lesson, you can learn about advanced door opening, even as an absolute…
Mar 30, 2026 · 12:15
In today's lesson, we are going bag shopping, and you're going to learn some useful phrases that will come in handy when you are in the store next time! Episode link:…
Mar 27, 2026 · 15:03
If you've really made it in China, you may have a driver to get you where you need to go. But a driver that also speaks fluent English would just be no fun, so this lesson…
Mar 25, 2026 · 12:04
In this lesson, we're looking at a conversation that you would definitely recognize if you have ever been hit on by a stranger (or maybe you are the stranger!). Let's learn how…
Mar 23, 2026 · 14:45
In this lesson, we're looking at a conversation that you would definitely recognize if you have ever been hit on by a stranger (or maybe you are the stranger!). Let's learn how…
Mar 20, 2026 · 12:24
Well, if you are a forgetful person, you must hear this dialogue pretty often. "Did you bring this? What about that?" So, today we are going to learn how to ask these questions…
Mar 18, 2026 · 15:56
It's checkout time, also known as "check the room for consumption of overpriced snacks and beverages or theft of towels time." In this lesson, learn how to tell the hotel you're…
Mar 16, 2026 · 12:34
In this lesson, Joe and Lyn will show you how to fight for the right to use your bathroom by annoying the person that’s using it. After watching this, I’m sure nobody will ever…
Mar 11, 2026 · 14:55
If you're a foreign student in China, or planning to be one, you should probably learn the word for "foreign student." And since all our listeners are good-looking, the word for…
Mar 11, 2026 · 13:16
If you're a foreign student in China, or planning to be one, you should probably learn the word for "foreign student." And since all our listeners are good-looking, the word for…
Mar 9, 2026 · 15:43
You are getting sleepy, very sleepy. And you know it's lame, but you just want to go to bed early. Learn to express these sentiments and more in this Chinese lesson. Episode…
Mar 6, 2026 · 12:45
In this newbie lesson, we will listen to a conversation between two friends talking about an opportunity to study abroad. We will show you how to say "I plan to..." in Chinese…
Mar 4, 2026 · 19:17
Some foreigners think there's a conspiracy to deprive them of enjoying rice with their meal in China. In fact, it's just a Chinese custom which might seem strange to you. Here's…
Mar 2, 2026 · 13:08
In this newbie lesson, you will hear one of the most common questions that you are asked as a Chinese learner: “Is learning Chinese difficult?” Your immediate response might be,…
Feb 27, 2026 · 19:21
No, we're not talking about black market organ trafficking. We're talking about the "I got your nose!" trick you play on kids. While this game is not exactly "traditionally…
Feb 25, 2026 · 15:12
Who says you have to use chopsticks to eat Chinese food? If you have not yet mastered your kuàizi skills, then this lesson is for you. Learn how to ask for a fork in a restaurant…
Feb 23, 2026 · 16:05
Have you ever been called an "Old China Hand?" Don't worry, if you keep practicing your Chinese and spend some time in China, you will be! In this Chinese lesson, learn more…
Feb 20, 2026 · 12:08
In this lesson, we're going to learn a very important phrase when learning Chinese, and that is 'I love you'. When it comes to love, there's always a choice that has to be made.…
Feb 18, 2026 · 15:28
The Chinese love their holidays! Review the most popular ones with Grace and Jenny. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/4113
Feb 16, 2026 · 14:23
In today's dialogue, the doctor is disobeying her own orders by taking a bite of something she's not supposed to eat...Want to know what it is? Check out the lesson and learn the…
Feb 13, 2026 · 17:06
You think a hotel is a hotel, but in China these quirky little culture differences have a way of sneaking up on you. Learn about one that westerners might find particularly…
Feb 11, 2026 · 13:58
In this dialogue, we will catch a glimpse of the feud of Grandpa tree and the dog. Why doesn't Grandpa tree like the dog? What happened between them? Along the way, you will…
Feb 9, 2026 · 14:27
The scene is a blind date. She reveals she's a kindergarten teacher. He passionately states that he hates children. Cue crickets chirping. It's going to be a long night. But you…
Feb 6, 2026 · 8:59
A fight for a girl's attention between a cup and a glass has taken place. The former is an advocate for hot tea, and the latter is a spokesperson for cold water. Which side are…
Feb 4, 2026 · 15:35
There's a big difference between buying movie tickets in China and buying movie tickets in many other countries: China uses assigned seating. So make sure you know how to get the…
Feb 2, 2026 · 11:38
In today's dialogue, we are going to listen to a conversation between a girl and a prodigal 'horse', and you will learn a sentence pattern to express 'to do sth. together' using…
Jan 30, 2026 · 15:37
Are you one of those people that doesn't like to waste money on beverages in restaurants and instead just asks for water? Yeah, so are we. So in China, we naturally ask for tea.…
Jan 28, 2026 · 10:27
Have you ever wondered what makes it rain? In this lesson, you're going to learn how to use 给 to express 'to give' and the real cause of rain. Spoiler alert, it might be a little…
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